Amiodarone

Hi

I haven't been posting for a while

Wondering if anyone out there has felt odd when told to stop taking Amiodarone ?

Doctor took me off this in July I only started it in January but apparently was affecting my Thyroid .

Just feel a bit depressed and I am worried about the ectopic beats returning don't know if I am imagining things or not ?

Any ideas ?

[Jalia]

I've been on and off Amiodarone a few times over the years and didn't notice any thing untoward when I came off.

You probably thought of Amiodarone as your safety net. There are other drugs to try should your cardiologist deem it necessary so try not to worry about what may or may not happen. Amiodarone is not a good drug to be on long term unless absolutely necessary anyhow.

[bowls12]

I was only on Ami for 9 weeks following mitral valve repair. No problems when discontinued,

As always if you are concerned talk to your GP

[ILowe]

Irregularities sometimes re-start once you stop taking amiodarone. There are other safer alternatives. Ask your doctor about flecainide + bisoprolol (small amount). Failing that, there is also the unpopular-in-UK drug sotolol.

Most ectopics are harmless, but do keep a diary, and report them. They will never know unless you tell the medics.

Just remember to remind the doctors that the effect of amiodarone lasts for months, and similar drugs should have a reduced dose. In my view it is the responsibility of the patient to to check that the doctor remembers questions of interaction and dose reduction.

[Desanthony]

I have been on amiodorone since the end of April this year when I went back into persistent AFib after a successful cardioversion the previous May. I then had a another successful cardioversion in June - should have had one 3 weeks after starting amiodorone but mix up at the hospital so think it was 6 weeks after starting. Just had a total knee replacement operation 2 weeks ago and thankfully all well with that, on reduced dose of apixaban for about a month to avoid bleeding - though haven't notice that I bleed easier or longer with apixaban but that's just in the normal run of things. I do bruise easier but then that could be my age. I get blood tests on Monday as last set of blood tests did show that my thyroid results had changed. I don't feel any different so am thinking that after these tests when I go to see the heart nurse on Wednesday they will take me off amiodorone. Will be good to stop taking a tablet as I have reduced my tablet intake a lot and I think it is doing me good. Will look out for any problems as of now i have not had any problems taking the amiodorone so hope I won't have any problems coming off it. Will look out for any problems. Hoping to go forward with an ablation in the next year so that this Afib will be history for me.

Take care everyone and enjoy this gorgeous weather.

Des