Amiodarone lung toxicity

Unfortunately, some people's bodies react poorly to amiodarone. It is infused with iodine which will become toxic in some people, affecting the lungs, the kidneys, the liver, and the eyes.
https://www.drugs.com/sfx/amiodarone-side-effects.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482154/
I hope you have apprised your several caregivers/specialists that you are no longer taking it, and that you have all these problems that may be related to your intake.

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.

@tommy901 - thanks for your reply. I am "pushing" myself by walking an uneven hilly path (1 1/2 miles) nearly every day unless it's raining or below 20° F. My lungs were fine Aug 25 when I rec'd 1st dose. 3 weeks later my lungs were damaged. The probability of my lung problem being anything but amiodarone is too small to consider. I really think my eyes have been affected also. I noticed my eyesight had deteriorated, but considered the possibility of amiodarone only after I researched amiodarone side affects. I'm accepting that my lungs may never heal or if healing comes it will be very slow.

@mart6321 If it helps, and I'm afraid I know longer recall the details (it was a discussion many months ago now), one person had much the same result as you vis-as-vis lung deterioration while taking amiodarone, but he/she also said that her lungs improved largely with time. Again, don't know how long, who, how long he/she had been on the drug, etc., but I do recall being pleasantly surprised at the anecdote.

Thank you. My Drs (cardiologist and pulmonologist) don't seem to have examples/studies of any instances of lung toxicity with such short time of taking amiodarone. They just say my experience isn't the norm and it seems they really don't want to acknowledge it is what I have. (Note; both of these Drs have my complete respect)

Thank you for your support.

You experience really caught my eye! My brother has A-fib and he has had several cardioversions in the ER and I think one ablation. His older cardiologist put him on Amiodarone and monitored him for a year or so; then my brother said he had no problems, so he was sort of "lost in the woods" and every year the PCP and the cardiologist would just review and renew his meds routinely. He said he'd get an order for a chest x-ray annually to check for any lung changes. After 10 years, he finally was assigned a new/younger cardiologist who looks at his meds and essentially said "Holy cow! Why are you taking this? This is meant for short term A-fib control!" Now I am no expert, but I am a nurse and I always question everything that I am taking, look it up, read the warnings. I do that for my husband as well. He, if left to his own devices, would ask no questions, just as my brother did not do. I think you obviously are very sensitive to this med and you have every right to be concerned. What did your doctor say when you complained? Was he concerned? Are you listing this drug as an adverse reaction/allergy on your medical record? Did he suggest any other treatment outside of Prednisone? I am just wondering out of concern for you. Please let us know how you are doing.

I have been reading these comments with great interest. I am sorry that mart6321 is experiencing lung toxicity due to Amiodarone. That was also my situation; however, I was on it for a year (by the way, it never put my heart back into sinus rhythm!). I was started on 400 mg twice a day. When I complained about extreme SOB, the dosage was decreased to 200 mg twice a day (I was told that the shortness of breath was due to the AFib). The Amiodarone led to severe lung toxicity. A wonderful pulmonologist put me on Prednisone for 4 months; he said that this would help with the acute issues, but not the chronic issues. When I started, I could barely breathe (my lungs were like tissue paper); stopping the drug and the Prednisone made a huge difference. However, I still have pulmonary fibrosis, and my lungs are permanently damaged - and it is now five years since taking the drug. Yes, I have listed Amiodarone as an adverse reaction/allergy on my medical record. I wish you all the best! Do let us know how you do.

Thanks for your comments and interest. I question the use of amiodarone - period. I certainly wish I had never come in contact with it. I am so sorry you have permanent damage. The damage to my lungs may be permanent also. Only time will tell.

Wow these are interesting comments and it really makes me wonder if this is what is wrong with me - I took Amioderone for 7 months ending with my ablation last February. In a pre-ablation echo done a few month prior to the ablation I was diagnosed with mild pulmonary hypertension. Well the EP paid no attention to this on the echo and it was not until I asked about it that the nurse said "oh they don't do anything with that here, you'll need to go to a pulmonary dr. So I self referred and this started a whole lot of lung testing, another echo which still showed PH, pulmonary rehab, trial of a Breo inhaler even tho he has ruled out asthma after testing, and blood tests. He and the new cardiologist I was referred to after the EP was done with me say they don't know what is causing the PH - now I wonder if I have lung damage from Amioderone even tho it was stopped last February? I continue to have chest tightness, SOB at times (climbing stairs, fast walking, and weird little chest pains more like pinches from time to time. I never thought that Amioderone could hang on this long or cause permanent damage.