Amiodarone

Hi all you lovely people out there .

I have been taking Amiodarone since January , I was really worried about side effects but so far I don't seem to have had any .That is until today it was quite sunny and although I had high factor sunscreen on my face looks a bit red.

It's not sore or anything but I am worried has anyone any advice please ?

[Olliemonty58]

Hi I'm on amiodarone. Is sun burn why I got told to cover up in the sun? Great I have psoriasis and need the sun. Good luck x

[Pippy36 in reply to Olliemonty58]

I have been taking Amiodorone for 10 years and find I have to stay out of the sun or I burn. I just make sure I am well covered and wear a hat. If I stand in sun with no hat I can feel my scalp stinging after about 10 mins!

It is a side effect of this drug.

[SarahBrealey_BHF]

Hi

Have you seen this article about amiodarone and its side effects?

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Kaz747]

I was on it for a couple of months and developed a lot of rashes. I stayed out of the sun as much as possible and was always plastered in 50+ sunscreen. I’m in Australia and I was on it in the height of summer. Often the rashes were on my chest, bag or legs - areas that weren’t exposed. I had rosy red cheeks most days (it looked like a lupus rash on my face). I had a very high reading on a liver function test, so that combined with my rashes and some bronchial problems I developed, made my cardiologist decide to take me off it.

[Hidden in reply to Kaz747]

Hi Kaz

I would be interested to know what bronchial problems you developed I have had a little cough for a couple of weeks should I be concerned do you think ? When I mentioned to the HF nurse she listened to my chest and said it was clear ?

[Kaz747 in reply to Hidden]

I didn’t feel too bad but had a bit of shortness of breath. My GP sent me for a Chest X-ray and rang me a few days later asking me to come in that day and pick up a script for a pretty heavy antibiotic because I had bronchitis. It wasn’t definitively linked to the Amiodarone but as it can affect your lungs and I had other side effects my EP said I’d better stop.

[Hidden in reply to Kaz747]

Thank you Katz very helpful , hope you are well and managing without the Amiodarone .

[Kaz747 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I’m actually in hospital getting ready to go in for another ablation.

[Hidden in reply to Kaz747]

Oh Kaz I really hope that all goes well for you let me know how you get on wishing you well real soon and sending you a big hug x

[Hidden]

Hi I was on Amiadrone and suffered terrible side effects to start, I was just left with being sensitive to the sun, didn't matter how much cream I put on. I'm on Dronedarone now as it doesn't contain iodine, unfortunately still got my face and hands burnt on Tuesday. Good luck and take care

[Phil-52]

I was on Amiodarone after my bypass. It took a while before to understand why I was burning in the slightest hint of sun. Just happened to mention it to the doctor and he took me straight off it.

[Hidden in reply to Phil-52]

Hi Phil

Did the Doctor say why ?

[Phil-52 in reply to Hidden]

I had AF for a short while after surgery but it stopped when I left hospital. If I remember correctly it was a few months after that I happened to mention the sun burn during a check up. The doctor seemed to know what it was straight away and said that I didn't need the Amiodarone any more.

[Hidden]

Many thanks to all of you that replied to my questions so good to hear what others say .

Will definitely make sure to slather the Sun screen on .

Take care and enjoy the sunshine x

[Zac11]

I was on it for a month prior to a successful DC cardioversion and then a further 3 months until I had a planned echocardiogram while my heart was still in rhythm. Stopped immediately after the echo cg. Only symptom I had was itchy skin on face, especially at night. Hospital told me from the off that I'd only be on it for 6 months max as most of the side effects usually only occur with long term use.