Amiodarone experiences

Yikes! Husband just had 4hr electrophysiology procedure to ablate Afibs. EP stopped Diltiazm ER and changed to Amiodarone 200 mg. Now concerned after reading about its possible side effects. I’m hoping 3 weeks usage prior to post op visit will not be detrimental,

@abob
I was told that low doses of amiodorone are not as toxic as high doses. Don't know the numbers to say if 200 mg is considered low dose.

As you will see on MCC amiodorone is a great medication and it does work. Just be aware it has documented toxic side affects that you and your doctor need to determine if best for you to be on in for you versus the side affects and toxicity.

Talke you your doctors about it and be blunt with them about what you have read and heard. Again it is a great medication that really helps with heart rympthm but has a high toxicity.

I wish the medical world would work on getting another great medication like amiodorone but not with the high toxicity. Like any medication some will not react to the toxicity of amiodorone as much as others.

It is the long term toxicity to organs that is such a concern when taking amiodorone. I did not want that toxicity especially my eyes and asked to be weaned off and EP agreed. Amiodorone is a drug used in ER to get a patient out of emergency and it does work. However for the long term usage you really need to be discussing it with your PCP and if all possible your EP cardiologist.

Amu45sin
Was on 200 mg with no noticable side effects for two months.
Had an an Ablation a week ago, and now am off amiodorone.
Not good to stay on for very long.

In response to the person that was wondering about a substitute drug for amiodarone they did come up with a drug called Multag it also has side effects but not as many and doesn't work as well as amiodarone. I have been on amiodarone for one year now and my eye doctor has noticed scares in both eyes from amiodarone. I see my heart doctor in two weeks, and we will discuss getting me off that drug. I will say it has kept me in sinus rhythm though for the year that I have been on it. I knew it could have some serious side effects but didn't know it could take up to a year to get it out of your system and during that time continue to have problems with your organs. No one should be on that drug long term.

I have had a ICD/Pacemaker since 2006 (on my third one). I have had VTACH, PVCs, PACs, AFIB, VFIB during those years.

Back in 2016 the wires in my pacemaker were developing serious impedience which was affecting battery life. They decided to try turning off the pacing. Within a week on one day I had 5 shocks (first time ever) within 24 hours. I was put on Amiodarone drip in hospital and pills afterward. Amiodarone is a great medication and worked for me bringing my heart back into rympthm.

However like your dad I had read about Amiodarone side affects and toxicity to body. With discussions with my EP he agreed to ween me off of it slowly over a 6 month period. I still have to have yearly eye exams to check if the amiodarone caused any damage to eyes which is one of the side affects.

The dose I was on was high and I have read on MCC many on Amiodarone on much lower dosage for long periods of time.

Since we are not medical professionals ask your dad or you to talk to your cardiologist about the side affects of amiodarone versus the benefits of it for your dad. Your doctors know the seriousness of your dads VTACH and the presciption dosage level.

If you and your dad are in doubt you can always get a second opinion from outstanding medical facilities like Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins and most of the time it can be done by submitting medical information to the second opinion facility. I did this with UFHPTI to get second opinion from diagnosis from Mayo and wanted second opinion.
Good luck but please talk to his doctors about the risks and benefits of amiodarone and if still in doubt suggest you consider a second opinion on treatment of your dad's VTACH.

Amu45sin here.
I totally agree. Prior to my ablation on 4/18, I
was on amiodorone 200 mg per day for 4 months.
A month ago, my eye doctor noticed
scars which had to be removed by laser. Coincidence? we both were on amiodirone, and got scars?

Thanks for the reply. Just wondering what you have done now for medication and is it working?

Pradaxa (Dahbigatran) 110 mg twice a day,
Metropolol 12.5 mg once a day
Atorvastatin 20 mg per day.
Lisinoprol 5 mg perday.
Only had the ablation a week ago. Follow up appmt will tell if they are working.
Hope the ablation is working, thenmatbe I can get off some or all meds. Hugz and best go out.