Side Effects 1 Year After

[ngmelnath]

I had an ascending aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve (St Jude Tissue Root) replacement and right coronary artery bypass in May 2004. When coming off the heart lung machine after surgery, I went into fibrilation and had to be hit with the paddles. As a result, I was started on amiodarone in the hospital and told by the surgeon that it would likely be just for a short term. My medical cardiologist has been reluctant to discontinue this med because he never had the details about why it was started from the surgeon.

On a recent eye exam, my opthalmologist told me I had amiodarone deposits that were affecting my vision but that it wasn't sight threatening. My cardiologist had me wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours and, because he saw some PVCs, still wouldn't discontinue the med. I am concerned about drug toxicity in the eye other tissues but don't want to stop the amiodarone if I really need it. Any experience or thoughts would be appreciated.

Also, in the last month I have had fairly consistent tinnitus that sounds like it is coordinated with my heartbeat. Could this be related? My BP is under control with Hyzaar & Toprol.

Thanks for your help,

 

[PJmomrunner]

My mom was on amiodarone long-term and had a tremor, thyroid problems and eye "damage" (probably the spots you are talking about, I'm not sure). She was on it for atrial tachicardia (she has no valve issues). When she switched cardiologists (because she moved) the new cardio took her off of it because of all of its known side effects--felt there were drugs w/o so many side effects that should've been tried before resorting to amiodarone (although, to be fair, she was in the hospital for two weeks the first time attempts were made to regulate her heart). Anyway, now she is on only Toprol 100mg (along with her pacemaker, cause she also has bradycardia) and her tachycardia is under control. She has strong negative feelings about having been on amiodarone for so long. She feels, to an extent, it robbed her of her good health and made her old before her time.

Your cardiologist not being comfortable with taking you off a drug because he doesn't have the details of why you were on it sounds pretty lame to me. Why doesn't he get the details? or reassess you himself? He sounds reluctant to take responsibility for your care. What's up with that? Afterall, he's your doctor.

Good luck.

P. J.

 

[Ross]

I think I would be seeing someone else if this guy doesn't want to do his job and find out. If there is no longer a real reason to be on Amiodarone, then he should get you off and put you on Beta-Pace or Sotolol instead if it's needed at all.

By the way, I have tinnitus also. They say it's not from surgery. Horse pucky!

 

[tobagotwo]

I understood that Amiodarone is supposed to be a drug of last resort, because of its many side effects. If I recall what's been posted, it takes six months to get out of your system even after you stop.

It didn't appear that anything else was really tried on you in any meaningful way. I'm with PJ. Is the cardiologist your doctor or not? He seems not concerned with how the drug is affecting you or whether it's actually necessary to use such a potentially toxic choice.

I don't believe he gave you an acceptable or responsible answer.

Best wishes,

 

[Nancy]

Do yourself a favor and do a search on this site for amiodarone. There are many posts about the side effects.

 

[Karlynn]

I'm with the rest. You need to find a doctor that will explore putting you on another med. I could see him keeping you on it if other things were tried and didn't work, but since it's what they gave you right after surgery and nothing else was tried, it's worth looking into

 

[catwoman]

Also, in the last month I have had fairly consistent tinnitus that sounds like it is coordinated with my heartbeat. Could this be related? My BP is under control with Hyzaar & Toprol.

In addition to checking out about changing/dropping heart meds, have your PCP check you for an undiagnosed ear infection.
Sometime in the last year, I went to my PCP complaining about heart beats in my left ear. The problem was traced to a sinus infection & a little fluid in the ear. PCP said there is a nerve that goes through the ear and if you have fluid in the ear, it can amplify heart beats.
He ran an EKG on me while I was at his office to be on the safe side; nothing unusual showed up.

 

[barbwil]

I relate

I relate

I had an ascending aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve (St Jude Tissue Root) replacement and right coronary artery bypass in May 2004. When coming off the heart lung machine after surgery, I went into fibrilation and had to be hit with the paddles. As a result, I was started on amiodarone in the hospital and told by the surgeon that it would likely be just for a short term. My medical cardiologist has been reluctant to discontinue this med because he never had the details about why it was started from the surgeon.

On a recent eye exam, my opthalmologist told me I had amiodarone deposits that were affecting my vision but that it wasn't sight threatening. My cardiologist had me wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours and, because he saw some PVCs, still wouldn't discontinue the med. I am concerned about drug toxicity in the eye other tissues but don't want to stop the amiodarone if I really need it. Any experience or thoughts would be appreciated.

Also, in the last month I have had fairly consistent tinnitus that sounds like it is coordinated with my heartbeat. Could this be related? My BP is under control with Hyzaar & Toprol.

Thanks for your help,

I relate to your feelings about amiodarone; I was on it for 25 months and hated every minute of it. My cardio used it because it started when I was on the table for a radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. All the other antiarrhythmic are processed through the kidneys and he didn't want to put the burden on my remaining kidney. It has a lot of interractions with other drugs, thyroid, etc. so I had to be monitored more frequently to keep them in balance.
I too developed the crystals in my eyes but that didn't concern my ophtho.; he just had me come back sooner to keep a close watch.
Finally a red flag went up when my liver enzymes came back elevated (make sure they test yours).
Then my electrophysiologist checked my pacemaker and said it (amio) wasn't doing any good, that I was still frequently in A-fib. But recent findings say as long as your rate is good, don't worry about the rhythm. So last Dec. she said I could quit the amio. and I have now passed the 6 months so it should pretty much be out of my system (although I have seen up to a year mentioned by some).
If your cardio hasn't contacted the surgeon for an explanation why don't you call the surgeon's office and tell them to send him/her the reason you were started on this drug?
I've been on 9 antiarrhythmic drugs and they ALL can be dangerous to some.
Best wishes in your quest for answers.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Your story makes me wonder if your Cardiologist even knows the nasty side effects of Amiodarone. Doctors seem to be more focused on the medical benefits of medications while pharmacists seem to have a better handle on the side effects and interactions with other drugs.

I suggest you research the side effects (or get a the insert that comes from the manufacturer) and present that to your cardiologist. You may also want to contact your surgeon personally (or his office) and ASK why you were put on amiodarone and how long he thinks you should have remained on it.

As a "drug of Last Resort" I have to wonder about doctors who use it as their FIRST choice to control post op arrhythmias. If they are thinking of it as a Quick Fix, then they should also have an 'exit strategy' IMHO.

'AL Capshaw'