I had an ablation for AFib a month ago, but I am back in persistent Afib with a racing heart at any physical action. My cardiologist wants to put me on Amiodarone. But I've read some horrendous reviews on Drugs.com and other sites that warn of serious consequences, even death, from taking this drug. Anyone suffered bad side effects from this drug, anyone used it with no effects?
My doc says my symptoms are a reaction to the ablation procedure, and it can take 3 months or more for the heart to heal. If so, then I wonder should I just persevere as I am, or do I need the Amiodarone?
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PeterGabriel
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Hi, thanks for the reply. It's my cardiologist that wants me to take it. My GP knows but is unable to answer my questions, and my cardio isn't replying to either of us.
Did you have any bad effects? And why did you come off it, do you take something else in its place?
I had Open Heart Surgery twice in April last year to fix a Aortic Aneurysm. I had a few episodes of Afib in Hospital after the surgeries and got put on Amiodarone. I finished up on it for about 4 months. Cardiologist didn't want to keep me on it long term as she said it has side effects. Though I never really had any, I wasn't keen on staying on it. As I got weaned off it they put me on a small dose of Bisoprolol which I've been on ever since. I would certainly go with what the Cardiologist says. My cardiologist's are excellent all the way through it.
In terms of side effects its a cost benefit analysis. First of all you may not suffer many or any side effects at all and second the AF symptoms may be worse than the any side effects of amiodarone.
My experience is that it is wise to be informed but that you should trust your cardiologist. If you have side effects then that can be dealt with at the time.
I was put on Amiodarone prior to CV. My heart nurse took regular blood checks. Although I didn't seem to have any physical side effects I was taken off it as it was affecting my liver and had to have a liver scan to make sure the drug had not done any damage. I also understand that it can affect the thyroid so regular blood tests should be done.
Doc is correct. I have been on amiodarone since 2012 and since then have had 2 ablations. 1st ablation is not always totally successful. Now ok but stay on half tablet. A small minority of patients cannot tolerate it. It is a very potent drug but extremely effective for the vast majority of Afib and post Afib patients. Unfortunately you may need a 2nd ablation procedure like many of us.
I was put on amioderone 21 years ago after a heart attack as I was left with AFib. I was told to cover my skin with high factor cream & not go out in the sun as it could turn my skin grey. When I got home I went for a walk round the block to start to get my fitness back & found myself very breathless like I am feeling now in heart failure. When I told my cardiologist what had happened I was taken off amioderone & put on another anti antiarythmic
Flecainide which I was on for years then I had trouble breathing again & Cardiologist said it was likely to be the drug again so was taken off. On the leaflets in both of the packets of these drugs it gives breathing problems as a side effect. That’s the trouble with drugs - side effects. I had my first pulmonary vein isolation ablation in 2009 & was told as the heart had been tampered with it could react & we wouldn’t know if the ablation had been successful for I think it was 3 months. I had 3 years with just the odd ectopic beats then went off into AF again & had 2nd ablation which lasted 4 years (was done in 2014) I have since had cardioversions which only last about 3 months. New cardiologist (previous one retired) said if I had another cardioversion & went on amioderone that should hold the best but his words ‘it’s a horrible drug!’I told him what happened with me previously & said no way would I take amioderone again. I often can’t tolerate drugs - everyone’s body is different as to how they respond to drugs. Give it a bit longer to see if your heart settles down after the ablation after all ablation is invasive. Good luck & I hope all goes well for you. There are other anti arrhythmic drugs available that could work for you if in the end you need one. Sorry this has been rather long winded but I do like to know as much as I can about drugs, procedures etc so hope you find it useful & not scary.
Thank you Hannah, very much appreciated. I'm so sorry to hear of your problems with Amiodarone and your long battle with AFib. I've had lots of replies advising me to just trust my cardiologist, but like you, I am sceptical about the automatic prescribing of drugs "because they work" with insufficient consideration for the side effects....and Amiodarone's potential side effects are very serious indeed.....even fatal. In the US the FDA gives it a Black Box label, issued to the most dangerous drugs, and only to be used in life saving circumstances when everything else has failed. Most people will probably suffer few side effects, but there are the unlucky ones.
As you suggest, I am inclined to just persevere with the effects of the ablation and hope they settle in time, while dosing with 2.5mg of Bisoprolol. I would just like my cardiologist to tell me whether that approach is acceptable, or whether it means the certain failure of my ablation.
Once again, thank you Hannah, and I wish you all the very best of luck in your quest for good health and a release from these wretched arrhythmias. X
I was on it for 4 months and it sorted out my AF (caused by my heart kicking off after I'd had stents inserted). I probably shouldn't have been on it so long, but the hospital forgot to formally discharge me, so I had weeks of chasing up my follow-up appointment and being told I was 'in the queue' until they discovered I wasn't! However, it didn't seem to have done me any harm and I don't recall any side-effects from that particular drug. I was warned about its interaction with sunlight, however, which wasn't much of an issue, as it was autumn/winter, but I'd definitely slap on the high factor sunscreen if I was taking it at this time.
Be a good boy and do what your cardiologist wants.
There are side effects to all medecines, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. For amiodoraone the most critical point is keeping out of strong sunlight as the drug causes the skin to burn more easily, even in winter. There are one or two foods that should not be eaten, these are clearly listed in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). Any doubt ask your pharmacist.
So you're unaware of the risks to liver toxicity and permanent organ damage, the potentially fatal pulmonary toxicity, hyperthyroidism, corneal eye deposits and optic neuropathy that can lead to blindness, and the potential for causing slow heart rhythm disorders and ventricular tachycardias?
Thanks for your "advice" but I think I'll keep on researching and asking questions.
I'm aware of the FDA Black Box warning. Your cardiologist will also be aware of the warning, and would not prescribe if he/she did not think that the benefits far outweigh the risks.
At the end of the day you have a right to refuse the medication and ask for an alternative.
I am on this site on behalf of my husband who had heart failure a couple of years ago following atrial flutter. On first diagnosis it took a while to get his medication correct to slow the heart rate. His cardiologist recommended amiodarone. This actually did the trick for him although it was discussed that it would never be a long term prescription. The side effects usually happen to people when on in long term and my husband was only really taking it for around 3 months. He tolerated it really well, and had no side effects at all. That said, I wouldn't want him to be on it long term given its reputation, even his cardiologist said it wasn't ideal. It affects people in different ways, and like all drugs side effects are listed but it doesn't mean that you'll get any or all of them. If its last chance saloon in terms of options, I would say you have to try it as your consultant knows best and it doesn't have to be a permanent feature of your life. Fast forward a couple of years, and hubby has had an ablation and touch wood is absolutely 100%. Hope all goes well for you.
Thanks for your reply....looks like I will have to take it for three months like your husband. Do you know, is it OK to have a couple of drinks while taking Amiodarone....did your hubby?
I’m not sure if this will help but my mum had an ablation earlier this year however after discharge was very quickly back in AF. They diagnosed a flutter and convinced her to have a further ablation.
Unfortunately less than 24 hours after being discharged she was back in AF.
After 5 days on the cardiac ward trying different drugs they decided to try amiodarone, this worked and she was discharged on a reducing dose of amiodarone.
After a couple of months she was feeling a little unwell, though I’m not convinced it was connected with the amiodarone. Her GP took advice from the cardiologist and reduced and withdrew a couple of the cardiac medications and she is now AF symptom free.
I believe the ablations can take a little time to work as I think they rely on scars forming.
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