Amiodarone - how bad is it really? Please help

[Bracelet]

My dad has recently been diagnosed with Afib. He was given the option of the cardiac ablation but is very much against it (and I can't say I blame him, because I'm sure I would feel the same way).

I guess today his cardiologist said that he could prescribe Amiodarone because it's been showing increasingly more promise in treating patients with afib. However, as you may already know, amiodarone, while highly effective, is also highly toxic.

I'm looking for anyone with personal experience with amiodarone. How long have you been on it, what have your side effects been like, is it really as bad as they would have you believe? My dad is very depressed about the afib and he is desperate for help. I'm really hoping someone can give me some information about this so I can tell him whether it's even worth pursuing this medication.

Please, someone give me some information?

[Lenin]

No personal experiece with amiodarone but I just want to tell you that while you're doing your research on it perhaps you could look into sotalol as well...a lot of people have luck with it in controlling A-fib.

[Jackymwb]

I took Amioderone for nearly five years for arrythmias. It was the only med that worked. Had an unsuccessful ablation then tried Solatol also unsuccessful. The Amio was a miracle for me. The only side effect I was bothered by was increased sunburn, I had to be very, very careful but covering up solved most of this. Also had some hair thinning ! It was so successful that I decided, after five years, (with docs OK) to stop the Amio and have only had minor problems since. I am on meds for cardiomyopathy.

[Bracelet]

Thanks for your replies. He has actually been on Sotalol for about a year or so, and although it helped at first, it's not helping anymore. I understand that is supposed to be one of the best drugs, but it's just not working for him anymore.

My mom and I are both adamantly against him taking the amiodarone based on all of the research I have done about it. My biggest concern is the lung toxicity, while he worries most about the potential for blindness. I just don't know what else to suggest because I'm not a doctor or a cardiologist, all I know is what I read on the internet. Although I work in clinical research, my specialty is with urology.

From what I've read of the cardiac ablation, it's supposed to be pretty good. But then I read the personal experiences of people here, and they say that they have had it done multiple times. I don't think he wants to have his heart damaged multiple times for a treatment.

I'm really worried. And I don't know what else to do to help him.

[sam78]

bracelet, while I have not personally taken amiodarone, I have worked somewhat closely with it. I have an very hard to treat atrial tachycardia and have tried almost every drug out there except amiodarone. I personally, along with my physician have decided that it is just not worth the risk, especially the long term effects of amio. He has told me the biggest and worst thing about amiodarone is the lung fibrosis. I have seen lung fibrosis and could see no worse way to suffer in life. There are some newer drugs out there that work with afib like Rythmol or tikosyn. I would recommend that if drugs arent working for your dad that maybe a look inside (EP study) might be the best option. Just because they go study the heart doesnt mean they have to do an ablation. They can go in and map the atria and see where he afib is originating from and determine if it would be an easy fix or not. But I have always said if you can get it controlled with drugs, then you should go for the EP study. For all you know it could be an easy fix and then you'd be upset that you didnt do it sooner. But I am with you, I dont think amiodarone is a good choice unless every thing else has been exhausted, use it as a last resort.