I am coming onto the 20th year since my mitral Valve repair and that seems to be in good shape. My cardiologist tells me there are run ups in my hear rate (I had a holter for 2 weeks) and has prescribed Amidarone can anyone tell me about the side effects. I am 60 and work out regularly and get occasional palpitations.. other wise am feeling very very good.
Valve ok but something else, Amiodarone
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Shouldn't your doctor or pharmacist be telling you about this?
I couldn't handle it. It shut down my digestive system like a steel drum.
One of the key components is in the name: iodine.
Some people are extremely sensitive, or even allergic to it.
If you aren't reacting negatively, you're probably okay with it. If you're having issues with it, let your doctor know -- it's not for everyone. It sure wasn't a drug that I was able to handle,
I couldn't handle it. It shut down my digestive system like a steel drum.
One of the key components is in the name: iodine.
Some people are extremely sensitive, or even allergic to it.
If you aren't reacting negatively, you're probably okay with it. If you're having issues with it, let your doctor know -- it's not for everyone. It sure wasn't a drug that I was able to handle,
thanks very much for the note, the pharmacist told me it can cause digestive issues but should resolve in a few days.. I have read really awful scary things about this drug. I am starting to take it on the beginning of my weekend so I am not having issues trying to get through my work day. I asked my cardiologist about side effects and he said there were none. My GP told me some of his patients can tolerate it with no issues.
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In my case, my intestines seemed to turn off completely, Everything turned into concrete. It took industrial strength laxative to undo the damage.
If your cardiologist says that there are no side effects, I'd wonder about how much he really knows or his (or her) honesty.
If your cardiologist says that there are no side effects, I'd wonder about how much he really knows or his (or her) honesty.
I took it after my surgery (On-X) Dec 2020 for 30 days due to Afib, in the hospital. After 30 days, went off and no Afib. Summer 2022 I started having regular rapid. My cardiologist wanted me to go on it again and I refused. He said he agreed with me and he wouldn't take it either. The side effects I remember are terrible (TERRIBLE!!!) nightmares and tiredness. I'm sorry I can't remember what else, I just remember....never again. I was going to have an ablation but ended up not needing it. My thyroid levels were way off and was the cause of the rapid beats (190's). I was 64 for my surgery, now 67.
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Your cardiologist prescribed this for run ups in HR? I've been on amiodarone. It was prescribed to me on a short term basis, to help control the afib I had the day after valve surgery. I was on it for about one month total.
I can tell you that it is well documented that amiodarone causes INR to spike, as it interferes with clearance of warfarin. My INR, after being stable for 4 days, spiked to 9.7 within 3 days of being released from hospital, and on oral amiodarone. After the fact, learned that studies have shown that those on amiodarone should have their INR monitored very closely, as, depending on dose, it can cause the effects of warfarin to be more than double normal.
Long term use of amiodarone has also been shown to lead to significant increases in cancer rates. If he has you on this short term, please don't worry about this, because this is not seen after just a few months, but long term use. I hope that his plan is to keep you on this for only short term, until your heart rate stabilizes. If his plan is to have you on it long term, you might look into the side effects and discuss is there is an alternative, such as beta blockers.
Wishing you all the best.
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I was not aware there was such a thing. Draino?
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pellicle
Professional Dingbat, Guru and Merkintologist
Kimchi....
I was wearing a holter due or very occasional AFib, the doc discovered some run ups in my hear rate and prescribed amiodarone. May holter showed a run of 150 bpm during the day when I was at work, there is no way that would happen without me noticing. At any rate I really dont want to go on this drug the side effects seem to be horrendous and i have zero related symptoms. Thanks for your note I definitely want to have the doc consider an alternate.
Ok thanks, i feel very good and have no symptoms related to what my cardiologist thinks os going on with me so I have no desire to take something that is going to make me miserable. I work out regularly and feel good, also 63. I figure I will try it for a few days and if it is truly disruptive i am going off it. Thanks again for your response
I am 20 years post op they are finding other things due to my holter. I feel very good so this is perplexing, I have no symptoms related to ventricular arrhythmias. My heart function otherwise is good...
I was certainly thinking about Drano. Instead, I was given a large dose of Magnesium Citrate (you can get Magnesium Citrate OTC, but be careful with it.
If I remember correctly, you'll need to go off slowly, with Dr's knowledge. Other's here could probably tell you more about that. There are some on here that take it too, it must be good for those who do. I'm old enough to say, I don't want it. If I were younger maybe I'd take it. For my rapid heart beats (up to 190's) I felt them. The first one lasted an hour but after that they were 5 to 30 mins. They are a little frighting. The ablation would have been the next step, if the Amiodarone didn't help with the rapid beats. I was willing to skip the meds and go for the procedure and I was lucky the doctor listened and agreed. Your doctor should be able to help you with your decisions. Good luck!
cp172
Well-known member
I was on amiodarone for about a year until it started affecting my thyroid. You will need periodic blood tests to make sure it is not creating a problem. My doctor did not consider it a long term solution in my case. I had no side effects that I noticed from the drug. I hope you are doing well.
JLmatus
Active member
I was on amiodarone for a few months post surgery for Afib issiues. I ended up having my doctor take me off of it due to various issues. Amiodarone is a useful but powerful drug. If you research the drug, you will find out that it can cause numerous issues both short and long term.
I had AFib twice when my heart went up to 120-150 without me feeling it! Trust me, I normally feel every beat, every skipped beat, every palpitation! But on those two situations I was so busy that I didn’t notice any changes in my heart beats if it wasn’t for my Fitbit (first time) and my IWatch (second time) congratulating me for the hard workouts!!! I also didn’t have any other accompanying symptom! Some shortness of breath but thought they were due to doing much then.
In my case I ended having cardio-version, and still continued taking Amiodarone for at smaller doses…never stop it *coldturkey*.
The doctor can run blood tests to monitor its effect!
So, arrhythmias may sneak (on some of us) without other symptoms than high pulse!
