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Amiodarone experiences

Posted by dey10238 @dey10238, Mar 25 1:38pm

The cardiologist wants my dad to start amiodarone for short runs of vtach . He is 83 years old with a pacemaker. He adamantly is refusing to take it due to information he has read about it. What are your experiences?

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abob | @abob | 3 days ago
In reply to @dajasorenson "Wow that's a lot. They usually put you on amiodarone for a few weeks after an..." + (show)
@dajasorenson

Wow that's a lot. They usually put you on amiodarone for a few weeks after an ablation just to keep you in rhythm. I had two ablations both only lasted 8 months. It will be interesting to see what my heart doctor says in a few weeks after I have been on amiodarone for a year now. It has kept me in rhythm, but the side effects are terrible. Thanks for your input.

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Husband just had ablations for 2 afibs, put on amiodarone 200mg, follow-up appt is in 2 weeks.

I am concerned that your ablations only lasted for 8 months. Can you provide reason why?

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1 reply
alphastarz | @alphastarz | 3 days ago

I had sustained vtach with syncope. After a bolus in ER of amiodarone, 36hrs of high dose IV dosages, I was then put on 400mg x2 day (for 800mg total) for 2 weeks, stepped to 400mg x1 day for 2 weeks, then 200mg x1 for 1 month. I since had a successful ablation where the VT focal spot was induced/isolated in EP lab and have been able to go off everything except a beta blocker now, 50mg x2 day of metropolo …

100 - 200mg of amio is not what doctors consider a “high” dose. There can be side effects even at lower doses though. When on any dose of amio my primary care provider had me do monthly liver panel bloodwork to catch any stress on my organs as early as possible. Most providers recommend an eye appointment before and then regularly after. Note that amio has long half life and can take weeks to clear from your system so if you do go on it if you have any issues must attend to or stop immediately since it will continue to get worse for potentially 2+ weeks after stopping. For me I am relatively young (40s) and knew I didn’t want to be on amio for a long term management of my vtach, which is why I opted for the meds only for short term and then ablation for long term solution.
What options were offered or discussed for you? Sometimes you have to specifically ask doctors… “what happens if I refuse? What other options could we consider?” Etc

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2 replies
dajasorenson | @dajasorenson | 3 days ago
In reply to @abob "Husband just had ablations for 2 afibs, put on amiodarone 200mg, follow-up appt is in 2..." + (show)
@abob

Husband just had ablations for 2 afibs, put on amiodarone 200mg, follow-up appt is in 2 weeks.

I am concerned that your ablations only lasted for 8 months. Can you provide reason why?

Jump to this post

There was no reason. Just odd that they both only lasted that long. Have had people say they have had up to five ablations hope your husband stays in rhythm. I was on flecainide for7 years finally stopped working last April. For two weeks I was going in and out of a-fib cardioversion that didn't work. That's when they put me on amiodarone and have been on it for a year now. Unfortunately, I now am experiencing the toxic side effects thyroid is high have scars in my eyes and who knows what's next. See my heart doctor on May 6th we need to come up with a different plan. Hope all goes well with your husband.

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abob | @abob | 3 days ago
In reply to @alphastarz "I had sustained vtach with syncope. After a bolus in ER of amiodarone, 36hrs of high..." + (show)
@alphastarz

I had sustained vtach with syncope. After a bolus in ER of amiodarone, 36hrs of high dose IV dosages, I was then put on 400mg x2 day (for 800mg total) for 2 weeks, stepped to 400mg x1 day for 2 weeks, then 200mg x1 for 1 month. I since had a successful ablation where the VT focal spot was induced/isolated in EP lab and have been able to go off everything except a beta blocker now, 50mg x2 day of metropolo …

100 - 200mg of amio is not what doctors consider a “high” dose. There can be side effects even at lower doses though. When on any dose of amio my primary care provider had me do monthly liver panel bloodwork to catch any stress on my organs as early as possible. Most providers recommend an eye appointment before and then regularly after. Note that amio has long half life and can take weeks to clear from your system so if you do go on it if you have any issues must attend to or stop immediately since it will continue to get worse for potentially 2+ weeks after stopping. For me I am relatively young (40s) and knew I didn’t want to be on amio for a long term management of my vtach, which is why I opted for the meds only for short term and then ablation for long term solution.
What options were offered or discussed for you? Sometimes you have to specifically ask doctors… “what happens if I refuse? What other options could we consider?” Etc

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Thanks for your helpful reply.
Afibs were detected by Apple Watch. We thought his fatigue and no appetite was due to immunotherapy. Now we know Afibs caused fatigue and possibly Keytruda caused afibs.

We had no idea EP would put him on a new med after ablations procedure, nor how dangerous side effects could be. His BP and pulse have stabilized.
We will discuss this drug usage with EP, and discuss Keytruda with Onc.

Is the cure worse than the disease, or vice versa?

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jc76 | @jc76 | 3 days ago
In reply to @alphastarz "I had sustained vtach with syncope. After a bolus in ER of amiodarone, 36hrs of high..." + (show)
@alphastarz

I had sustained vtach with syncope. After a bolus in ER of amiodarone, 36hrs of high dose IV dosages, I was then put on 400mg x2 day (for 800mg total) for 2 weeks, stepped to 400mg x1 day for 2 weeks, then 200mg x1 for 1 month. I since had a successful ablation where the VT focal spot was induced/isolated in EP lab and have been able to go off everything except a beta blocker now, 50mg x2 day of metropolo …

100 - 200mg of amio is not what doctors consider a “high” dose. There can be side effects even at lower doses though. When on any dose of amio my primary care provider had me do monthly liver panel bloodwork to catch any stress on my organs as early as possible. Most providers recommend an eye appointment before and then regularly after. Note that amio has long half life and can take weeks to clear from your system so if you do go on it if you have any issues must attend to or stop immediately since it will continue to get worse for potentially 2+ weeks after stopping. For me I am relatively young (40s) and knew I didn’t want to be on amio for a long term management of my vtach, which is why I opted for the meds only for short term and then ablation for long term solution.
What options were offered or discussed for you? Sometimes you have to specifically ask doctors… “what happens if I refuse? What other options could we consider?” Etc

Jump to this post

@alphastarz
Great information for those taking or being advised to take. Looks like your providers were right on with great care and follow up testing.

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abob | @abob | 2 days ago
In reply to @jc76 "@dajasorenson I think it was me that asked why drug companies had not worked on a..." + (show)
@jc76

@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.

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What dosage is your low dose Amiodarone?
Is my husband’s 200mg considered low dose?
Thanks

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2 replies
jc76 | @jc76 | 2 days ago
In reply to @abob "What dosage is your low dose Amiodarone? Is my husband’s 200mg considered low dose? Thanks" + (show)
@abob

What dosage is your low dose Amiodarone?
Is my husband’s 200mg considered low dose?
Thanks

Jump to this post

@abob
I am not on low dose of Amiodarnone now nor when I was put on it back in 2015. . When put on it in hospital it was a I.V. dosage and then pill form when I got out. It was high dose though but not sure of strength.

I am not familiar with what a low dose is. I have read from other posters on MCC that they are on a low dose and mentioned 200 mg. From their posts your husbands by comparison would be considered a low dose.

Amiodarone is a very powerful medication and it does work. Even with low dose it has toxicity so just work with your doctors about the long term usage at the level he is on. I hated to come off mine as I had no PVCs and tachacardia when I was on it but did not want the toxicity damage.

The Mayo Pace Clinic was astonshished on how well it was working. When I was put on in I planned on living another 20 years. I did not want the toxicity issues of the medication. I thought I would have to have the special eye exams and labs forever. However at my last eye exam doctor (a MD) said after 10 years you do not have any signs of damage to your eyes and no need to have yearly exams for amiodarone toxicity damage. I guess the toxicity is not written in stone that it will cause damage to eyes and other organs as I had not signs of it and was tested every year for 10 years after I stopped.

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amu45sin | @amu45sin | 1 day ago
In reply to @abob "What dosage is your low dose Amiodarone? Is my husband’s 200mg considered low dose? Thanks" + (show)
@abob

What dosage is your low dose Amiodarone?
Is my husband’s 200mg considered low dose?
Thanks

Jump to this post

Amu45sin here. Yes, I was on 200 amiodorone per day, which is normal.
Had an ablation on 4/18 abs am doing better. I am not an opthamomogist, but I developed scars in my eyes, as another person, on amiodorone did. Be care ful. Not good long term, even I was on it only 4 months.

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abob | @abob | 1 day ago

Thanks. Husband has rx for 90 days. EP follow-up visit in a couple of weeks.

Husband lost his fatigue and regained appetite right after ablation procedure. But he’s concerned re intermittent afibs and irregular heartbeats. Are yours gone? If so, how long did it take?

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2 replies
amu45sin | @amu45sin | 16 hours ago
In reply to @abob "Thanks. Husband has rx for 90 days. EP follow-up visit in a couple of weeks. Husband..." + (show)
@abob

Thanks. Husband has rx for 90 days. EP follow-up visit in a couple of weeks.

Husband lost his fatigue and regained appetite right after ablation procedure. But he’s concerned re intermittent afibs and irregular heartbeats. Are yours gone? If so, how long did it take?

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Still get afibs. 2 o3 a day for 15- 20 minutes.

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