Amiodarone questions

[sweetsurrender1]

I just need to let poeple know how dangerous amiodarone is. It almost just killed my husband . It was the one medication that we never thought to read up on or suspect when he started getting tired , weak, diarrhea ,numbness etc . Then finally he ended up in ICU with multiple organ failure. Doctors were at a loss and thought he had end stage liver disease and I was told to expect the worst and soon. His lungs also appeared to be just about had it . As a last resort they discontinued the amiodarone and gave him steroids and suddenly there he is looking around and talking again, and his lungs magically cleared right up .This JUST happened so who knows what lies ahead after his body was stressed like that but for now I have him back again and I want to spread the word that this drug should ONLY be used as a last resort and the patient should be monitored for changes the entire time .

[sweetsurrender1]

Last one showed up twice so I deleted this one

[sweetsurrender1]

I was in such a rush to post after signing up and things that I didn't really get a chance to read other people's posts . Alot of what others are complaining about is what my husband went through . I will list the obvious signs from a few months back til now .He has only been on Amiodarone for about 6 months . First sign was constant diarrhea, then tiredness , weakness, cold hands and feet , bluish nails at times , losing sense of touch in fingertips , rarely able to detect oxygen saturation through finger ( chalked up as his hands being too cold) , then worse weakness and tiredness , slurry voice at times( blamed on low potassium) , weak voice at times , nausea , loss of appetite , confusion and forgetfulness , strange behavior , easily bruising , unusual pain upon touch , then skin breakdown , seizure like actions and semi coma like state , yellowing of eyes and skin, etc . Of course by the time symptoms became severe he was already hospitalized .He got there just in time . His symptoms were gradual before then and thought to be low potassium and depression til blood test alerted doctor . His liver went downhill, his kidneys, lungs, even his skin and possibily his brain. If it weren't for comparison xrays showing how quickly his lungs became diseased looking then he might not have been taken off the amiodarone and put on steroids to save his life . At this moment I pray that the damage , if any , hasn't been too much for him . I hope he will be ok tomorrow and every day after that .I am just glad that I never signed any DNR orders as suggested by doctors and other staff thinking he was end stage organ failure (namely liver) to let him go "peacefully" whereas he was always showing signs of pain and was only expected to live for just days. Remember, a family knows their own best and knows what is best for them . Don't let anyone guilt you into anything because they don't have any right to . Let your heart be your guide and research everything and always look for the obvious such as medications or new lifestyle changes.Hope this helps someone .

[Kaylen1978]

I really can't remember what I was like while on this medication back in November / December 1992, but I know it was used as a last resort. I had atrial fibrillation for which I had a cardioversion done, with it coming back to AF a week later.

Granted I was also on other meds as I was in congestive heart failure and had cardiomyopathy, and was on the transplant waiting list at the time . . .