Amiodarone loading

[Hallane]

waiting for this to be prescribed by my consultant.

Has anyone had chest X-ray and bloods taken before starting.

Apparently down to local protocol.

I need to take it until I go into NSR.

Apparently the best chance of the ablation planned is if I am in NSR at the time

[timelucky]

Sounds like the doc is looking to chemically kick you back in rhythm and then ablate you to keep you in NSR long term.

I asked for and got blood tests to give me a baseline for thyroid and liver function because I am an Amiodarone long termer due to other cardiac issues.

I'm guessing that baselining is only necessary for long termers so fingers crossed you'll only be on it a few weeks.

Be Lucky

[dedeottie in reply to timelucky]

Do you mind me asking if you feel ok on long term amiodorone? X

[timelucky in reply to dedeottie]

Not al all! Having spent the previous 12 months in constant AF going through a bunch of meds trying to find something that was effective, I was offered Amiodarone having previously been told it's not for you by 3 different consultants. I didn't go back into NSR but it was only an outside chance for me.

I had the ablation went into NSR snd stayed on Amiodarone to keep me there. I feel great in comparison to before and I'm lucky because I have no physical side effects.

I was used to the slight anxiety and occasionally unsettled sleep due to this type of meds and so adjusting to the new normal was relatively quick & painless. I found deep breathing, keeping hydrated and limiting sunlight has been easy enough to adapt to so life remains a huge improvement over previously, long may it continue.

Hope it works out for you

[dedeottie in reply to timelucky]

Thank you that is really helpful. X

[john-boy-92]

These are precautionary measures. The blood test is to establish your baseline creatine level for the liver function test; you'll probably be asked to provide six monthly blood tests if you stay on amiodarone. I've never heard of a chest x-ray before going on amiodarone, but it's a great idea. Around 6 in 100,000 people have a serious reaction to amiodarone and dronedarone that produces masses in the lungs that look like granular glass under high resolution. Although it's referred to as cryptogenic organising pneumonia which means that we don't know what caused it, we do, and I prefer the term pulmonary toxicity. The effect especially if diagnosis is delayed, is permanent scarring of the lungs : that's what I have. Unfortunately, and speaking from experience, pulmonary toxicity caused by these two drugs is commonly wrongly diagnosed as community acquired pneumonia. Yet the key diagnosis are: hypoxia and the granula masses do not respond to antibiotics and, blood oxygen does not improve at 4 litres/minute of oxygen by nasal cannula. The consultant team who keep me alive - I'm not being over dramatic - wrote a paper about my case that was published by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh as Case of the Quarter in 2015.

Be thankful that if you need to have this wretched stuff, that your clinical team are on the ball and taking precautionary measures.

[KenRC]

Yes I ‘ve been prescribed it twice (for around 3 to 6 months each time) on separate occasions 5 to 6 years apart, & have had baseline chest X-rays & full blood counts prior to taking it both times too. Seems the correct way of doing it.

[Gunn61]

Yes, I have had a couple of X-rays of my chest since starting Amiodarone at the end of December to ensure I am not suffering fibrosis as a side effect from taking Amiodarone. I also have blood tests regularly to check my thyroid, liver and kidney function.

I had an ablation 2 weeks ago and have minimal AFib since. I am looking forward to getting off Amiodarone; it has been effective but the side effects are scary.

[Jajarunner]

Yes, completely normal. Plus 3-6 monthly liver, kidney, thyroid tests, annual eye test and cover up in the sun. Amiodarone gave me my life back 🙏

[Ppiman]

I think the doctors need to know your existing state before being given amiodarone. It can causes changes in the lungs and eyes, for example. If you search the term (inside quotation marks), "low dose amiodarone safety", you'll feel some relief at taking this drug. I was almost given it but my ablation came in time for it not to be necessary. Apart from its potential for toxicity owing to its long half life and high iodine content, it seems to be an otherwise rather useful general cardiac and anti-arrhythmia drug.

Steve