Amiodarone question (again)

[Lindsay:-)]

Sorry for posting yet another question about this drug, I hate taking it and seem to get rid of one side effect and get the next one.
Anyway the new problem seems to be that my eyes and skin have become mega sensitive to the sun. I went out the other day when it was freezing cold but very bright and sunny and the only part of me that wasn't covered up was my hand.
Later in the evening I had this red itchy burning feeling come up across the top of my hand so I put cream on it and then it went all dry and sore.
I'm going to blame it on the amiodarone because all these things never used to happen before I went on it. I have also noticed that my eyes have become really sensitive to the light, lots of extra floaters and coloured lights/dots when looking from light to dark and vice versa. I know it can do this and was wondering if anyone else has had these problems.
I am going to have a pacemaker at some point so I can come off it (thank goodness)
It might do a very good job on the arrhythmias but the side effects are terrible, it is a very fine line as to which is worse.

Anyway I would really like some reasurrance that this has happened to someone else and it isn't just me. I am worrying about it desperatly which is probably making it more noticeable.

Lindsay

[Lindsay:-)]

Anyone give me any answers? I need someone to put my mind at rest. I know I keep going on about it but it has so many side effects which I seem to be getting one after the other.

[skinnythepooh]

I was only on Amiodarone for a short time after my MI (along with a dozen or so other new pills). The a-fib was constant for a few weeks. Then stopped except for a monthly recurrance. But, because of anticipated side-effects, the Amiodarone was discontinued. A year later, with almost continuous a-fib again, I had an ICD (defibrillator) implanted, and was primed for an upcoming Tikosyn (Dofetilide) trial. Less risky, but it requires a few days of hospitalization at the start. Guess I'm not very optimistic, but willing to give it a try, if it is unlikely to worsen my condition!!

[Lenin]

Lindsay,

The light sensitivity is among the most pronounced of the side effects. Did you get that blue-gray coloration that the literature mentions?

It seems too risky to take for anything but life threatening arrhythmias. I've never taken it.

Isn't there any less-dramatic drug you can take?