Amiodarone PIp ?

[Peony4575]

My cardiologist has come up with Amiodarone as a pip after Flec caused side effects . Does anyone have any experience of this ? The conversation has been letter based, haven’t had a proper conversation where I had the opportunity to ask questions. That is in the pipeline but have to have the usual work up first

[Ppiman]

It was suggested that I would need that when I had atrial flutter, but my ablation came first and that solved the problem (although I now have other arrhythmias and AF).

If you search for "low dose amiodarone safety” online, you'll find a most reassuring study on the drug. It does require frequent monitoring but otherwise seems safe as an option when others fail.

Can you not manage with only, say, a beta blocker and cope with the symptoms? That is what I am trying to do.

Steve

[Peony4575 in reply to Ppiman]

Many thanks Steve . I can’t take beta blockers and diltiziem drops my blood pressure way too much . I will have a look , many thanks for that. I am sure I was given it in a&e with my first episode but it didn’t make any difference . Like you am being very well behaved and hoping ablation comes before the next af episode

[Ppiman in reply to Peony4575]

My episodes are regular these days but I cope okay with them so far.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were better communication with the hospital, though? My last phone conversation with the specialist left more questions than it answered.

Steve

[Peony4575 in reply to Ppiman]

Could not agree more . Heart issues are so important and we are frequently left in twilight if not completely in the dark .My local surgery seems completely set up to avoid human interaction . As soon as they have a robot that can take blood you will be able to get in and out without ever speaking to a human

[Lezzers]

My husband was on this for just over a year to help control VT's that were still a problem after an ablation & his medical team were unable to increase his 1.24 mg bisoprolol because of low blood pressure, they do call it a last resort drug.

You start off on a high dose and gradually (over 6 weeks if I remember rightly) decrease it to a maintenance dose of 200mg

My husband had no side effects and no after affects when he stopped it. You do need to have regular checks on your thyroid though

Hope this helps

[Peony4575 in reply to Lezzers]

It does thank you . Glad your husband is ok. I won’t be taking it or anything else except as a last resort ! Just need something as a back up plan

[Lezzers in reply to Peony4575]

Tbh,my husband really had no choice but I did have a long chat with the EP about this being quite a toxic drug and was assured that they wouldn't expect anyone to have side effects if on it short term, it's only long term usage where the risk of side effects are higher, though someone I knew was on it for 8 years with no issues!

There is also a med called Dronedarone which is similar to amiorodone, it not as effective but has less side effects. Would your medical team consider that as an option?

[Peony4575 in reply to Lezzers]

I don’t know . I am sure I was given amiodarone in a&e with my first episode . Didn’t do anything to change the course of events . Will have a more in depth conversation with cardiologist in my eventual clinic appointment hopefully

[Lezzers in reply to Peony4575]

That's interesting about A&E. My husband had a VT storm, A&E cardioverted him but it didn't work. They then chemically cardioverted him which, I believe, is basically amiorodone given intravenously. That did calm down the VT's but didn't stop them altogether so he had an urgent ablation 6 weeks later and then prescribed amiorodone as he was then getting lots of different arrythimias, but this is quite usual after an ablation. So far, apart from a few PVC's he's been arrythimia for over a year 🤞

[Peony4575 in reply to Lezzers]

Sounds like quite an ordeal ! Long may he remain virtually arrythmia free ! Fingers crossed !

[Lezzers in reply to Peony4575]

Thank you. I wish you luck too 🍀

[Lilypocket]

I took it for six weeks after my RF ablation. But I didn't know it could be taken as a pill- in -the -pocket. As I now have some infrequent RF episodes my cardiologist has prescribed Sotolol as a PIP.

[Peony4575 in reply to Lilypocket]

Thanks Lily , I gather it takes longer to work as a pip than flec but I guess it depends what you can tolerate . Disappointing to still be getting AF after your ablation

[Lilypocket in reply to Peony4575]

I don't mind as it has been an enormous improvement. Before the ablation I was having about 5 or 6 hours of Afib every other day. I had nearly 2 years Afib free and then since July this year I have had 6 episodes which max lasted 4 hours and apart from a little breathlessness pretty much asymptomatic. I was on Flecainide before ablation but my Cardiologist said not to take it after an ablation as it can be pro arrhythmic. Hence the Sotolol PIP.

[Peony4575 in reply to Lilypocket]

Yes that is quite an improvement . Hope it maintains for you

[Ducky2003]

I've never heard of it as a pip as its one of those drugs that takes time to build up in your system and also time to leave your system.That's usually why you have to take a loading dose for a few weeks when you start taking it or prior to a cardioversion.

The only version of Amiodarone that I'm aware of that works immediately is intravenously so perhaps see if you can talk to an EP rather than a general cardiologist.

[Visigoth]

It’s hard to imagine amiodarone as a PIP since you have to take a loading dose to start with. However, I’m sure it would do some good. I’ve been on amiodarone 100mg daily for years and no problems, although I have regular blood tests etc to make sure that that’s still the case.

[Peony4575 in reply to Visigoth]

Good to know you are tolerating it well, thank you for taking the time to reply