Amiodarone

I have just been prescribed the above drug and am very scared of the possible side effects anyone out there who can tell me what it's like ?

Gill

[Chappychap]

I only took Amiodarone for eight weeks, from leaving hospital after a bypass operation to meeting the cardiac consultant for a final examination and formal discharge. Eight weeks isn't long and there'll be people here with far more experience of this drug.

All I can say is I had no side effects whatsoever and I felt completely fine taking Amiodarone. If my doctor recommended I go back on it in the future for whatever reason, then I wouldn't hesitate.

Good luck!

[jimmyq]

Fist of all, stop worrying. It never solved anything.

I have never been on these tablets but someone on here will have. In the meantime, read the leaflet that should have come with them. That will tell you the possible side effects and what the chances are of you getting them. If there is no leaflet you can google them but beware that there is a lot of BS and misinformation on the internet, so used trustworthy websites like NHS.

[Hidden in reply to jimmyq]

You are right there are lots of things about this drug but some are very scary even NHS says only to be used in life threatening cases .Until I went for a routine operation I didn't even know there was anything wrong with me a dodgy ECG discovered lots of ectopic beats just feel that I haven't been on the lesser meds for long only since July and now he wants me on this one !

Thank you for your advice though worrying isn't going to help is it !!

[Hidden]

Thank you for your support I guess I will have to try it then and trust the Consultant !

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi All

Many thanks to all of you who responded to my questions about Amiodarone . I feel so much better having read all your feedback.

I guess I am going to be brave and try it out and trust the Consultant .

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year

Lots of Love to you all

Planted

XXX

[Kaz747]

I started on Amiodarone about a month ago and was told I’ll only be kept on it a short while because of the side effects long term use can have. Because it drastically increases your sensitivity to the sun (and I’m in the Australian summer) it’s important to cover up and slap on lots of sunscreen.

[CarolineRaffan]

Hello Plantseed, I was on amiodarone twice each time for 6 months. I was like you very nervous of it after reading all the possible side effects. However it worked well as a cardioconverter for me, and I tolerated it well. Some people dont tolerate it well so I guess you would have to see how it goes for you. I cannot tolerate Flecanide so sometimes what the docs offer is not what your body can put up with. I did not have a big problem with the sun sensitivity aspect, but I gave the optometrist a surprise - he called in his trainee to see if the trainee could work out why I had developed green crystals in my eyes! Good luck.

[Harleychick1957]

My husband was on this drug for 8 weeks and vomited every day, it made him so ill he was almost readmitted back to hospital his consultant stopped it and within a week he began to feel well again, some people tolerate it well, but for some it’s a horrible drug, good luck x

[LauraUK]

I was on Amiodarone after my double valve replacement, had the most awful side affects, however many people have it with o side effects, everybody is different. Try it and see how you tolerate it, if not you can come off it. Good luck!

[Zac11]

I 've been on it for a month in preparation for a DC Cardioversion which I had yesterday. After just one shock (under a 5 minute General Anaesthetc) my normal heart rhythm returned after being in AF for over a year. Fingers crossed it stays that way. I've had no side effects so far, even during the first 2 weeks' loading period. The cardioversion nurse plans to keep me on it for a further 4-6 weeks only as most of the side effects occur with long term use. I've also been on Apixaban 5mgx2, bisoprolol 2.5mg and Ramipril 10mg. The only side effects I've had were, I think, from the Ramipril, a little occasional dizziness, one day of diarrhoea, a slight throat tickle at night and weird dreams! But nothing I can't cope with. Musgrove Park Taunton Cardiology Department have been brilliant. We must Save our precious NHS!

[kitzabella in reply to Zac11]

how are you now?

[Zac11 in reply to kitzabella]

Back in AF unfortunately, after 7 months in rhythm, but I've since had more scans and an angiogram which found a long-standing LAD blockage that would be hard to correct with a stent, but as I still feel fine on the meds, and the cardioversion, when it worked, hadn't made any real difference to how I felt, they're not planning to do another or any other procedures unless I start feeling worse or get breathless again. I've also reduced my Bisoprolol to the minimum 1.25 mg as 2.5 was lowering my heart rate too much; and am also now on Atorvastatin 80 mg which has lowered my cholesterol from 6+ to 3.3. Thanks for asking.

[kitzabella in reply to Zac11]

sorry to hear that. i am on bisoprolol 2.5mg and amiodarone 200mg 1x a day each for 3weeks now and still feeling episodes every now and then and same as you been on 2weeks loading. i know amio takes time to take effect but how long did it took for you? and also are you back on amio?

[Zac11 in reply to kitzabella]

No, only took Amiodorone to prepare me for the cardioversion. I started on it a month before the cv and stopped taking it 3 months after the cv. My cardiology Department told me they don't generally like you to be on it for more than about 6 months.

[KG176]

I am taking this and have no problems with it. Points to consider:

The list of side effects listed with the drug include some that are only experienced by a minute number of patients.

Your body will acclimatise to the drug over time. When I first started, my heart rate went through the floor, but is now back to normal (whatever normal is).

[Handel]

Hi Plantseed. Hubby is on Amiodarone following a quad bypass on 13th November. For the first week he was on 3 a day, next week he had 2 a day and ever since then, just one a day. They're to stabilise irregular heart beats. Our GP wants him to stay on one a day until he has his consultant review on 22nd January 2019.

No side effects and they've certainly done the job. His heart rhythm is perfect!

Don't worry - as KG said the side effects are only reported in a tiny proportion of users.

Most drugs (if not all) come with side effect lists!!!

Good luck xxx

[Silkman1]

Its fine short term but it causes problems with my warfarin.

[Phil-52]

Hi Plantseed

I took Amiodarone after my Quad bypass as I had a irregular heart beat for a short while. My Heart beat soon returned to normal but I found that when I went out in the slightest hint of sun my skin felt like it was burning. As there is little chance of suffering under the UK sun at the moment I wouldn't worry too much

Phil

[Alison1960]

I was on it for 6 weeks after surgery but was allowed off it after 4 weeks - I felt no side effects but there are so many (and some irreversible) that I wanted off it as soon as it was safe to do so. Having said that I don’t think many doctors would put a patient on it it unless absolutely necessary as they say it’s a filthy drug.

[DaveTR]

Interested to see this post as I was placed on Amiodarone on Saturday to manage a dangerous heart rhythm. My consultant said he does not want me on it long as there can be side effects as mentioned above. He was very clear that I should stay out of the sun. Started with high "loading" dose first (200mg 3 times day) to be lowered to 100mg once a day in a few weeks. So far so good.

I would imagine there are some people on here that take multiple meds (I take 8) and if all the warnings about side effects came true I don't think there would be as many people on this forum, if you get my drift.

I hope you are one of the fortunate ones and can tolerate it.

[Hidden in reply to DaveTR]

Thank you Dave TR I have been taking the drug for a week now high loading like you ,now on second week one less tablet leading to third week down to one a day .

I have been prescribed this for ectopic beats and heart not pumping strongly enough .I am to take for six months .Am still worried about the side effects the heart nurse said they won't appear for a few months .

Some people on this site have had a lot of success I am hoping that I will be lucky enough to be the same and that I will be one of the ones who don't get the side effects .

I guess we just have to trust the Doctor, I wasn't aware that there was anything wrong with me at least I have a chance to stop the problem getting any worse .

Good luck let me know how you get on

Plantseed

[DaveTR in reply to Hidden]

Snap!

My heart is not pumping strong enough either due to Dilated Cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) and with the wierd heart rhythms mean I'm also not "firing on all cylinders".

I had an ICD fitted 12 months ago which has saved my life a number of times now. I've been put on the amiodarone now as the heart rhythms are dangerous and my ICD has started Shocking (Defibrilation) where the ICD's Antitachycardia Pacing hasn't worked.

As others have said, try not to worry. Though it's a bit like someone saying "don't look now but...." and you can't but help have a look.

Let's hope it's a success for both of us

Yes, we need to trust the Dr's. We also need to challenge them and places like this forum are a great way to see what treatment other people are receiving and experiencing for their broken hearts.

I'll keep you posted.

[kitzabella in reply to DaveTR]

how are you now? are you still taking amiodarone?

[DaveTR in reply to kitzabella]

Hi,

I'm stable thanks and still on the Amiodarone.

I've just Entresto and when I'm up to max tolerated dose of Entresto and my Beta Blocker (Reduced in Jan 2019 when in hospital) they will conduct a 24 hour holter monitor to examine the Ectopic burden.

I'm hoping that I will be able to stop the Amiodarone and have an Ablation to manage the Ectopics.

Time will tell.

What's your story?

[kitzabella in reply to DaveTR]

when did you start taking amiodarone again? i have been prescribed by this meds 200mg and bisoprolol 2.5mg each day for 3weeks now. I had a successful VT ablation last May2019 and was given the go to stop meds. I also have an ICD and got cardioverted 16x due to SVT last month. My EP wanted to remove bisop and i have been gradually decreasing it but starting to feel irregular heartbeat and she decided to put back the 2.5mg dose.

[DaveTR in reply to kitzabella]

I started on the Amiodarone in January 2019 when my ICD gave me a shock.

This was following a failed Ablation in December 2018.

They say the shock was inappropriate, however I was feeling unwell and my ICD did show an 'electrical storm' just before it went off.

I felt better for the shock.

I know the consultant would like me to come off the amiodarone as they say it is a harsh drug.

I hope they sort you out.

[kitzabella in reply to DaveTR]

same as mine, 16x was inappropriate due to my ICD was set to fire at 180bpm but it shocked me at 150bpm (they turned on the therapy though).. well they suspected it was atrial tachycardia means i now have VT and AT.. i am hoping this is just a part of the healing process..

I am feeling better with my dose right now but i hope this will settle down soon so i can stop amio..

Thank you and God bless!

We are hoping for a cure

[Kaz747 in reply to DaveTR]

I’m trying to stay out of the sun which is pretty hard in the Australian summer. I go walking early in the morning or in the evening and lather myself in 50+ sunscreen every day. I’m still getting a number of hive like rashes most days, mainly on my torso which is covered with clothes. I’ve been taking photos of the rashes and created an album on my phone to show my specialist when I see him next week. My AF is a bit better with the Amiodarone but it’s still there which is frustrating. I had a heap of blood tests on Thursday so will see what is revealed. Take care outside.

[Arkoia53]

I have also just been prescribed this and have been on it 4 days now. Like you I was also very concerned about the potential toxicity of this drug. I have a meeting with the cardiac nurses on the 22nd and plan to ask a lot of questions about it as at present I don't know how long they plan to keep me on it. It's early days yet but so far no side effects and I have noticed a big difference in that my heart isn't thumping half as hard in my chest as it was before. So far so good but I am concerned about the long term.

[Hidden in reply to Arkoia53]

Good to hear that you are experiencing a difference in your condition.

I have my appointment with nurses on Friday and like you I have many questions .

Keep in touch would be great to hear what your appointment reveals

[Hidden]

Hi everyone just a quick question for you . I posted a query about Amiodarone a little while ago .I,was worried about taking it .Your replies helped me to try it .While I,feel ok and it's probably too early to get side effects I just wondered if anyone taking this has put on weight ?

Xxx