I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this — amiodarone lung toxicity is rare, but it can happen even with short-term use and even at moderate doses like 400 mg/day. Some people are unusually sensitive to the drug, and when toxicity occurs, it often shows up as:

Shortness of breath

Reduced DLCO on pulmonary function testing

Cough or chest tightness

Fatigue with minimal exertion

Unfortunately, the recovery timeline can be slow. Amiodarone has a very long half-life (weeks to months), so even after stopping it, the drug can linger in tissues, including the lungs. Many patients don’t feel much improvement for several months, and some take 6–12 months to see substantial recovery.

A few thoughts based on others’ experiences:

• Short-term use can still cause issues.
While toxicity is more common with long-term therapy, there are documented cases occurring within days to weeks of starting the medication.

• Prednisone helps some, but not all.
If inflammation is present, steroids can improve symptoms, but in some cases the damage is more from the drug itself and the lungs simply need time to heal.

• Follow-up testing is important.
Repeat PFTs, a high-resolution CT scan, and ongoing evaluation by a pulmonologist can help guide expectations and track improvement.

• Some people do recover fully — but it takes time.
Others on these forums have described a slow but steady improvement over months as the drug washes out.

If your breathing hasn’t improved at all after 3 months, it might be worth asking your pulmonologist whether:

A repeat HRCT is needed

Other causes (like infection, asthma, or heart-related issues) need ruling out

A more extended or tapered course of steroids might help

You’re definitely not alone — others have experienced toxicity after short-term use — and many do gradually get better, even though it’s frustratingly slow.

Hoping you get some real improvement soon. Let us know how you’re doing.