hensylee
Well-known member
http://heartdisease.about.com/library/weekly/aa042902a.htm
Strange Life of Amiodarone - by Dr Rich - read it
Strange Life of Amiodarone - by Dr Rich - read it
Amiodarone
- Thread starter hensylee
- Start date
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Ann,
That was a great article, thanks.
Betty(bvdr)
That was a great article, thanks.
Betty(bvdr)
MelissaM
Well-known member
I liked the Smurf syndrome - totally my generation: Pappa Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Smurfette - but wouldn't like to see it in person!
Yikes!
Melissa
Yikes!
Melissa
C
carlapv
I have been on amiodarone for a year now and I haven't turned blue yet but maybe that's next. I objected to taking the drug but my card insisted. He said I had to have it after I had two really severe bouts of AF. I am hoping that after my surgery I can stop taking it!
Carla
Carla
Side effects
Side effects
I was on Am. for sometime and no matter how much my card.
increased the dose I still could not convert to SR, even after
electroversion. I was happy to be off it because the dreams were
so vivid. Woke up many nights scared to death.
Side effects
I was on Am. for sometime and no matter how much my card.
increased the dose I still could not convert to SR, even after
electroversion. I was happy to be off it because the dreams were
so vivid. Woke up many nights scared to death.
G
Gerry Dorrian
Vile stuff but it works
Vile stuff but it works
Ann,
Thanks for the info on Amiodarone. Fortunately, my cardiologist just took me off of this. When I was in the hospital I had a violent reaction to the high initial doses they gave me through IV. I ran a fever and was sick to my stomach. (And I thought sneazing hurt! Then again the dry heaves did clear out my lungs completely.)
I knew I was reacting to the drugs but the nurses told me that this was impossible. They were wrong. My reactions are among the most common side effects listed right there in the Nurses Desk Reference.
The most important thing is it did the trick for me. I returned to a sinus rhythm. I didn't mind the side effects once I found out that they were to be expected. It certainly was a small price to pay.
Gerry
Vile stuff but it works
Ann,
Thanks for the info on Amiodarone. Fortunately, my cardiologist just took me off of this. When I was in the hospital I had a violent reaction to the high initial doses they gave me through IV. I ran a fever and was sick to my stomach. (And I thought sneazing hurt! Then again the dry heaves did clear out my lungs completely.)
I knew I was reacting to the drugs but the nurses told me that this was impossible. They were wrong. My reactions are among the most common side effects listed right there in the Nurses Desk Reference.
The most important thing is it did the trick for me. I returned to a sinus rhythm. I didn't mind the side effects once I found out that they were to be expected. It certainly was a small price to pay.
Gerry
Nancy
Well-known member
We have a friend of the family from another country. Her doctor put her on amiodarone for afib and left her on it for several years without checking anything. The end result is that she now has permanent pulmonary problems, cataracts, plus her afib never went away. She had a valve repair and a Maze procedure. That took care of it. However, her pulmonary problems may turn out to be as bad as her heart problems. She is now in poor health.
P
pillarpaul
I have now been on amiodarone for three months. Here's what I've gleaned from sitting in front of the computer on the net for hours about this drug, talking to pharmacists (including a PM with our own Al Lodwick), two other doctor opinions, etc, etc:
1) Amiodarone should almost never be taken longer than six months. Do everything you can to get off it in six months;
2) Amiodarone frequently shows side effets within two weeks of starting, especially if taking the large dosage required for conversion. If you have no side efects the first two weeks, odds are very good you'll have no side efefects for the rest of the six months (but no guarantee beyond - see #1 above);
3) Once converted, you can stay on a maintenance dosage of 200 mg daily;
4) Yes, you can indeed turn blue, get lung problems and liver problems. However, 85% of all people who take the drug suffer NO side effects;
5) Amiodarone is generally considered the drug of LAST resort for people with "normal" a-fib, i.e., the a-fib is not due directly to an insult to the heart such as open-heart surgery.
6) Amiodarone is sometimes the drug of FIRST resort (depending upon the cardio) when the a-fib is a result of an insult;
7) While on amiodarone, stay very in tuned with your body and have your PCP monitor your blood levels.
8) The half-life of amiodarone is 45 days.
I am not making a recommendation for or against. It appears to be a strong weapon albeit one with potentially devastating side effects. I watch very, very carefully and will be one happy camper when my six months are up. I also have stayed completely out of a-fib since my post-op episode.
Paul
1) Amiodarone should almost never be taken longer than six months. Do everything you can to get off it in six months;
2) Amiodarone frequently shows side effets within two weeks of starting, especially if taking the large dosage required for conversion. If you have no side efects the first two weeks, odds are very good you'll have no side efefects for the rest of the six months (but no guarantee beyond - see #1 above);
3) Once converted, you can stay on a maintenance dosage of 200 mg daily;
4) Yes, you can indeed turn blue, get lung problems and liver problems. However, 85% of all people who take the drug suffer NO side effects;
5) Amiodarone is generally considered the drug of LAST resort for people with "normal" a-fib, i.e., the a-fib is not due directly to an insult to the heart such as open-heart surgery.
6) Amiodarone is sometimes the drug of FIRST resort (depending upon the cardio) when the a-fib is a result of an insult;
7) While on amiodarone, stay very in tuned with your body and have your PCP monitor your blood levels.
8) The half-life of amiodarone is 45 days.
I am not making a recommendation for or against. It appears to be a strong weapon albeit one with potentially devastating side effects. I watch very, very carefully and will be one happy camper when my six months are up. I also have stayed completely out of a-fib since my post-op episode.
Paul
Hi Paul
That's just about correct. Tyce was on Amio for approximately 6 months.....first prior to surgery for a bout of afib and then post op for a second bout of the same. Once he was back in nsr for about 6 months, our cardio weaned him off the 200 mg.....to 100, 50 etc. He has been off since last November with no problems or reoccurrances of his aifb. I wish you luck going off. It truly is a wonderful drug, but MUST be monitored very carefully. Our opthamologist saw deposits in Tyce's eyes and our pulmonary guy did a baseline breathing test because he was on the drug.....
Evelyn
That's just about correct. Tyce was on Amio for approximately 6 months.....first prior to surgery for a bout of afib and then post op for a second bout of the same. Once he was back in nsr for about 6 months, our cardio weaned him off the 200 mg.....to 100, 50 etc. He has been off since last November with no problems or reoccurrances of his aifb. I wish you luck going off. It truly is a wonderful drug, but MUST be monitored very carefully. Our opthamologist saw deposits in Tyce's eyes and our pulmonary guy did a baseline breathing test because he was on the drug.....
Evelyn
