Amiodarone and PVC and Alcohol Ablation

Amiodarone - doctors like it because it works

by Gemita - 2024-08-31 05:10:13

Debs, thank you for re-posting.  

For anyone interested, an alcohol septal ablation is explained in the attached link.  It is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which causes heart tissue to thicken, restricting blood flow.  For this procedure, providers use a catheter (long, thin tube) to inject alcohol in the heart’s artery. The alcohol shrinks the enlarged tissue and relieves symptoms.  

I am unclear what part this procedure actually plays in controlling PVCs, but I expect by helping to relieve your symptoms and helping blood to flow better, the PVCs will hopefully stop or reduce too.  Certainly PVCs and other arrhythmias can be easily triggered by structural problems like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

On to Amiodarone, until you can be seen by a specialist in performing the alcohol ablation, I can understand they may want to help you immediately by attempting to stop your PVCs that will not be helping your symptoms. 

For brief periods and with careful, regular monitoring, my feeling is that Amiodarone can be safely used but I wouldn’t want to stay on the medication long term because of its considerable risk profile which no doubt you have been told about.  Amiodarone can cause serious lung problems and other difficulties. 

Amiodarone however is a powerful, effective anti arrhythmic medication which is often used when all other treatments have failed.  I haven’t tried it personally, although was offered it by my EP some years ago.  I chose Flecainide instead.  Amiodarone is used to help the heart stay in normal rhythm when other meds have failed, used mainly for those with serious heart conditions, like heart failure.

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best and good luck with any future ablation.  Hopefully other members on Amiodarone will see your post and respond

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22498-alcohol-septal-ablation

My Mum was given Amiodarone

by Gemita - 2024-08-31 06:31:28

Debs, meant to mention that they gave it to my mother when she was in her early 80s for a limited period only - 3 months - to help treat her atrial fibrillation (AF).  This was in late 2005.  I don't recall she ever received any major side effects while taking 200 mg daily.  The symptoms from AF were worse for her than Amiodarone

Amiodarone

by Selwyn - 2024-08-31 08:51:28

Amiodarone is not a safe drug. Individual experience is not going to help. Are you feeling lucky? 

It is prone to spurious side effects, some serious like lung fibrosis. Long term use is associated with problems like corneal deposits, liver function disturbance. etc.

My brother bitterly regrets his time on amiodarone - it took over 6 months for his thyroid function to settle down after a short course. You will find the drug has a slow clearnance rate.

You can look up the side effects of amiodarone . Personally, I declined to take this drug  for my atrial flutter.  It is best used for first aid whilst waiting for more permanent treatments.

Healthcare professionals are reminded that amiodarone can cause serious adverse reactions affecting the eyes, heart, lung, liver, thyroid gland, skin, and peripheral nervous system that may persist for a month or longer after treatment discontinuation. Some of these reactions may be life-threatening but onset can be delayed; patients should be supervised and reviewed regularly, especially those on long-term treatment. Liver and thyroid function tests should be performed

Ref:https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/amiodarone-hydrochloride/

Use the search facility (top right under "Q") and type in Amiodarone

by Gemita - 2024-08-31 10:05:12

Debs there are four pages or so of posts from Pacemaker Club members who either take or have asked about the safety of taking Amiodarone.  Hopefully you will find a mix of opinions to help you to decide whether Amiodarone is for you until you can get another alcohol ablation done?  I see you have already found Amiodarone to be an effective antiarrhythmic med, but please take care.  

The drug

by godrew - 2024-08-31 14:46:19

I was on it after I had open heart surgery for 3 months to help with AFib, I  was 40 at the time now 52, No side effects at that time.  

Amiodarone

by Rch - 2024-09-01 01:06:36

Amiodarone is a wonder drug Cardiologists love but other specialities hate. If your Cardiologist does recommend the drug, you could try but only under very close supervision by your PCP. I know some people who are on it  ( Cordarone) for extended period of time and are satisfied with the results, while some others drop off within a few months. One of the most feared reactions of the drug is the one least talked about. That's life threatening drug interactions! In this day and age with electronic records, a red alert will flash on the provider's screen but if that layer of security is overlooked, serious life threatening arrhythmias could result- just a word of caution!