Preparing for another cardioversion with the drug Amiodarone

Posted by cturner01 @cturner01, Jan 7, 2021

Yesterday I had a consult with an electro physiologist in Kingsport Tennessee. After reviewing my records & spending quite a bit of time with me, he suggested that I take this drug for 21 days (if I can tolerate it )then return on February 5 for cardioversion. Agreed and started the drug yesterday evening. Today I feel like I’m in a funk. Woke up with a headache and my neck hurting. These are some of the side effects that are listed, but there are many more. Has anyone here taking this drug and had success in getting their heart to back into rhythm?

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@mordecai

I’m not keen taking Eliquis for two weeks before Cardioversion. In fact, I am thinking about natural remedies for my atrial flutter, namely proper foods low in saturated fats and high in fiber - fruits, grains, low sodium, salmon, sardines, magnesium and exercise ( moderate walking). The majority of the time I am not in atrial flutter.

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I hear you. I have Afib and the cardiologist asked me to take Eliquis, which I refuse to do. I have been on Naproxen 500 mg and Baclofen 10mg for muscle spasms for the last 5 years. It was my understanding that these two drugs should not be taken with Eliquis which is a blood thinner that interferes with blood clotting factor. I am suppose to get all my teeth taken out, but he wants to do cardioversion first (hence Eliquis), There have been many lawsuits because in this process the cardioversion could cause a stroke, as well as Naproxen with Eliquis can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhaging. I am not in the mood for bleeding to death, and the antidote for Eliquis cost $ 49,000,00 for a infusion that takes two hours, added that I live 6 hours from the facility that has availability.

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@shaman1955

I hear you. I have Afib and the cardiologist asked me to take Eliquis, which I refuse to do. I have been on Naproxen 500 mg and Baclofen 10mg for muscle spasms for the last 5 years. It was my understanding that these two drugs should not be taken with Eliquis which is a blood thinner that interferes with blood clotting factor. I am suppose to get all my teeth taken out, but he wants to do cardioversion first (hence Eliquis), There have been many lawsuits because in this process the cardioversion could cause a stroke, as well as Naproxen with Eliquis can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhaging. I am not in the mood for bleeding to death, and the antidote for Eliquis cost $ 49,000,00 for a infusion that takes two hours, added that I live 6 hours from the facility that has availability.

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Very scary!!

I guess the comments re the antidote for Eliquis (cost and need for facility proximity) must be the same for Xarelto and all the oral blood thinners.

I must check this out. If this is true (re unavailability of antidote) I certainly think that would outweigh the stroke avoidant advantages of the blood thinner.
15% of strokes after all are hemorrhagic , besides which with age, fall risk increases (and hence head injuries).

I certainly think any responsible cardiologist should take this cost/benefit into consideration when prescribing an AFIB patient with a blood thinner!

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@realitytest

Very scary!!

I guess the comments re the antidote for Eliquis (cost and need for facility proximity) must be the same for Xarelto and all the oral blood thinners.

I must check this out. If this is true (re unavailability of antidote) I certainly think that would outweigh the stroke avoidant advantages of the blood thinner.
15% of strokes after all are hemorrhagic , besides which with age, fall risk increases (and hence head injuries).

I certainly think any responsible cardiologist should take this cost/benefit into consideration when prescribing an AFIB patient with a blood thinner!

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but they don't...know a cardiologist who always prescribed Eliquis with little thought about it...just found himself in a condition that required him to take Eliquis. He was stunned at the price and figured he could somehow work around the cost...he found he could not outside of
ordering it from Turkey or India and taking the risk of fake pills. So...Pfizer saves our lives with the Virus Vaccine while killing us with the cost of its little Eliquis pill...four can easily fit on a dime!

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@phoenix1647

I think most people just do not really understand how difficult making these decision is. There are good and bad points with any procedure. We read as much about a procedure as we can, we depend on our doctors to give us the best information we can get out of them, but in the end, it is our decision. I am waiting on my second attempt at the Watchman device and am hoping I have made the right decision. So, make the decision you feel is right for you and then go for it. Hope it all works out well.

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I know you posted this a long time ago, but after skimming through the posts in this thread I want to say that I found your comment to be very useful. There are so many different factors that go into the decision for every individual, and none of the procedures or medications are the silver bullet we would like them to be . . . so we just have to do the best we can. I sure sympathize with anyone who has to pay out of pocket for the appropriate treatment, though, makes me feel very fortunate to live in Canada, despite our current problems.

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@mordecai

Has anyone had the procedure known as ,
cardioversion to treat Atrial Flutter? It has been recommended for me based on a abnormal EKG that showed Atrial Flutter pattern. The procedure is know as Transesophogael Echcardiogram.

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Hi! have you had the procedures yet? I hope you are doing better. I was just diagnosed with atrial flutter and a fast heart beat. I will be having a TEE and a cardio version in a few days. My dr. Immediately prescribed for me, Eliquis, to help prevent blood clots and metoprolol to lower the heart beats. I had already been taking losartan for hypertension. I had had an ASD repair as a child and subsequently an irregular heartbeat was common but the newly developed constant palpitations has been uncomfortable. I will let you know how it goes.

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