AMIODARONE

[lancers87]

Needed cardio version after bypass x 3 aortic valve replacement December 2020,

Put onto AMIODARONE 200mg daily plus other drugs for blood clots found on lungs and other medications for blood thinning and blood pressure. Now feeling completely washed out, no energy, sensitive to uv, ocular deposit in eyes, hallucinations at night, have to be aware when getting up after sitting for a while. Weight gain. Victor Meldrew syndrome. Will things get better?

[Cliff_G]

The only one of those I know is very likely to be Amiodarone is the ocular deposits, which occur in 100% of people on amiodarone, but does not usually affect vision. Another recommendation if on amiodarone is to stay out of sunlight and use high factor sunblock when not possible. Whether that is the same as you describe as being sensitive to UV I don't know. I personally have not had any problems with sunlight though I'm not a sun lover anyway.

The others sound very much to me like the effects I and many others report when on beta blockers and/or statins, particularly the dizziness when standing up. This is usually due to low blood pressure or heart rate due to BBs, and in the case of weakness, particularly legs, can be statins. Both of these are standard post-op meds following CABG etc. The hallucinations I don't know about.

I would personally recommend the same route as I went down, talking to your GP and optimising/changing meds to find a combination that does not affect you so badly. GPs are used to handling side-effects, but if you don't tell them, they won't come asking. Took me a couple of years all told to find a final alternative combination to beta blockers, and still looking for cholesterol control as I have not tolerated any statin nor the main alternatives.

Make sure you get regular blood tests for the amiodarone. You may be able to come off that if your a-fib comes under adequate control and the cardiac tissue inflammation settles down.

Good luck, but you may need perseverance.

[bowls12]

Talk to your GP, or if this is difficult the pharmacist who dispensed the tablets.