I realise there are dozens maybe hundreds of forum members who have taken or are still taking Amiodarone.
Just looking to do understand how many use sunscreen daily even when not particularly sunny.
Thanks if you have a mo to write a one liner in response
I'm fair skinned and have worn a foundation which contains a sun block for more years than I can say. When taking amiodarone it didn't appear to make any difference to my arms etc but of course during that time I never sat in the sun. I did do a lot of gardening though. It's difficult to say as everyone's skin responds differently.
I knew a man who took amiodarone for about 8 years and didn't ever read the instructions. He wore no protection from the sun and I would say he had what I'd call a ruddy complexion, there was nothing odd about it at all. Other members here may well tell you how easily they burnt.
Jean
Thanks
Just read through some of your posts. With my own persistent (2y) normal rate (55-85) AF I am beginning to wonder if I would be better off not chasing down ablation and this precursor Amiodarone) 2 failed cardioversion so far.
I am not so good on hills but am wondering if stopping the Nebivilol or halving to 1.25mg pd might give me more energy. Staying on Edoxaban for life of course.
I think AF is different for all of us, there are so many different ways a heart can beat out of rhythm. I'd do whatever feels right for you. Does your AF make you feel ill? I think to myself now that after having 3 ablations I can never hope to have a normal heart again with the scarring left there. I really wish I'd looked at my diet earlier and cut out any food containing artificial additives. I do that now and am better for it. I'd never thought of the damage ablations can do until once when in hospital with AF a cardiologist said that ablations had probably made my heart a bit stiff in its working.
Jean
Just to repeat what Prof Richard Schilling said in a lecture some years ago. "Any and all treament for AF is about quality of life (QOL). " There is no best treatment.. With two failed cardioversions ( does that mean you never atained NSR?) one might question as you have especially since your rate is within normal limits..
Hi, I've taken Amiodarone many times over the past 32 years and have certainly not worn sunscreen every day. However, having been an avid sunworshipper prior to this I realised that those days were now over.
When you are out amd about with parts of your body exposed it would be sensible to cover up or wear a factor 50. You will soon find out what is necessary for your skin. Get a nice shady hat and some cool floaty material to wear in hot weather. Don't forget you can get sunburnt on your right arm much more readily when driving in sunny weather.
Just be aware, don't be frightened but start off cautiously and see how you react.
PS....just seen that you are male so substitute the cool and floaty clothes for cool loose clothing.....unless of course you like something floaty🙂
Speaking as a woman, I don’t do floaty any more - it gets caught on the brambles! 😂
Hello Julia I'm on Amiodarone after 2 ablations . I just had my first blood work after 6 months and so far good. What strength Amiodarone are you taking. I'm down to 100MG daily . I have asked different times how long people have been on the drug without serious side effects and what strength MG are they taking.
Its just not the sun you have to worry about, guessing they have informed you of side effects. Make sure you get chest X ray Thyroid and liver test every 3 months. Take care.
I have had skin cancer and removal so would advise always to wear a sun block and if on Amioderone it is in fact one of the contra indications.
I'm careful with the sun because I tend to burn rather than tan. Normally, I avoid going outside around midday and wear a 50 sun block if I have to. Otherwise, I don't wear sun block if I feel I don't need it as I don't like the way it leaves my skin feeling.
I didn't change my routine when on amiodarone and didn't have any problems with strong reactions to sunlight.
Like all side effects, you may or may not experience extreme sun sensitivity.
I was on amioderone for a few months while waiting for a second CV. I didn’t take any chances and wore factor 50 on any exposed skin. I used the opportunity to add to my wardrobe with a wide brimmed hat and lightweight cotton jacket. Even so the changed relationship to sunlight was one of the things I didnt like about the drug. It didnt have any impact on the persistent AF either, or the CV, so had an ablation and now no meds apart from anticoagulants.
I’m not usually a sunscreen wearer unless on holiday as the UK sun doesn’t bother me but when taking Amiodarone, I had to. I’d wear 50 on very hot days and I noticed slowly over the summer developing a tolerance for the sun so I crept down to 30 on holidays in the Canaries. I stopped needing it on pleasant days and had a lovely tan. The year before though, I had a few harsh lessons with burnt feet and arms…..
Hi. First stint on Amiodarone, I did have sensitivity after about 10 mins in the Sun but when I went back onto it, after a gap, none at all on this stint.
You may need something very effective. I found I had to abandon all hope of doing anything in the garden, my greatest love in life, when I was taking it and just a few minutes in the sun turned me lobster red. In fact it was one of the main reasons I stopped taking it as well as breathing difficulties in the middle of the night.
Altruist sunscreen is fab
If I'm out all day or more than an hour I wear SPF 50. Less than an hour and cloudy.i don't bother. I wear a hat and sunglasses again if out for a reasonable time. Don't forget to reapply the suncream during the day. I never sunbathe but I've had skin cancer too and also find it uncomfortable.Best wishes
Hello
Thank you for your post, you may find our patient information sheet helpful to download direct from the AF Association webpage: api.heartrhythmalliance.org... which provides an overview of Amiodarone.
Everyone will react to many medications individually, if you have any questions a pharmacist may be able offer some advice.
Our Patient Services Team are here to speak to via our Patient Helpline or via email: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Kind regards
TracyAdmin
I use factor 50 most days, including on cloudy but bright days. I monitor the UV index on the weather app and am guided by that really.
hiya, can see you have had a few replies. Just wanted to add mine in.
I’ve taken Amiodarone 2 times now and both times the sides effects were different.
I’m not dark skinned but I do tan. When taking the drug they recommend factor 50 however I never wore it.
I just used my normal sunscreen when it was hot. I believe if you get the photosensitivity it can be quite nasty.
The only way you will know if your affected is how your skin responds in the sun.
If your naturally sensitive you may struggle but you may only really know when the sun appears.
Google Amiodarone blue skin. This is obviously the severe that can occur.
Sorry not a one liner Amiodarone doesn’t do one liners. X
I have been on Amiadarone for a year. I’ve found that I need to wear factor 50 sunscreen when it is particularly sunny but even reapplying the lotion frequently is not always sufficient to stop me from burning in the summer months. I play tennis outside most days and in the summer have to wear white cotton gloves and a baseball cap as the Amiadarone coupled with the sun causes red lumps to come up on my arms and hands (somehow my legs are unaffected).
When I was taking amiodarone, I tried to regularly use sunscreen. None the less I still developed a few pre-cancerous skin lesions. So one must be careful of sun exposure
I was wearing factor 50+ even on cloudy days and would still get sunburn if I stood too close to a window indoors.
What a miserable life I had when I was on that drug.
I was only on amiodorone for a few months either side of my second ablation. It was during a very hot summer and I was building my large shed for my wife to use as a craft room and rushing to get it done as was due for a total knee replacement at the end of August. For the first few weeks I used total sunblock every day but lapsed - I’m not good with things like this and my wife has to remind d me to take all my meds. I didn’t burn and in the end stopped using the sun block. However I wouldn’t advise anyone not to use sun block whilst using amiodorone. Everyone is different and I had no problem with skin burning during that time and I was outside in vest and shorts most days - though of course some days were inside the shed once it was up and the roof on. Managed to build it and clad the inside with insulation and wooden boards and paint the outside before my knee op. Was glad to get to hospital for a rest! 🤣
Amiodarone and Thyroid
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