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Q. My husband was taking amiodarone for a heart rhythm problem. He developed pulmonary fibrosis as a side effect and died last November. I just can’t understand why this dangerous drug is still on the market.
A. We are so sorry to learn of your loss. Amiodarone (also available under the brand names Cordarone and Pacerone) is used to treat heart rhythm disturbances that don’t respond to other medications. A “black-box” warning in the prescribing information tells doctors: “Amiodarone hydrochloride is intended for use only in patients with the indicated life-threatening arrhythmias because its use is accompanied by substantial toxicity.” The most important of these is pulmonary (lung) toxicity, but it can also have negative effects on the liver and the thyroid.
The warning continues, “amiodarone poses major management problems that could be life-threatening in a population at risk of sudden death, so that every effort should be made to utilize alternative agents first.”
We recommend that anyone who receives a prescription for amiodarone discuss the benefit/risk ratio of this drug with the doctor in detail, so that it is used only when appropriate.
I am very sorry to hear about this story. I am sure there are so many more which are not discovered or told - and not just about this medication - but others.
I have nothing to do with health or pharmaceutical business. Just an ordinary lady living far away from the U.S. (Sweden).
I have seen side effects in people close to me (not from this medication) and that forced me to look for information.
It would be interesting to know which medications can cause heart rhythm problems?!
Please write about drug-induced diseases in general.
I have successfully treated my tachycardia (rapid heart rate) with potassium and CoQ10 supplements.
I suspect this works by balancing the electrical charge in the sodium-potassium pump of the cells.
I also try to avoid excitogens (MSG, chemicals, excess salt, etc.) as well as shocks to my nervous system, both of which I believe precipitate the rapid heart beating.
Wonder how long you'd have to take amiodarone before you'd get the lung problem. Husband took that drug for a while after heart surgery until they physically restarted his heart to achieve rhythm. He has severe copd and fibrosis now, 8 years later. Could there be any relation? Thanks for all your interesting topics. Have tried several of them.
I was prescribed amiodorone for 4 years, before and after pacemaker placement. The only other drug that was used for my A-fib was fleconiade. On amiodorone I had severe numbness and tingling in both lower extremities and left arm, and twice was told I had a TIA, however symptoms continued and became worse, including tremor and balance issues.
I was referred to a neurologist who treated me for a year and a half and never questioned the drug, nor did any other doctor. Finally, I said I would like to discontinue it, and because I was on coumadin I was allowed to do so. Because of the long half life it took about 2 1/2 months for the symptoms to go away, but they did and I am symptom free. I will not take the drug again no matter what. I know people also turn blue, called Smurf Syndrome!!!!
My Father developed pulmonary fibrosis immediately following voluntary robotic bypass surgery, he died 5 weeks later. He had been taking Amiodarone for 5 months and stopped one week before his surgery. I guess the doctors were unaware of how long it stays in your system. The prescribing doctor did not try any other medicines prior to putting him on Amiordarone and a electrophysiologist was never consulted.
My husband was on amiodrone for years after bypass. He was hospitalized for copd. 2 Doctors were talking about amiodrone one said stop the other disagreed. They continued the amiodrone. Last year he was hospitalized 2 months with heart arrhythmia, congestive heart failure,& copd. He was failing, so I questioned all the medications and looked them up on line.
I then told Doctors how these medications were doing more harm than good and told them to take him off 5 that I believed were not helping. A few were very dangerous for his age 80 yrs. My primary Dr. sat with me to go over meds for him to take at home. No amiodrone. He has been home over a year, his heart is weak but he is doing well. I have no medical background but can understand what I read, and have been with my husband 52 years.