Amiodarone

[Flimmeri]

Hello Afib/Flutter fiends!

Have any of you used Amiodarone?

I am 76 year old female with fib and flutter.

I am nervous using this, light headed and dizzy and night time too low pulse. Would like to hear your experience with this. Thanks so much!

[Lymolass]

warning lights came on for me when the CRM nurse said it was a great drug . . . If you can tolerate it. I couldn’t, it made me feel permanently sick with no appetite. But it affects different people in different ways so might be worth a try.

[Flimmeri in reply to Lymolass]

Thanks! It seems to bring my heart rate down too much 34 and lower when sleeping.

[Jeaniebeans in reply to Flimmeri]

Are you also taking bisoprolol by any chance?

[Desanthony]

I was on this for a few months before and after my second cardioversion. It gave me no problems at all. Read about the side effects carefully. I had a blood test every month and just as I was about to come off them anyway they found my thyroid count was starting to get high. I came off it and had a blood test after another month and the thyroid count was back to normal. It’s always worth a try because if you can tolerate it it works well. Just make sure of you so try it to get blood tests regularly and take note of the side effects and plan accordingly. Anything you feel is wrong contact your cardio nurse straight away. I hope if you try it it works for you.

[Flimmeri in reply to Desanthony]

How did you stop taking it? I may not tolerate it. Heart rate 34 and maybe lower when sleep? Wake up kind of panicky feeling that heart stopped and gasp for air! Nervous falling to sleep.

[Lilypocket in reply to Flimmeri]

I was on it for 6 weeks. When I started it it gave me the symptoms you describe too ( which were a bit scary). I told my cardiologist and she slightly reduced my starter dose. After that I was fine and it was very effective. I don't think it is a " one size fits all drug" and blips happen.

Take care

[Flimmeri in reply to Lilypocket]

Thank you so much Lilypocket! Are you still taking it or just that six weeks?

I would like to give it a chance, since sounds like it does help, but all the side effects are a bit worrisome. But usually if you check any of the drugs, they all seem to have quite a list of side effects!

[Lilypocket in reply to Flimmeri]

No I only took it for 6 weeks and it was very effective with no side effects in that time . My cardiologist put me on it and I went along with her advice and knowledge. Take care

[Geonome]

I don't mean to alarm you, but my sister-in-law just died of amiodarone toxicity. She was on 100 mg 3x/day, for at least 4 years, with no cardiac follow-up. The amiodarone destroyed her kidneys, damaged her spleen, liver, lungs and thyroid. The official diagnosis was amiodarone toxicity.

[Redactrice in reply to Geonome]

That is just awful. I am so sorry. No follow up for four years for a drug that is known to be that toxic -- that is lawsuit territory.

[Flimmeri in reply to Geonome]

That’s sad to hear! So sorry for your loss🥲

Thank you for your reply! I have heard about this drug mentioned on this site also. I guess if you’re not taking it, one doesn’t worry so much.

I would not like to be on this for very long and hoping, if there would be similar, safer one to take. Or consider third ablation!

[BrotherThomas]

I took amiodarone for about 2 and a half years at 200mg daily. I had no problems at all with it and came off it because it didn't produce the desired result at my last Cardioversion. I came off it by gradually reducing the dose over several weeks. I did this by cutting the tablets with a razor blade.

Not everyone suffers from the side effects that this drug can cause so it's worth giving it a try.

[Flimmeri in reply to BrotherThomas]

Thanks so much for replying! You’re right, we all react or can react differently to drugs. And I would like to give it a chance, at least.

My pills don't have a scored line on them and understand, one shouldn’t half them if without a line?

[BrotherThomas in reply to Flimmeri]

To be honest, I can't remember if mine had a line on them or not. I don't think that cutting them needs to be very accurate so if you get one half of 200mg at 110mg and the other at 90 it's fine. If you are concerned about cutting them, you can get a little device off Amazon that'll do the job for you. They work on pills without a line just fine and they only cost a couple of pounds.

[JezzaJezza]

I’m not on Amiodarone but on its sister drug Dronedarone (Multaq) and that has been extremely effective at stopping my SVT. I have full bloods every 6 months.

Best wishes

Jezza

[Flimmeri in reply to JezzaJezza]

Thanks Jezza! I will inquire about that one for sure! Have you been on it for a long time?

[JezzaJezza in reply to Flimmeri]

On it for 1 year now. It’s a far safer form of Amiodarone.

[Whataperformance]

I had to take it prior my last Cardioversion, last October. On loading the drug I had to take for a week x2 a day, the dose in the evening gave me problems getting to sleep, so brought it forward, that worked. However I have had the most bonkers dreams and very poor sleep.

Had my Ablation 6 weeks after my planned DCCV, I was advised to remain on X1 per day for 2 months then stop. My bloods were all good.

Apparently takes a while to get it out of your system.

I stopped it 3 weeks ago, I'm fine still have crazy dreams but not as bad as before and my sleep pattern is getting better. So far no AF, fingers crossed X

Worth giving it a go.

[Dorchen]

I was on Digoxin and Bisoporol , tired all the time , my Consultant put me on Dilziatim

Took Amiodarone in the past but on reading about it would not touch it with a bargepole , very toxic drug

AFib is a horrible disease

[Flimmeri in reply to Dorchen]

Thanks Dorchen! I understand fully, how you feel about this one. Certainly have had same thoughts!!! Two previous versions didn’t work, but was not taking amio those days. This time cardio version worked, but was on Amiodarone which they started giving in the hospital. While loading the nurse had not given all that big syringe yet when got terrible chest pains!Thought I’m flying to the clouds!!! Nitro helped, and was put on lower drip into my IV for 3 days, then the pill. I was still in tachycardia with a flutter and fib and the pacemaker was pacing 100%. Cardio version worked! So wondering if it was Amiodarone that helped in that situation? Not planning on staying on it for a long time! Hopefully safer alternative or should I try a third ablation.

[Visigoth]

I’ve been on amiodarone for nearly four years and had no problems. I’m on the lowest dose, 100mg per day, and have six-monthly blood tests to check nothing is going wrong with my thyroid, liver etc. It works extremely well and I’m happy with it but I’m aware that many people have had a much less fortunate experience. The key thing is to ensure that you have the regular monitoring. My GP is very good at that.

[Ppiman]

Search for @low dose amiodarone safety" and you will feel much relief! Insist on monitoring while you use it. It seems that much of the "bad news" surrounding this drug derives form older higher dosage usages and lack of monitoring. Keep in mind that, unlike all other anti-arrhythmic drugs which have potentially serious "pro-arrhythmic" side effects, amiodarone does not. It might devil and the deep blue sea, but, no - talk this over with your doctor, though.

Steve s

[Bluetonic]

I took it for about 6 months.

It did keep me in NSR following a cardioversion. However, I could not even look at the sun, I got really bad sunburn doing the ironing in the winter as I stood too close to a window that was in direct sunlight.

It was found to have damaged my thyroid after six months of using, I stopped and 3 months later I was back in AF, probably due to the long half life this drug has.

I also felt bl**dy awful when taking it but thought that could have been due to any of the other cocktail of drugs I was on at the time.

Personally I'll never take it again

[2023-23 in reply to Bluetonic]

I'm on Amiodarone what strength per MG was you on ?

[Bluetonic in reply to 2023-23]

I think it was 200mg/day after the loading dose

[heagleton]

I took Amiondarone for the past month. It only controlled my heart rate. It didn’t anything for my Afib or flutter. After 2 years, one ablation, 4 cardioversions and lots of different drugs, my Afib and flutter could not be controlled. With the advice of my doctor, I decided to do and ablate and pace with a leadless pacemaker. I didn’t have any immediate side effects taking Amiondarone but I was concerned about its long term side effects. Plus it wasn’t working. After my procedure tomorrow, I will not have to take any drugs including Amiondarone for my fib and flutter. I just will have to take Eliquis.

[Poncegirl]

if you value your lungs , stay away from it !!! Causes permanent lung damage

[Heartach]

I would consider Solatol instead. Amiodarone is a very dangerous medication. Am the caregiver for my husband and he took this medication and little to say we had a scare with it. Amiodarone is very toxic and it gets deposited in your fat cells. My husband can off of it like for a year and within that year he lost some weight due to Mounjaro that he was prescribed for his diabetes and that's when the nightmare began. Long story short he ended up at Mayo and they determined that he had Amiodarone thyroid toxicity. My husband was very sick and barely now tapering off thyroid meds & steroids that has helped eliminated the toxicity in his body and calming the thyroid gland. So my suggestion steer clear from Amiodarone and ask your doctor if Solatol instead. best of luck

[riffjack846]

Everybody's different. I was on it for almost 3 years and it kept me in NSR and no ill effects.

[2023-23]

I am presently on Amiodarone . the low dose of 100MG . I have had 2 ablations and still ended up in Emerg. for AF , I was put on Amiodarone with 800mg daily for 7 days then 400mg daily for 30 days then 200 mg daily. until my first Dr appointment then reduced to 100 MG daily. I'm actually having blood work today which is nearly 6 months from starting the drug. I am also on Blood thinners , Cholesterol, and Blood pressure pills and a Acid reflux pill of which have side effects such as dizzy ,weakness ,unsteadiness etc . In the last 2 months I can say I must be adjusting to the meds as I have had very few side effects . I have read up a lot on the side effects of Amiodarone and it can be even life threatening conditions. However when reading up on the drug it appears that the very low dose of 100 mg has very little side effects nor lung ,liver or kidney effects. I' m 75 and past the 3 score and 10 LOL! I would like to know on here any body that has been on Amiodarone and what dose they are on , Has anyone been on the low dose for years ?