Heart Failure and Amiodarone Therapy

Hi from today's latest newbie (I think). Here is my tale.

Asymptomatic heart attack in 1989 (age 46, same as father on his first). CABGx4 in 1991. Return of eschemia 1999, most vein grafts closed, pulmonary graft clear. Second attack in 2002. First CHF event in early 2003. 2nd CHF event in mid 2003. AICD (pacemaker+defrib) installed July 2003.

Last month had 1st multiple discharge of defrib (3 in 4 days). To hospital for amiodarone therapy and pacing fine tuning. Most miserable 5 days in my life under amiodarone therapy (800mg) while in hospital. Discharged delayed 2-days due to low sodium. Have mental blackout but wife said I went nuts on last two hospital days, babbling, incoherent and aggressive behavior. Day of discharge wife discovered urine in water flask instead of the fluid tracking bottle. Yep, I had really lost it. Second I got into auto to head home, I quickly regained sanity though I felt as lousy as when I was in the hospital. I mean, I had days when life seemed worse than death. While under home therapy with Amiodarone, I felt so lousy each and every day, all day and night, with prospects looking dimmer and dimmer as amiodarone therapy was for at least 1 year.

Question: What has been the experience (general malaise from moring to night? long lasting tylenol resistant headaches? Bloatiness? and a few other things that prevent me from even getting back to reading and writing) of anyone who started amiodarone therapy and remained on it? Your input would be most appreciated as I contemplating stopping the darn thing no matter what the risk. Quality of life does have a role I am finding out rapidly.

Mucho thanks in advance

toot-toot

Post Edited By Moderator (Teri16) : 5/19/2005 5:48:34 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Toot-toot, I was on amioderone for four and a half years. 200 mgs maintenance after starting in the hospital with 800 mg loading dose. It was a miracle for my arrythmias. I stopped taking it three months ago in the hope that the arrythmias would not come back...no such luck! I have heart failure and LBBB. The only side effects I had were sunburn, even through car windows , and hair thinning. I also had to increase my thyroid meds. It is a potent drug but certainly worked for me. Shall have to decide whether to go back on it or see whether a bi-ventricualr pacer would do the same thing...Jay.

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