Amiodarone withdrawal

[capercaille]

A week ago I had my Amiodarone 200mg per day stopped (leaving me on Bisoprolol 5mg per day).

I know Amiodarone has a long half-life, stays in your system and the side effects can linger too.

I am still suffering from the main side effect of dizziness/imbalance/woosyiness.

Can anyone say what their experience of this is/was, how long? Thank you!

[Ads568]

Hello Capercaille,

I was on Amiodarone for a couple of months a few years ago. I was told then it could take about 3 months to get it out of my system. It did take a while for my side effects to go, but not 3 months. (My main side effects were tremors and feeling dreadful, but I was very poorly at the time, so not sure how much I can blame on the amiodarone!)

Hope you start to feel better soon.

[capercaille in reply to Ads568]

Thank you very much – that's very helpful and makes me optimistic about how long I might have to suffer this! I do feel the side effects have hindered my recovery from my op. (to replace mitral valve) whilst the drug itself probably aided in other respects. Everything a trade-off.

Do hope you are well and fit again…

[DogLover9987 in reply to capercaille]

I’ve been in amioderone since December 2024. I have persistent afib and the only way to get back to sinus rhythm is a cardioversion. I had 3 cardioversions and the last one only lasted a week or two. Before the fourth cardioversion my cardiologist put me on amioderone, a loading dose for 2 weeks and then 200 mg a day. I had a 4th cardioversion in mid January and have been in sinus rhythm ever since. The side effects of amioderone are getting worse, so I called my cardiologist’s office a week ago to ask if I could reduce to 100 mg a day. They never called me back. One of the side effects I have is a slow heart rate which is getting worse. I called my cardiologist’s office again and still no answer, so I’m just going to stop taking amioderone. To be honest, I felt better when I was in afib than I do now.

When you all have stopped taking amioderone did you quit cold turkey? I know amioderone stays in the body for a long time after stopping the drug, so it seems code turkey should be fine. Whether or not I stay in sinus rhythm shall be seen, but I just can’t do the amioderone anymore.

[capercaille in reply to DogLover9987]

Fully understand (only too well!). I was put on it in November 2024 and had the loading dose too. Despite having mentioned my dizzy spells/visual disturbance to my cardio rehab nurse, and my GP, nobody seemed to take sufficient responsibility to do something. I got so fed up with the dizziness etc. that I wrote to the secretary of what turned out to be 'my cardiologist'. He told me to stop the amiodarone – so I did do 'cold turkey' – I've only been off it a week, but I feel so much better for having stopped pumping 200mg of it into my system every day.

The drug stays in your system for quite a long time so I still have a side effect from time to time, but hope that will pass more quickly. It seems I have been in sinus rhythm sufficiently long that a planned cardioversion has been cancelled. I just hope that AF does not return.

Wishing you well…

[RF260 in reply to capercaille]

Hi, similar dilemna here, been on Amiodarone about 10 weeks now and it quickly put me back in nsr (back in nsr about 8 weeks now). I don't know if it's the Amiodarone but I've been suffering fatigue, leg muscle aches, itchy scalp, anxiety and a few others, furthermore would like to be off it before summer given potential skin issues. I'm going to push to come off it but like yourself I don't want to go back into AFib. The cardiology department said they wouldn't keep me on it too long but think I will chase as they know I'm back in nsr but have made no contact with me to plot next steps..good luck and hoping side effects go away completely soon..

[capercaille in reply to RF260]

Yes, it is a dilemma, and I more and more get the impression that it is a dilemma for cardiologists too, for it is only by a process of trial and possible error that establishes what works for any individual.

But I do hope you find a resolution…thank you for your support.

[MartinOG]

I’m on 2.5mg twice a day and have a nap every lunchtime as leaves me tired

[RF260]

Hi, I am hoping to come off soon (been on it since new years day and been back in rhythm since 11th January) so I will follow your experience with interest and wish you well. May I ask if you are currently in normal sinus rhythm and if so did you get a view from the cardiologist on the likelihood of that not holding and do you have any alternative antiarrhythmic drug to take, or procedures planned ? Thanks.

[capercaille in reply to RF260]

I've been on it since 20 November, saw cardio surgeon on 16 December who told me to leave it as too early after op. (24 Oct). Think they then actually forgot, and GP didn't pick it up (or left it to cardiologist). Wasn't till I 'complained' of side effects to cardiologist a week ago (having previously mentioned it to cardio rehab nurse and GP) that he immediately said to come off it.

I am in sinus rhythm (confirmed a month or so ago). Echocardiogram today also confirmed. Have appt with cardio surgeon in two weeks, and cardioilogist week after that. Going to ask re possible recurrence and remedy of AFib; also taking 5mg Bisoprolol, no further procedures it is to be hoped.