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← Return to Amiodarone experiences
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When I first went into AFib, my cardiologist put me on 400 mg of Amiodarone. He never mentioned risks. Like William66, I felt terrible. I was constantly nauseous and was short of breath. I found out that amiodarone was toxic to my lungs, and I now have pulmonary fibrosis due to it. In addition, it brought my heart rate down into the 30's, and I passed out. Obviously, I discontinued the Amiodarone, but it stays in the system for months. I then was referred to an electrophysiologist and was given a pacemaker. After the pacemaker I have gone into AFib 3 times. I am having a problem with medications controlling my AFib. When my EP suggested Amiodarone, he quickly learned that there is NO WAY I would take that drug again! I know it works well for some people, but my advice is to get constantly monitored for adverse reactions - something my cardiologist did not do.
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@bettycll
Not a medical person at all. I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006.
It is my information that a pacemaker paces your LV not your atriums. When you get AFIB it is spearte form LV pacing. AFIB usually is treated with medications. The biggest riks per my EP from AFIB is strokes.
I had 5 shocks in a 24 hour period back in 2016. I was put on Amiodarone drip in hospital and then pills. This was done by hospital not my treating EP. After I reserached the amiodarone I did not want to be on it just like you because of the toxicity. He agreed but took several months to wean me off safely.
Years later I was put on a drug called Mexiline (spell) to help with PVCs and tachyacardia. It is not very toxic but because it does not stay in body you have to take every 8 hours. It cut my PVCs in half and no very rare tachyacardia.
I agree with you. Every doctor that puts a patient on amiodarone should go over the toxicity and risk. It should be based on benefit of this drug versus it side affects. It is a great and affective medication to bring heart into rympthm.
Until this year (since 2016) I had to have yearly eye checks because I had been on amidarone. The eye doctor after almost 10 years since I came off said he found no evidence of amiodarone damge to my eyes and I did not need to have checked now after 10 years.
Amilodarone is very effective but medical professionals need to be honest and informative over the side affects and toxicity of the medication.