Amiodarone

[Guest guest]

I have an 86 year old relative who has had difficult atrial fibrillation

problems in the past. Her heart doctor (not the one who originally prescribed

it) recently took her off amiodarone out of concern that it was " interfering

with her thyroid medication " (which is synthroid -- she has continued throughout

the treatment to show significant hypothyroid symptoms in terms of energy level,

hair loss, very cold-natured, etc.)

My question is this: it is unlikely that she will be willing to take

significant iodine supplements on her own, so I am wondering whether to

encourage her to try to get her doctor to put her back on amiodarone (on the

theory that the amiodarone version of iodine is better than no iodine) or just

go without iodine supplementation, since the establishment literature seems to

be so skiddish about amiodarone side effects (so far as I can tell she has had

no side effects and was doing well on amiodarone from the heart standpoint.

Any comments would be appreciation on whether amiodarone is in fact as toxic as

some web sites say, or whether these criticisms are likely to be just part of

the anti-iodine phobia many doctors seem to have. This lady is likely to go

with her doctor's orders regardless, so our choice is probably between (1) get

her back on the amiodarone with the doctor's blessing or (2) no iodine

supplementation at all.

We will appreciate any and all constructive comments!

thanks.