Amiodarone experiences

I had an ablation at Mayos in Rochester. I chose to return there for my 3 month follow up instead of going closer to home. I had an echo, CT scan, Ekg, and 24 heart monitor. I met with the doctor the following day to look at results.

Follow up- Dad met with his cardiologist today. The doctor listened to his concerns about amiodarone
and then presented other options. The doctor is going to do a catherization to check for obstructions and his valve. Depending on what he finds, we will make a decision to start medication, pursue ablation, or do nothing since he feels well and isn't affected my the short runs of vtach. I appreciate all the people who have commented with their experiences.

Amu45sin.
Thanks so much. Will ask my cardio doctor to do the same for me.
Sounds like you have a great support.
I hope all your tests show you are in the best health!

PLEASE be careful with the amiodarone.
One year seems like a long time.

@dajasorenson
I think it was me that asked why drug companies had not worked on a new drug that works as well as Amiodarone.

Amiodarone does work. It also worked for me. My PVCs stopped and my tachacardia stopped. Pace Clinc was shocked. But then like you I looked up the drug and wow I did not want to be on it.

The amiodarone was prescribed to me when in hospital after 5 shocks of my ACID/Pacemaker not my EP. So in discussion with EP we agreed to come off put even that has to be done slowy. And like you found out the toxicity to organs was going to last for a long time.
I had to have eye tests and labs done every year to look for toxic side affects and damage from the amiodarone. My last eye exam was at the 10 year mark after stopping amiodarone. He said I do not see any damage from the amiodarone and it is 10 years now so you do not have to be checked after this year. YEA!!!!

I think the low dose does not have the same serious side affects. However it is important and this comes from my EP that amiodarone is toxic and builds up in your system. I am on a different rympthm drug for my heart and is working. It has a very low toxicity but must be taken every 8 hours as leaves body very fast.

Amu45sin here.
Was on amiodarone for Afib for 3 months. Had ablation on 4/18. 3 days before
cardiologist had me stop amiodarone and not take any more.

@amu45sin
The eye damage was something really said was something I needed to check on which required special eye exams. Lab tests could see the other organs for damage.

I think amiodorone is a great medication for life saving medication and works very well for that. For long term the patient and doctor should really discuses the long term toxicity versus the benefit of the drug.

Make the patient aware of the drugs side affects is paramount to it being prescribed. Lower dosage may come with lessor toxicity but with that low dosage should still come with toxicity exams.

I am glad to the 10 years I was being checked after I stopped that I did not show any damage to eyes or other ograns. If I was in life saving need to amiodarone I would not hestitate to take it as it does work. For me any other reason for me to take it I would really do an in depth discussion of other drugs and the urgency to be on it ever again.

Hmmmmm, opposite here. Perhaps my husband had no time to start prior, dx to px was only 1 week. amiodarone seems to be keeping his BP near normal and stable. Will have follow-up with EP in a couple of weeks.

Just started Amiodarone for arrhythmia breakout. Flecanide no longer working as PiP. To remain on Amiodarone for 6 weeks until CV early June.
Will see EP then to discuss way forward. Think he will probably suggest/offer ablation. I expect CV to bring me back to NSR.
Dilemma is do I agree to ablation and if so do I remain on Amiodarone temporarily or, refuse ablation and agree to remaining on low dose Amiodarone long term.
Ablation success rate dependent on so many factors and Amiodarone toxic long term. 🤔

@dajasorenson
I had one ablation done on RV and it worked. When started getting tons of PVCs and episodes of tacyacardia I asked for ablation on LV where PVCs were coming.

EP wanted to try medication first. I was put on a drug called Mexiletine. It really helped. My PVCs cut 50% and no tachacardia. It is not very toxic and leaves body very quickly. So you have to take every 8 hours to keep the medicaion in your system.

Amiodorone is a great drug and works but is toxic. The lower doses I have read are not as toxic but taking it long term the toxicity builds up and that is the side affects to other organs it can affect.