Amiodarone pip

[Peony4575]

My cardiologist has suggested Amiodarone as a pup after I got side effects from flec . Has anyone any experience of this? Thanks

[Cliff_G]

That sounds strange to me, but then I'm not a cardiologist. Just that Amiodarone for long-term dosing needs 2 weeks on a loading dose (typically 600 mg) followed by 200 mg (or less) continuous. It is used intravenously in hospital for rapid response. Maybe PIP is new thinking.

[Peony4575 in reply to Cliff_G]

Well if I can’t take flec or it’s ineffective . He said 200mg and if that doesn’t work 200mg a couple of hours later. I don’t think it’s new as much as only used as a second line. I hate all the uncertainty, the try this, try a bit more of that and stand on one leg and cross your fingers hoping for the best

[Cliff_G in reply to Peony4575]

😂😂 that' s about the size of it!

I guess it will stay in the bloodstream for a while and hence be active. Ultimately it gets taken up just about everywhere in the body and then takes ages to get out again.

As you know, Amiodarone has some significant side effects for some people, so if you were to go on it permanently you'd need to ensure you're scheduled for the regular blood tests.

I was on Amiodarone for 5-1/2 years and all my thyroid and liver tests were fine. I got the eye deposits but these don't bother your sight. I am also not a sun lover so the exposure to sunshine was never a problem. However, and no doctor ever said for sure that it was the amiodarone, but after being on it 2 years, I had a slow degradation in my general strength, plus neuropathy issues, and after 5-1/2 years I became concerned about lung damage, as my asthma was worsening. My cardiologist did say that people do report a range of odd symptoms and weakness is one listed on some lists (some lists are much more comprehensive). So I stopped (my own decision), and 6 months later went into atrial flutter, which degraded to fib. An ablation has stopped those, and Flecainide appears to be reducing the ectopics, fingers crossed.

Hopefully if PIP works for you, you can avoid all that worry.

If you're willing, can you say what side effects you get from Flecainide? I just get a minor constipation so I eat regular figs with breakfast. Nothing resists figs!

[jeanjeannie50]

Yes, I've had experience of taking Amiodarone. It damaged my thyroid and I'll now have to take pills for life to rectify that. Saying that I knew someone who took it for 10 years with no problem. I'm afraid I'll always say don't take it. I guess it depends on how bad your AF attacks are.

Jean

[Peony4575 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Sorry that happened to you Jean . I try not to take any drugs as they are never plain sailing .i might fill the prescription . If I have another episode I might go and sit in a&e and take the flec so at least am close to resus if it all goes horribly wrong . My episodes are 184 bpm with rvr for 24 hours so I would like to cut them short because my heart obviously takes a battering

[Cliff_G in reply to Peony4575]

That's not nice.