Hi to Everyone! (Amiodorone question too)

[Andy in Montana]

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know I'm still alive and kicking. Does anyone get side effects from Amiodorone. If so let's hear about it. Got to go fishin' talk to ya all later. MVRepair 06/2001

Andy

 

[Gerry Dorrian]

Amiodorone

Amiodorone

Andy,
I had my aortic valve replaced on June 9th. I still had some fibulation when I was released from the hospital so I am on Amiodorone. On the pill form I don't seem to have a serious reaction to the drug but in the hospital they had me on a drip form of Amiodorone (I guess this was a stronger dose.) and that was a different story. It made me extremely nauseous and caused a drug fever. Some medical people in my family were able to confirm that these were common side effects to the drug.

Gerry

 

[JimL]

I read the Physician Desk Reference (PDR) pages on amiodarone when I was on it about 18 months ago; there is no lack of documentation on ALL the many side effects which affect a large percentage of those on it.

The only side effect I personally had -- other than the crazy INR effects -- was a tightening in the lungs. I went to an ophthamologist last summer to get my eyes checked, and specifically asked him about the amio effects; he found none.

Amiodarone, according to the PDR, is a last ditch medicine; if nothing else works, and this will prolong life, then it should be used. It isn't supposed to be prescribed like candy because of its serious and long-lasting side effects.

 

[hensylee]

"Amiodarone, according to the PDR, is a last ditch medicine; if nothing else works, and this will prolong life, then it should be used. It isn't supposed to be prescribed like candy because of its serious and long-lasting side effects. "

Andy, unfortunately many doctors ARE prescribing this medicine like candy and as Jim says, it should be used as a last resort. Some are left with permanent damages - my brother, for one (he was kept on it for WAY TOO LONG by mistake and never was monitored at all while on it). Please be sure you read ALL the side effects of this medicine and press your doctor to take you off it as soon as feasible.

As for the eyes, my brother's doctor saw immedicately that he was on amiodarone when he examined my brother's eyes. Go figure.

Ann (Hensylee)

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi andy!
joey is still on a minimal dose of amiodarone (still weaning himself off the stuff), and still being monitored.
this stuff has a long half-life and even if you are no longer taking it, it remains in your system for some time.
joey has hypothyroidism and takes synthroid regularly. amiodarone alters the amount of synthroid he needs to take and so he has to be checked for this frequently.
in addition, he is a golfer, tennis player and we love the outdoors. the sun is a problem, because amiio causes your skin to be super sensitive to the sun. strong sunscreens need to be reapplied often.
eyes and lungs are also checked.

we are about to take a hiking trip in glacier national park in montana and i am already stocking up on my strongest sunscreens!!!!!

hope this helped!
be well, sylvia

 

[EVELYN]

Hi Andy

My husband, Tyce, had AVR a year ago this past June 26. Prior to that he had an episode with afib which landed him in the hospital for a week until he returned to NSR. He was put on Amiodarone and quickly converted to normal sinus rhythm. Post surgery, our cardio kept him on the amiodarone. Both our eye dr and our pulmonary specialist wanted to get him off of it if at all possible. Our eye dr. saw deposits of it in his eyes on a routine exam and our pulmonary guy did additional breathing tests as a baseline because of the amio. Our cardio began weaning Tyce off the drug I think in October and he was totally off in December. Haven't had any afib incidents since and it has been over 6 months.

While I do believe it is a wonderful drug, I also feel that if you can be weaned off of it you should be as it does affect other organs. It certainly is something you have to discuss with your cardio.

Good luck.

Evelyn

 

[Dave Mendenhall]

Amioderone D/C'd today at ten weeks

Amioderone D/C'd today at ten weeks

They told me I would go back to surgery at 4 days post op for a pacemaker, I hadn't slept for 4 days. I had asked for a valium, sleeping pill, and a pain killer; needless to say I was catching up on that long needed rest and the heart rythem slowed to 44 bpm.

I triped the alarms and this started the reaction...first an external pacemaker ( which I over-rode with in two hours); then a visit from the Cardiologist telling me when she would operate on me, how one worked, and how my life wouldn't change. I told her I wouldn't consent to her proceedure and a Mexican stand-off commenced.

Five days later they conceded that Amioderone would compensate for a permanant implant Gizmo, and a few payments on her Lexus.

Today, I had a succesful ECG, and the amioderone was D/C'd. I'm on my tenth week post op Mitral valve (St. Jude #33)...4/17/'03.

Why write this short?

I wouldn't tell them about my concoction of meds for fear that my nurse might get in some trouble.

I knew that what I took was a determined effort to get some much needed rest, THEY didn't take the time to look at medical records and they are big boys.

I'm back to work and feel great. I have a background in international medical sales, a Vietnam era med corpsman, and a pre-med degree.

What I did was risky, I don't urge anyone to follow this example ...
but beware that you are in control of your destiny and knowledge is power.

Regards from Maine
Caveman

 

[Dave Mendenhall]

Still trying to upload an image of six weeks here. Did I mention I hit a deer broadside at 50 mph with the TR? That would have been week seven.