Amiodarone experiences

@dey10238
Amiodarone is a great medication and works. I was on high dose and it did what it was suppose to do. I was in ER after my ICD/Pacemaker went off 5 times in 24 hours. I was put on a drip of Amiodarone and it brought me back into normal sinus rympthm.

The next time I had a pacemaker check I had no tachacaria or PVCs. However I was on a high dose and my EP (ER prescibed not EP) and I discussed weaning off and going on a different medication with a lower toxicity.

What posters are saying to you is that it has toxicity that has to be monitored. Of course with every medication the dosage level will affect the toxicity and side affects.

Your mothers doctors are still doing toxicity tests on your mother even though she is on a low dose. This confirms her doctors recognize the toxicity and want to make sure it is not adversly affecting your mother.

I think most posters are not saying does not work they are saying make sure your provider goes over the toxicity of the drug, testing for toxicity, and what to look for on toxicity.

It is with any medication make sure you know the pros and cons and any side affects it can cause.

I was diagnosed with AFib in December 2023 at hospital. They prescribed apixaban and Bisoprolol. I had a few episodes afterwards but the didn’t last long. Towards the end of 2025 and first six months of 2026 I had more frequent episodes that lasted longer. I went to ER and was cardioverted three times in 12 days. On my last visit the doctor on duty increased my Bisoprolol to a 7.5 dose. When all this info reached my cardiologist she phoned to change me to amiodarone. Loading 200 mg twice a day for 21 days and then 200 mg once a day. It has been difficult with nausea, body aches, fatigue but I will see it through. Looking forward to an appointment with family doctor in 5 days.

@bargawr Were you given any information about amiodarone? You should do some research if not and you'll find that it has potential toxicity, especially to the eyes, lungs, & kidneys. You should be closely monitored/assessed every two weeks or so for the first couple of months to ensure your system is handling it appropriately.

It's very powerful. I was on it myself, but only for a short term, seven weeks.

Please inquire about how you'll be monitored.

@gloaming cardiologist did tell me I would have to have blood tests often to check liver and thyroid. I suspect a X-ray for lungs and she wants to make appointment with ophthalmologist. It is not ideal but I am giving it a try.

@bargawr
Sounds like your doctors are right on regarding Amiodarone. I was on it 10 years ago for about 6 months and was asked to come off because of toxicity I had read about (not from symptoms) and EP agreed.

Took many months to slowly come off amiodarone. In 2026 had bouts of tachycardia and was put back on amiodarone 200 mg twice a day then as then to 200 mg once a day.

My EP said since I had no toxicity form previous use might leave me on a low dose. It is extremely important to have your medical providers do test to determine and signs of toxicity. Amiodarone is a very strong medication that works but comes with caveat of toxicity.

For me 10 years after coming off yearly test with ophthalmologist showed no damage. And I just saw one this year which showed no damage. I will not be required to ophthalmologist every year for check up.

My PCP is doing additional blood test to monitor the amiodarone affect on my organs. My EP saw that my previous use of Amiodarone showed no toxicity he was not as concerned with me on it now that he was 10 years ago.

I think important to those on MCC realize amiodarone is a powerful drug that works. But it has toxicity issues that will or will not affect the patient and need to have test done to catch it early. Just remember it is a "go to" drug to curtail arrythmias and tachycardia and for most does work very well.

@jc76 Thank you for your positivity. So much negativity about Amiodaronne. I think it is worth a try. On bisoprolol I was having too many AFib episodes. No quality of life. Couldn’t plan anything.