I had a heart ablation. Dr didn't put me back on amiodarone im 76

Amiodarone is literally the 'drug of last resort.' Years ago, I googled that very syntax and got a strong 'yes.' It is toxic over time and must be monitored closely for lung, kidney, liver, and eye problems....not to mention problems with the thyroid.

I'm not saying it's not a good drug, given at the right time to the right patient for the right reasons. I was one such patient. I was on it for only seven weeks right after a failed ablation that put my heart into a chaotic rhythm. It worked.

After an ablation, the heart is sometimes irritated and needs to be kept calm. If you were on amiodarone leading up to the ablation procedure, then you should only be tapered later, perhaps five weeks or more....BUT....you should be tapered before you have the confirmatory Holter assessment which normally comes just after the blanking period, which is about 10-12 weeks. If you were kept on amiodarone, how would the Holter show your heart was no longer in AF or SVT? The drug would confound the assessment. So, you would normally be required to undergo that taper. If you were stopped cold, were you given a replacement, maybe Flecainide or Diltiazem....propafenone? If not, I am mystified....but I wouldn't dream of second-guessing the prescribing EP who performed the ablation. He/she knows you much better than I.

@dufus123
I have a LV ablation coming up on June 4th. I am on Amiodarone now (200 mg a day). I expect to be kept on it just like @gloaming mentioned.

Why? I was on amiodarone back in 2015 after 5 ICD shocks in 24 hours. It worked and my heart really settled down. I was concerned back them about toxicity and my EP agreed and he slowly weaned me off. I think we slowy did it over a 6 month period or could have been less.

I expect the same this time. Gloaming is right on. When you have an ablation your heart is really irritated and basically has been damaged and can be very irritable. But bottom like dropping amiodarone all at one time is not something I have every heard from my cardiologist ever doing.

@jc76 If all goes well you'll be taken off of the Amiodarone after you go a couple of months with no problems. It's the blood thinner (Eliquis for me) that they'll want you on for ever.