Non-Pulmonary Vein AF and Amiodarone

[PeterGabriel]

Hi all, I've had AF for three years, persistent for one. I had a second ablation three weeks ago. The first, a PVI ablation, didn't work and made my AF a lot worse. The second found the AF had progressed beyond the pulmonary veins which required a lot more ablation.

Has anyone had similar non-pulmonary vein ablation, and what was the outcome? If this one fails I'm told I will need a pacemaker, which is all rather worrying. I'm a fit 65 year old.

I've been on Amiodarone for three months, now my cardiologist want to extend it by another three months. Has anyone suffered any problems after taking Amiodarone for six months?

[Smileyian]

Hi Peter nearly 10 years on Amio. Some occasional side effects affecting thyroid. Take every other day now but monitor thyroid bloods regularly. I am 77.

[PeterGabriel in reply to Smileyian]

Hi Ian, thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear about your thyroid problems. After how long taking Amiodarone did they start? What were the symptoms and how is it treated? What is your dosage? Mine is 200mg per day. I've read that liver damage is another potential side effect. Now I like a glass or two of wine with my dinner, maybe an occasional beer. Did you have a drink while taking Amiodarone? No-one has advised me not to.

[Smileyian in reply to PeterGabriel]

Hi Peter, like you I was originally on 200mg but after 2 ablations I was advised I could take 100mg or half a tablet. I have been on this drug for 10 years and kidney and liver bloods have been consistently ok. However I have recently had swings from hypo to hyper and see the thyroid consultant this month. Have had Amio cut to half tablet every other day which is a very small dose. Indeed I have a glass of wine nearly every day and a beer with weekend lunches with friends here in Singapore. No issue so far

[Athena-Heinrich]

I was on it for 6 months. Think my eyes are more blurry now, otherwise OK and glad to be off it. Had to ask . Did chop up pills to lower dose and come off gradually (doctor doesnt think gently enough for my body) Cant stand the idea that other pills can be given to counteract side effects (eg for thyroid) as if thats an answer. If I look grey and pasty and a drug makes me ill thats not my idea of 'life'.

[PeterGabriel in reply to Athena-Heinrich]

Thanks for your reply, I'm sure you're relieved to be off Amiodarone without too much damage it seems. When did you start gradually reducing the dose? And why did your doc think it wasn't gradual enough?My eyesight also seems to have got a bit worse, don't know if it's the Amiodarone or just old age. Just hoping I don't suffer something worse. Did you get sunburned at all?

[Athena-Heinrich in reply to PeterGabriel]

I was told to keep out of the sun and apart from 2 mins of sunny bliss here and there kept covered. It wasnt that my doctor thought it wasnt gradual enough. She'd've just had me come off it just like that whereas what I've read and feel is that my body needs changes to be gradual. When I was revving up hoping to come off it I reduced over 2 weeks hoping I wouldnt die ! If 'old age' suddenly hits your eyes coinciding with amiodarone its unlikely to be that.