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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lilymarie | @lilymarie | Apr 29 11:42am

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

Hi there,
Everyone's experience seems to be different. First I was on Multaq, when they had to switch me to Amiodarone I lost 22 pounds without trying. Doctor's could not explain if I was losing weight because of off the Multaq, but I think so. I was on Amiodarone for one year, it truly saved my life. But, they did get me in for an ablation a year later. I am under my own choice to not take Amiodaron as I do have supraventricular tachycardia and CAD and have had 2 cardioembolic strokes. I am on a strict diet, currently 133 pounds, but doing everything to keep healthy. Exercise, and intermittent fasting (also because of news this morning I have 10 more kidney stones. My new total is now 34 stones). Ugh. Anyways, I wish you all the best and I highly recommend anyone to get an ablation. I do have occasional afib and oxygen that dips to 82 and lower at times but I believe I doing everything humanly possible to stay on top of my health. 73- and being as positive as possible!! Goodluck!!

lilymarie | @lilymarie | Apr 29 11:45am

In reply to @lilymarie "Hi there, Everyone's experience seems to be different. First I was on Multaq, when they had..." + (show)

I hope your husband continues healing ever so nicely! The afib may come and go...only he can decide if going back on Amiodarone is a good choice. It's a love/hate drug. I do wish you all the very best!

abob | @abob | Apr 29 12:20pm

In reply to @amu45sin "Still get afibs. 2 o3 a day for 15- 20 minutes." + (show)

Sigh. Does she feel them? Is she fatigued and/or have no appetite? Thanks

I think this would be doable for my husband if he is not totally fatigued/napping all day and cannot/won’t eat as he was prior to ablations. That was barely living.

abob | @abob | Apr 29 12:27pm

In reply to @lilymarie "Hi there, Everyone's experience seems to be different. First I was on Multaq, when they had..." + (show)

Thanks for your detailed reply. I admire your fortitude.

While ablations may or may not stop his afibs, this procedure certainly did “bring him back to life”. He awoke from anesthesia not fatigued and with an appetite. So we’ll keep our fingers crossed and discuss meds with Dr.

lilymarie | @lilymarie | Apr 29 1:24pm

In reply to @abob "Thanks for your detailed reply. I admire your fortitude. While ablations may or may not stop..." + (show)

Excellent!!
Ty for reply. Have a great day!

abob | @abob | Apr 30 6:57pm

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

Have you had any of the terrible side effects?

dajasorenson | @dajasorenson | May 1 9:23am

My thyroid has been high and I have scars on my eyes. See the doctor on May 6th to come up with a better plan. Defiantly not a good drug to be on a long term basis. I will say it has kept me in sinus rhythm for a year now.

alphastarz | @alphastarz | May 4 11:28am

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

While I had a different type of arrhythmia to begin with, thought I would add that I had NEW chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations and increase in ectopic/irregular beats starting right after my ablation for just about 70-80 days. And then right around the 90 day mark the grouping of symptoms suddenly and finally settled and stopped. I know the “blanking period” can be different for everyone, but maybe that gives some real life context of what it can be like (and still turn out fine!) to ease some concerns while he waits it out a bit more.

drdianeschneider | @drdianeschneider | May 11 12:39pm

Hello, dey, Just want to reassure your father that dosage has the greatest impact on side effects. My mother has been on 100 mg per day for 25 years, she is 97 (thus, she started on amiodarone at age 72) and has never shown any of the side effects that seem to be constantly trumpeted about. I know that on dosages of 300 - 800 mg there is a much greater chance of negative side effects. But Mom has not had another atrial fib episode in 25 yrs, so it has worked incredibly well and very safely for her. She HAS had the recommended blood tests at check-up ever 6 - 12 months, which is the proper way to do it. Hope this reassures your father that a low dose of 100-200 mg per day might very well work quite well for him, without other issues. Best wishes!

dey10238 | @dey10238 | May 11 2:18pm

In reply to @drdianeschneider "Hello, dey, Just want to reassure your father that dosage has the greatest impact on side..." + (show)

Thank you so much for your reply. We often hear the bad but never the good.

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