Experience on taking Amiodarone

[-1946-]

Hi All, I am new here and hope everyone has managed to keep safe and well during Covid. I had a stroke December 2020. It was caused by AF that I didn’t know I had, no symptoms other than tiredness. Made a good recovery thanks to a clot busting injection given within 2 hours of stroke. Very grateful.

Had unsuccessful cardioversion and it is suggested I change blood thinner from Apixaban to Amiodarone and try cardioversion again. The side affects concern me and would like to know if anyone can tell me their experience on this blood thinner. I expect to be on it at least 14 months if not longer. Many thanks

[Mart25]

Good morning. I'm slightly confused by your post because apixaban in a blood thinner (anticoagulant) but amiodarone is not. Amiodarone reduces arhythmias and helps the heart beat a normal rhythm. I'm not a medic but from what I know it would be reasonable for you to be taking both of these medications. Amiodarone will control the AF and apixaban will avoid the risk of a stroke. I recommend you check again with your cardiologist or GP so you are certain what they intend. Hope this helps.

[-1946- in reply to Mart25]

Thank you for replying Mart25 you have been a great help. I am new to all this so what it has shown me is to understand fully what these drugs do. I thought it was to replace the apixaban to go forward for another cardioversion. I will certainly get back to my cardiologist. Have you heard reports on these side effects

[Becksagogo]

Are you sure it's Amiodarone? I am not medically qualified but it is my understanding that Amiodarone is normally prescribed to control the heart rate.I was on it for a few months but my body couldn't tolerate it so I came off.

Whilst it does what is says on the can, the side effects can outweigh the benefits.

Read all you can, talk to your Doctor and make your own decisions based on the research you do. Some people get along fine with it but I wouldn't ever take it again.

[Athena-Heinrich]

2 weeks after my emergency Aortic dissection (type a) I had afib. Put immediately on amiodarone. (Was on Apaxiban too I think) Its quite hard at the beginning of this medication journey to distinguish between different drugs - let alone combos - but I couldnt get off amiodarone quickly enough. You cant go in the sun as you burn immediately (apart from posssibility of going blue) and Im someone who absolutely needs to be in the sunshine sometimes - physically and psychologically. It also made me look grey and feel low. Was on it 6 months - pushing them to come off it and in fact as Id suspected, my own afib was post operative and touch wood is ok now . Stayed on apaxiban then eventually switched to baby aspirin instead (with couple of other things lowest doses possible) Everybody's body and priblem is different and is affected differently. I also take bisoprol betabloker now at the lowest dose poss as I dont like the effects (and therefore quality of my life) at higher dose. But I feel it helps keep things regular.

[Mountwood]

Hello 1946. Like Mart25 I was surprised when you referred to Amiodarone as a blood thinner. I had 2 episodes of AF 20 years ago as a reaction to chest surgery when my heart was handled and moved and was put on Amiodarone for about 6 months so far as I can remember. What I do remember is that, unlike others, I had no side effects whatever so I must be one of the lucky ones.Your doctor should sort out any confusion for you. Good luck.

[rubyred]

You need both, I am similar to yourself but haven’t had stroke. I was also diagnosed end November 2020 just felt tired. By time I was diagnosed the AF was persistent and I felt nothing. At same time they found dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure my ejection fraction was 27%. I was out on whole load of pills.

One being Apixaban. This is a blood thinner and it’s really important that it is taken regularly on time.

AF caused the blood to clump up and then it dumps the clumps into the lower chamber which then sends the clots out. That’s my very simplistic knowledge. You must not stop it.

I had internal cardioversion initially it worked but within one week I was back in AF. When I went into hospital for my treatment the one most important thing they wanted to know was had I missed any apixaban. If I had they would not have done the cardioversion.

the consultant started me on Amiodarone. It is a drug given to people in persistent AF. It’s given to get the heart pharmacologicaly into normal rhythm. It’s a last resort drug that I understand they do not like to prescribe due to side effects.

I’ve been on it 6 weeks. I am going into hospital. I saw the consultant last week. He once again checked I hadn’t missed any apixaban. I have my pre-op next week and I know they will ask that question. Plus I will be asked it again on the day of my ablation.

At no point has there ever been any indication that they will stop the Apixaban. I understand when I’m fully in normal rhythm they will still prescribe as precautionary.

Donna xx

[-1946- in reply to rubyred]

Thanks Donna for your reply and the information has been invaluable to me. I wish you lots of luck with your procedure and will be thinking of you x

[Ads568]

Hello -1946-

As others have said, Apixaban and Amiodarone have different roles. Probably best if you speak to your cardiologist to get clarity on your meds, their functions, etc.

My husband took Amiodarone (with Warfarin) for many years without any side effects whatsoever. I was on it (with Apixaban) for 3 months and felt awful! I developed tremors in my hand and arm and was taken off it. I think I had to wean off it, so please don't just stop taking either drug.

It's really difficult to get your head round all the medication, but I find it helps me enormously if I understand what everything does and why. Your prescribing cardiologist should be happy to explain things to you.

Best wishes,

[-1946- in reply to Ads568]

Thank you for your reply and I have taken all advice on board as a newbie and very grateful for you all being there. It’s all very interesting

[grandmadogs]

HiI had persistent afib. 2 failed cardioversions then put on amiodarone for a few months. I had already been out on apixaban. No change so then had an ablation which was successful but was kept on amiodarone for a further 4 months to keep everything stable. Nearly three years on and am still on apixaban as a precaution but have had no problems with afib. The only side effect from amiodarone was sensitivity to sun and heat. I was given blood tests to make sure all was well as it is very toxic but I think if all handled carefully it is worth a go. It all worked for me. Good luck.

[-1946- in reply to grandmadogs]

Thank you for that, the past 4 months have been a bit of a life changer and getting used to taking medication has been hard. It is obviously a personal choice but when you have been lucky enough not to have any symptoms the side effects of Amiodorone are quite scarey. I appreciate your reply very much

[grandmadogs in reply to -1946-]

I totally understand as I did not really have any symptoms and my afib was discovered by chance but it was obviously affecting my life but without me realising it. It took a lot of discussion with the electro physicist but for me was the right decision. I had an ablation under GA which took 5 hours as he was determined to sort it out as both cardioversions had failed. The amiodarone was always going to be temporary and just used to settle sinus rhythm back in. I hope everything is successful for you too.

[Smudgeotter]

I have been on amiodarone for 3 years. I have arrythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy and it controlled the arrhythmias really well initially. I've recently started with sporadic arrythmias again and I'm listed for an ICD. The main side effects I have experienced with amiodarone are extreme sensitivity to the sun. I need to wear factor 50 and a sun hat in strong sunshine.

[-1946-]

Thanks Boris, I have been doing my homework being a newbie at this and now know that. What I am trying to do is get my head around taking it for my AF before another cardio version and I am struggling. I fortunately don’t suffer many symptoms and I know Amiodarone has quite severe side effects so I am in a shall I or shan’t I go for it. I guess I have to think about the outcome of not treating the AF and weigh it up.

[-1946-]

Did he say why he took you off Boris?