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Amiodarone lung toxicity
I was given 400 mg a day of amiodarone to get my heart back in to sinus rhythm from afib a few weeks before scheduled ablation. It took only 5 days and I was back in rhythm; however just a few more days of amiodarone my breathing became somewhat labored and a PFT test 3 weeks after starting amiodarone showed a dramatic decrease in lung diffusion. I immediately discontinued the drug. It has now been almost 3 months since I stopped taking it. I have been dealing with lung toxicity since then. I took a few weeks of prednisone but this did not help. I am panting with only a small amount of exertion. Has anyone else experienced lung toxicity or other issues after short term amiodarone use?
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[Clarification] Exertion seems to precipitate the shortness of breath, not that it occurs spontaneously w/o exertion. However, the work of breathing has increased & frequent periods of rest are NOW necessary. He remains on the prescribed regimen [amiodarone & eliquiis] & this is the primary adverse experience. He is a primary pulmonary patient; a-fib occurring last summer. He has been active on an exercise regimen but cancelled the exercise group a couple of weeks ago but remains committed to using his “thumper” resp inhaler as an interim therapy. He was exercising 20 minutes on 3 machines in a monitored setting.
I was on amiodrone about 4 months right before ablation surgery and then after. I just quit taking cause I started having afib again, my lower extremities hurt so bad I could hardly walk, and my also my left shoulder and chest area. Since off no afib and the pain in legs has gotten better to where I can walk again. Arm pain better but heart area still hurts. Been off about a week and now I feel real tired, weak, a little dizzy, and just weird. Suppose to go in for EKG and then have heart monitor put on for 48-72 hours. Wanting to change my medicine to tikosyn where I have to stay in hospital 3 days to go on it.
Hi @teriw
I can understand you don't want to do the hospital thing again, but just wanted to tell you tikosyn has been great for me. I was in persistent afib for 6 months before tikosyn. In three years I have had some breakthrough episodes that self converted. I also have apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy so afib is harder to tolerate and harder to treat. Because of my apical hcm and breakthrough episodes, my cardiologist has added Jardiance and I have since had no breakthrough. Tikosyn has caused no side effects so I am thankful to have it. If you decide to take it the hospital stay was just a little boring, but no problem.