Amiodarone

Posted by dajasorenson @dajasorenson, Jun 10 8:34am

Has anyone been on Amiodarone for any length of time and had any side effects?

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Hi and yes I was on it for almost 10 years. It was a blessing and ultimately became one of the reasons I got a transplant earlier when it became toxic to me.
I took it for almost 10 years just a few months short. Started in 2008 about Jun I remember and its why I was raised to 1b just before my transplant in Jan 2018.
It did damage my Thyroid and Had to be removed. But it was the IV types of Amiodarone that was keeping me alive also towards the end.

Most of the time I was taking it in pill form and took it for over 9 years with no problems. I found out later it has a tendency to also discolor the tops of my ears a very light blue. I never noticed that part until a doctor on my transplant team told me. It is well known to have some strong side effects but also the best go to medication for heart rhythm problems. I would say that long term use can bring on problems. Also when in the Hospital awaiting a transplant i was on a very high dose only available in IV form and that's what became toxic to me. Can I mask why your asking about it? Are you having some heart rhythm issues? Also is your doctor only using it short term? Let me know if I can help further. I might also add that when I first needed it my doctor tried a few others prior to this one but I developed rashes with the others. I was also on Mexiletine for rhythm problems at the same time as the amiodarone.
Blessings

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@danab

Hi and yes I was on it for almost 10 years. It was a blessing and ultimately became one of the reasons I got a transplant earlier when it became toxic to me.
I took it for almost 10 years just a few months short. Started in 2008 about Jun I remember and its why I was raised to 1b just before my transplant in Jan 2018.
It did damage my Thyroid and Had to be removed. But it was the IV types of Amiodarone that was keeping me alive also towards the end.

Most of the time I was taking it in pill form and took it for over 9 years with no problems. I found out later it has a tendency to also discolor the tops of my ears a very light blue. I never noticed that part until a doctor on my transplant team told me. It is well known to have some strong side effects but also the best go to medication for heart rhythm problems. I would say that long term use can bring on problems. Also when in the Hospital awaiting a transplant i was on a very high dose only available in IV form and that's what became toxic to me. Can I mask why your asking about it? Are you having some heart rhythm issues? Also is your doctor only using it short term? Let me know if I can help further. I might also add that when I first needed it my doctor tried a few others prior to this one but I developed rashes with the others. I was also on Mexiletine for rhythm problems at the same time as the amiodarone.
Blessings

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Thank you for your input. I was diagnosed with A-fib in 2008 had an ablation in 2009 only lasted 8 months. I was ok for some time and would go in and out of A-fib. In 2017 had another ablation it only lasted 8 months. They cardioverted me and put me on flecainide which I was on until I had a issue in April of this year. Felt like I was going to pass out and heart racing. In the past upping my dose of flecainide for a few day's would put me back in rhythm and then tapper back to my regular dose. This time it didn't work so they have put me on Amiodaron and have been on that for about a month now. Haven't had any issues looks like I will be on it as long as it works. I will get tested every six months to make sure it's not doing any damage to my liver. Thanks again for your input.

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I was on Amiodaron when I developed AFIB in early 2020. Due to Covid and not having non-essential hospital visits, they were not considering cardioversion. After about a year on Amiodaron (still in AFIB), I developed severe bradycardia and breathing issues. I was immediately taken off the Amiodaron, and a pulmonologist determined that I had severe lung toxicity from it. I researched and learned that lung toxicity is not uncommon with Amiodaron. My heart rate was in the 30's, and I eventually received a pacemaker. Since then I have had two more episodes of AFIB and have been on Sotalol and on Flecainide (neither of which caused me any problems). The Flecainide has not resolved my AFIB, so I am scheduled for a cardioversion. While I have often been told that Amiodaron is the "gold standard" for rhythm disorders, I would suggest that you also get your lungs periodically checked, as well as your liver. I was on a very high dosage; perhaps the high dosage was my issue. Good luck!

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@bettycll

I was on Amiodaron when I developed AFIB in early 2020. Due to Covid and not having non-essential hospital visits, they were not considering cardioversion. After about a year on Amiodaron (still in AFIB), I developed severe bradycardia and breathing issues. I was immediately taken off the Amiodaron, and a pulmonologist determined that I had severe lung toxicity from it. I researched and learned that lung toxicity is not uncommon with Amiodaron. My heart rate was in the 30's, and I eventually received a pacemaker. Since then I have had two more episodes of AFIB and have been on Sotalol and on Flecainide (neither of which caused me any problems). The Flecainide has not resolved my AFIB, so I am scheduled for a cardioversion. While I have often been told that Amiodaron is the "gold standard" for rhythm disorders, I would suggest that you also get your lungs periodically checked, as well as your liver. I was on a very high dosage; perhaps the high dosage was my issue. Good luck!

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Thank you so much for the information and good luck to you.

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@dajasorenson

Thank you for your input. I was diagnosed with A-fib in 2008 had an ablation in 2009 only lasted 8 months. I was ok for some time and would go in and out of A-fib. In 2017 had another ablation it only lasted 8 months. They cardioverted me and put me on flecainide which I was on until I had a issue in April of this year. Felt like I was going to pass out and heart racing. In the past upping my dose of flecainide for a few day's would put me back in rhythm and then tapper back to my regular dose. This time it didn't work so they have put me on Amiodaron and have been on that for about a month now. Haven't had any issues looks like I will be on it as long as it works. I will get tested every six months to make sure it's not doing any damage to my liver. Thanks again for your input.

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Sure thin,g Thanks for the update as we all are here to help each other. For me I also like the fact that there are options going forward as our conditions change. You may also want to have your PCP monitor you Thyroid as mine became damaged from Amiodarone also.

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Hi All, I have been on amiodaron for about two years, of varying dosages. We had to stop the amiodaron as my liver counts were not good. I have not been put on a replacement. I was also on metoprolol, and was left on that. While on amiodaron I was always in AFib, so it may have kept it from being its worst, it did not eradicate it.
I'm in the process of finding an EP who will do an ablation involving dextro cardia.

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@dclifford47

Hi All, I have been on amiodaron for about two years, of varying dosages. We had to stop the amiodaron as my liver counts were not good. I have not been put on a replacement. I was also on metoprolol, and was left on that. While on amiodaron I was always in AFib, so it may have kept it from being its worst, it did not eradicate it.
I'm in the process of finding an EP who will do an ablation involving dextro cardia.

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Interesting, I had not heard of that condition. Sounds like a condition that the doctors at Mayo clinic could help with. Being a bit more rare I know Mayo does a lot of research in different areas. Have you maybe tried contacting them?

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Hi, no I have not contacted Mayo as yet. I did find a couple of doctors knowledgeable about dextrocardia at the Mass General in Boston. Am contracting one of them for their opinions.
Thanks for caring. ❤️

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I was on it for about three months in total two years ago. I had an ablation that set me into persistent AF on the sixth day, and the ER staff didn't fool around. After getting ahold of my electrophysiologist who had done the ablation, they agreed between them that I should go on amiodarone for a short while to stabilize my heart. It worked very well, and I recall nothing outstanding about the experience except that it kept me in sinus.

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@dajasorenson
You will see we have a very experienced MCC monitor that went through a lot of treatments and medications until got his transplant.

I had an episode back in 2016 where I had 5 ICD shocks (I have an ICD/Pacemaker since 2006) in 24 hours. What they did in Mayo hospital was to put me on amiodarone drip and then the pills when discharged. It worked very well and heart was really steady.

It is very powerful medicine with very significant side affects. When I read about the side affects I asked my EP to ween me off of it and he did. I am on different medications that don't have the toxic side affects of this medication.
I still have to have my eyes checked each year as it can affect eyes. It also has many other side affects but again it is very powerful medication and does help most. You can look up the side affects and I think you will agree they are a lot of them and can be very severe. If you are on it discuss with your EP as this is one drug that you will see a lot of past and present users on MCC have a lot of expereince with it. It can be very toxic.

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