Taking Amiodarone

[CyclingPops]

Hi, I have been diagnosed with AF. I'm 60y old and my Cardiologist is planning to do my Cardio Version in February. In meantime Ive been prescribed Amiodarone. I also take Warfarin !

I'm concerned about the Amiodarone side effects such as loss of sight and blistering and peeling skin in 1:10 people. Have you taken it? Was it worth the risks? Any support or genuine advice will be valued.........Thanks.

[Hidden]

Dear AFConcerned

Hello to you on this Christmas Eve morning,

I was placed on Amiodarone after my bypass put my heart into AF [ this is quite common ] so a lot of people are placed on this drug.

I had no visible side effects from the drug, but it did flag up problems with my thyroid after blood tests were done.

It’s a balance thing and my heart nurse told me that the Benefits for me out weighed the negatives.

I was lucky that my AF has gone for now so the Amiodarone could be stopped, in myself I feel no different.

Hope that helps in anyway,

Take care

[CyclingPops in reply to Hidden]

Thanks that’s an encouragement. I’ll get my GP to approve blood tests to monitor my progress and thyroid. I hope you have a healthy & safe 2022

[Mart25]

As Blue1958 has said, lots of people are put on this after bypass surgery to settle the heart after the trauma of the operation. I had some AF immediately after my operation so I was on it for 6 weeks post-op with instructions to reduce the dose gradually and I stopped it altogether after my first post-op review with the cardio nurse. By then I had no AF, so I guess it did the job it was meant to do. Like you, I was a bit concerned about the side effects, especially the effect that sunshine might have and so I was careful when going outside (sun glasses and sunscreen every time). I had no problems with that at all. However, I was a bit suspicious that it affected my sleep so I was quite pleased to stop it. Hope this helps.

[CyclingPops in reply to Mart25]

Thanks that’s an encouragement. I’ll get my GP to approve blood tests to monitor my progress. Fortunately it’s the uk winter and not much sun. Nevertheless I’m putting the Suncream on and covering up. I hope you have a healthy & safe 2022

[Mountwood]

Hello AF Concerned, I was put on Amiodarone after 2 episodes of AF about 20 years ago. I was told the AF was a complication of the surgery I had undergone. As it was so long ago I can't remember how long I took it for but I do remember very well that I had no side effects whatsoever. I have had no more AF either.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas and a Happy (and healthy) New Year.

[CyclingPops in reply to Mountwood]

Thanks that’s encouraging. I hope you have a safe & healthy 2022

[Nadnern]

Hi, like other responders I was prescribed Amiodarone and took for a while after my op and I can also say I had no side effects or specifically no impact on my thyroid. Most medical staff will express concern about how long you are on it and guide you to remind you doctors to take you off it as soon as it's practical. Equally all will describe being an effective medicine for many heart related issues. Good luck

[G0dfather in reply to Nadnern]

I had a mitral valve repair 8 weeks ago and went into AF post op I also was put on Amiodarone and have my follow up with the surgeon next week. I will be coming off it irrespective of what the surgeon advises as already my GP blood test has revealed raised thyroid levels and I have lost stone. I believe it to be a last resort drug and in low doses for a short to medium period is effective but not long term for me I will take my chances without it.

[CyclingPops in reply to G0dfather]

Thanks Andrew that’s helpful. I’ll get my GP to approve blood tests to monitor my Thyroid & progress. I hope you continue to make a full recovery. I hope you have a healthy & safe 2022

[Fossicking]

I had AF 2 days after my aortic valve was replaced (over 2 years ago). To stop it I was put on an Amiodarone drip as I was still in hospital. My surgeon (who did not warn me that there was 'an up to 40% chance of AF after valve surgery' put me on Amiodarone tablets to take at home. I suffered from loss of vision in alternate eyes within a few days and this went on for over a year despite me taking myself off this drug 3 weeks after leaving hospital. My surgeon showed no interest in terms of how long I should take the drug for and referred me to a specialist nurse who quite rightly was not keen to make a firm decision.

Regarding blistering of the skin this is caused by a reaction to sunlight and as I had my op in July I had to keep covered up when going out and had no issues with this side effect. The other serious issue is liver damage and my subsequent blood tests showed evidence of a reaction even after a short period of time, hence my decision to take myself off this drug.

In retrospect the drug did stop the AF which in my case was extreme and only stopped after 4 hours on the drip. I have never been so relieved as at the time I did not think my heart would survive (it literally felt like my whole heart was bouncing around in my ribcage). So I would regard this drug as a necessary evil but one (that for me) should only be regarded as an immediate fix.

At the time I had a number of posts from people that had a similar experience to me and who stopped taking the drug soon after the op. No-one had a repeat of their post-op AF. I hope this helps but we all need to be aware we do not all necessarily react the same way to sugery or to specific drugs.

[CyclingPops in reply to Fossicking]

Wow. That must have been scary. Well done for your recovery. Thank you for sharing your story it has encouraged me to be confident to challenge the process and stand up for myself to GP and Cardiologist. I hope you have a safe & healthy 2022.

[Bigrig]

Hi thereAmiodarone is a very powerful drug, the extreme reactions you mention are rare & certainly not 1 in 10 - as already mentioned the blistering is if you expose your skin to direct sunlight which you are warned not to.

A few weeks after my CABGX3 in 2019, I developed constant Atrial Flutter and I was put on Amiodarone & Digoxin whilst awaiting a Cardioversion, this was during a heatwave in mid summer, I covered up etc but still went out & about - I got prickly skin but that was the only side effect until my succesful Cardioversion.

Subsequent liver blood tests began to come back abnormal 1 month after Cardioversion when I was due to stop Amiodarone anyway, then my liver figures returned to normal.

I believe it was certainly worth taking it as it did bring my heart rate down a lot and stabilise me when I was at a very high stroke risk

[CyclingPops in reply to Bigrig]

Thanks for helping me come to terms with this drug. Fortunately it’s the uk winter and not much sun. Nevertheless I’m putting the Suncream on and covering up as much as I can. From what people are telling me via thisgroup the benefits outweigh the risks in most cases. I hope you have a safe & healthy 2022.