Amiodarone

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Z

zlever

Hello all. Its been a few weeks since I reported in here. I am doing fantastic --I really am. I am now 7 weeks post op from my valve replacement surgery. I went back to work three weeks ago. I started running last week 1-2 miles and today I stretched it out to 2 miles nice and easy today and felt great!

The point I wanted to bring up today is this amiodorane that I am still prescribed for. My cardiologist wants me to stay on it another 4 weeks until May 11th. I have heard so much negative things about this drug and the horrible side effects that happen long term to people to their vital organs that sometimes become fatal. Also been told the drug lingers in the body for up to 250 days after a person stops taking them. I take 200mg a day and Im tempted to take myself off them--but then of course it will affect the coumadin and than they will start asking questions after my bimonthly blood tests. I just want to get off this potentially hazardous to my body drug as soon as possible. Maybe i am being to hard on this drug as it certainly has helped prevent more afibs from me. I had one and only one afib since my surgery and that was the day after surgery.
Take Care all!!
Zack
 
I was on amniodorone for about 4 months post surgery. I had bad a-fib prior to surgery. I too was concerned (I spend lots of time in the sun training the dogs, even with sunscreen I didn't want to turn blue!). It took about 2 months after coming off for my INR to settle. I've had no long term effects that I know of from it. It seems they frequently prescribe it short term for post surgical cases where pt had arrythymias prior to surgery.
 
Would your doctor perhaps agree also to take amiodarone through May 11th? I think I had amio only for 30 days. Think carefully about how to get off the amio; quitting cold turkey might not be the best thing; gradually might be better.
 
Whenever I hear of patients being put on Amiodarone at the First Sign of post-op Arrhythmias I always wonder if they are doing so for the patient's benefit or the Doc's / Hospital's benefit.

YES, Amiodarone seems to be quite effective, BUT it is also the Sledge Hammer of anti-arrhythmics with well known side effects. Even the manufacturers state that it should only be used as the Medication of LAST RESORT.

Several of our members have had good success suppressing A-Fib with Sotalol which is much less expensive and has way fewer side effects. I wonder why more Doc's don't prescribe Sotalol for post-op A-Fib...

'AL Capshaw'
 
I took 800 mg for about 2 months before my surgery and 200 mg for a month afterwards. Although there were no long-term side effects, while I was on it (along with a calcium channel blocker) I was dangerously constipated (especially when I was on the 800 mg).

I was on Coumadin for about a year after my surgery (a precautionary measure), and when I went off the Amiodarone, my INR kept going down. So, make sure when you get off it that you have your INR checked often.
 
ALCapshaw2 said:
Whenever I hear of patients being put on Amiodarone at the First Sign of post-op Arrhythmias I always wonder if they are doing so for the patient's benefit or the Doc's / Hospital's benefit.

YES, Amiodarone seems to be quite effective, BUT it is also the Sledge Hammer of anti-arrhythmics with well known side effects. Even the manufacturers state that it should only be used as the Medication of LAST RESORT.

Several of our members have had good success suppressing A-Fib with Sotalol which is much less expensive and has way fewer side effects. I wonder why more Doc's don't prescribe Sotalol for post-op A-Fib...

'AL Capshaw'
Click to expand...

Gee, Im 9 wks post op and wish I could run-Congrats!!

I have never been on Amiodarone , but I have been on Sotalol and I was kept in the hospital for 4 days just to regulate the amount. I was told that
if given too high a dose that it can put one in v-fib or Torsades , so
they run an ekg for a few days before discharge to check for an elongation of
the p-r interval. I was on it for a few months with no problems, but their
caution in the hospital regarding the drug kinda scared me, Dina
 
I am still on this drug myself, I am also 7 weeks post, I am due to cease it on May 12, I have been spending quite a bit of time in the sun, with the usual precautions, and luckily haven't turned into a Papa Smurf yet.

When I had A-Fib the Thursday pre Easter, and was rushed to hospital, they were unable to contact my surgeon, as he was performing surgery, and he advised me that he was less than impressed that I had been put on that drug when he visited me later that day.

I am not looking forward to my INR possibly going all over the place after I stop taking it, as it has been stable around 2.6, with an alternating dose of 4 / 4.5.

I hope everything goes well with your recovery.
 
I was on the drug for 8 weeks post op. Being in south Florida I was in the sun everyday while out walking. I also didn't turn "blue/grey".

I believe the reason it is so widely prescribed is because the company drug reps really push it. Most doc's really only have a working knowledge of a few drugs, and they tend to prescribe what they "know", and may be hesitant to prescribe what they are not familiar with.

Read up on the side effects, and don't over due the sun exposure--no day trips to the beach.

It is also reasonable to speak to your doc about your concerns, and ask if there is another med that would work the same, with less chance of side effects.

I would have seriously questioned the use of Amiodarone in my own case if they wanted me on it longer then 8 weeks.

Congratulations on the running. Some of the things I read here are amazing. I thought I was doing great returning to work at the 3 week point, and doing my daily walking at a fast pace.
 
"Congratulations on the running. Some of the things I read here are amazing. I thought I was doing great returning to work at the 3 week point, and doing my daily walking at a fast pace."[/QUOTE-BY BACKDOC

Going back to work 3 weeks post op IS amazing! Im 9 weeks post and still
not working.I guess we all heal at different paces and some of us had more
damage. I DID conquer the huge mountain of steps in a park near my house!
Prior to surgey , I was so short of breath I could not have made it half way.

Congrats to all who are vanquishing their particular Mountain, DINA
 
four weeks

four weeks

i was put on this drug after my surgery for 4 weeks only; gp said this period was the recommended maximum. i was taking sotolol at the same time and i have been told to continue with it until cardiologist says to stop.

i noticed no diference after i stopped taking amiodarone.
 
I had rather intractible Afib. I was put on Amiorarone. I actually had side effects The lights from oncoming traffic at night had huge halos that seemed to extend to my side of the street. Really scary. I asked to be taken off and I was and the Afib came back. I asked for rate control and got it 200mg of metroprolol a day. I preferred it to the terror of the side affects of the drug.

Here is one of the best articles I read on that med:The Strange History of Amiodarone From Richard N. Fogoros, M.D.,LINK
 
amiodarone

amiodarone

hi everyone, so what are the side effects of amiodarone, they put adam on it just temporarily, and i have been so upset over the whole surgery, i havent even thought of side effects from the medicine. so once you are off of it can you go in the sun then. adam took 400 mg for 2 weeks, now is weaned down to 200 mg just for the next 4 weeks, should i try to get him to a doc sooner, or should i try to get the medicine changed, he had some trouble in surgery so he probibly needs this or something similar and what are the supposed side effects and can you get them from short term use. thanks.
alpha 1
 
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/Drug/InfoSheets/patient/amiodaronePT.htm

What Are The Risks?

Lung and Liver Damage and Worsening Heart Problems: See FDA Alert above.
You may have other side effects while taking amiodarone. Amiodarone stays in your body for months, so these side effects may continue after treatment is stopped.

Serious vision problems: Tell your healthcare professional if your vision blurs, you see halos, or your eyes become light sensitive.
Muscle problems: You may have numbness or “pins and needles” in your arms or legs, muscle weakness, uncontrolled movements, poor coordination, and difficulty walking.
Thyroid problems: Tell your healthcare professional if you have weight loss or gain, restlessness, body weakness, become over sensitive to heat or cold, hair thinning, sweating, menstrual changes, or neck swelling (goiter).
Skin problems: Your skin may change to a blue-gray color or you may have increased sensitivity to the sun. Avoid exposure to the sun or sun lamps. Use sunblock or protective clothing when out in the sun.
Digestion changes: You may have nausea, vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite.
Pregnancy: Amiodarone can harm your unborn baby. You should not plan to become pregnant while taking amiodarone and for some time after you stop taking amiodarone.
Breast-feeding: Amiodarone passes into your milk and can harm your baby. You should not breast-feed while taking amiodarone and for some time after you stop taking amiodarone.
 
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