Amiodarone

[Guest guest]

Greetings from Southern California on Monday morning,

Has anyone used Amiodarone to come out of Afib...and if so, was it successful?

In addition, would anyone with info re this drug/medicine send it to me

louisecalabrese@...

Thank you!

[Guest guest]

Greeeting from a very cold and windy essex.

Yes I have used Amiodarone to come out of AF.

It work for me after three weeks on the loading dose. But and

a very big but there are lots and lots and lots of side

effects be careful and asked lots of questions.

C

>

>Greetings from Southern California on Monday morning,

>

>Has anyone used Amiodarone to come out of Afib...and if so,

was it successful?

>

>In addition, would anyone with info re this drug/medicine

send it to me louisecalabrese@...

>

>Thank you!

>

>

Codling

Hornchurch Essex England

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/28/04 10:52:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,

jcowitz@... writes:

> my

> cardiologist wants to put me on amiodarone to reduce chance of

> recurrence, stroke, etc. i really hate taking drugs especially long

> term at my age (46). i admit i am a little spooked by the whole

>

My first suggestion is to see another cardiologist and or EP. Someone who is

up to date on drug therapies and ablations. Many cardiologists out there are

still stuck in the 50's with their diagnosis. Or just not creative. (A nice way

of saying lazy).

Your still a young person. Do yourself a big favour and see an EP

(Electrophysiologist) He or she is a trained heart arrhythmia specialist. A

heart

electrician so to speak. Go through our data base and review everthing you can.

The

more you know the better off you'll be.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

> i have just had a third a-fib this week, classic paroxysmal afib,

> this one with no obvious trigger, and with increasing frequency

> was in apr 2001, 2nd was oct 2003 and the 3rd was feb 2004). my

> cardiologist wants to put me on amiodarone to reduce chance of

> recurrence, stroke, etc.

My first afib episode (that I know of..) was in July 2001. I was 48

at the time. I subsequently had 3-4 episodes a year, lasting from a

few hours to 24 hours. Even with that, my cardio never suggested one

of the strong anti-arrythmics (like ami) primarily because of my age

and health which was otherwise very good and the fact that some of

those drugs can have powerful side-effects. Perhaps you, too, fall

into that category. We felt that my intermittent afib should be

dealt with as it happens, so to speak. When I would get an episode

I would pop a Cartia XT (cardizem) and eventually self-convert. Of

course, I also took a full aspirin a day. He did warn me at the time

that as I got older, the scenario would change, assuming the afib

continued or got worse.

Unfortunately, my afib recently turned more permanent so now I AM on

an anti-arrythmic - flecainide - and back in normal sinus rhythm.

Again, my new cardio (I moved) did not want to use ami. I would

proceed with caution, if I were you, about taking that med. There

are other options. Jumping to that med seems a bit precipitous to

me. I am not a doctor.

Good luck,

[Guest guest]

--- Regarding amiodarone;

I was put on amiodarone by my cardio, when my fib attacks seem to

have increased. He did not warn me of the side effects, and I was

very upset when I heard about the dangerous side effects, and

promptly changed cardiolgists. My new cardio put me on Toprol XL and

after a bumpy first three months, am now doing well. Thanks to much

prayer and trying to lesson the stress in my life.

Thanks to this board, many of you warned me of the side effects of

amiodarone, and I got educated. I promptly went back to the first

cardio who put me on it and challenged him about it! His response

was " Its either amiodarone or coumadin "

Not liking the choices he gave me, I sought a second opinion, and am

now very happy with my new Dr. and the meds I am on. I did go on

coumadin for safety, prevention of stroke.

All this to say, I would always opt for a 2nd opinion, if you have

doubts about your treatment.

Mandy of CA

[Guest guest]

Re: amiodarone

In a message dated 2/28/04 10:52:18 AM Eastern Standard Time,

jcowitz@... writes:

> my

> cardiologist wants to put me on amiodarone to reduce chance of

> recurrence, stroke, etc. i really hate taking drugs especially long

> term at my age (46). i admit i am a little spooked by the whole

>

My first suggestion is to see another cardiologist and or EP. Someone who is

up to date on drug therapies and ablations. Many cardiologists out there are

still stuck in the 50's with their diagnosis. Or just not creative. (A nice

way

of saying lazy).

____________________________________________________________________________

Here's where I come from. I've been on ami off and on (mostly on) for about

three years. It works, but the long term side effects scare the bejesus out of

me. That's why I convinced my GP when I moved to wean me from it. That worked.

Unfortunately, about three months later, I went back into afib (There's that

long half-life again!)

When I went to meet my new cardiologist, he put me on rate control. (You'll

find that most cardiologists do this now. The latest studies show that rate

control coupled with blood thinners actually has a slightly better mortality

rate than rhythm control coupled with blood thinners.) Unfortunately, rate

control without rhythm control leaves me feeling no better than no rate control

and no rhythm control. So, with some considerable reluctance, he referred me to

an EP centre. The wait for an ablation in this neck of the world is a long one,

however. After some considerable discussion (and some cardioversions that had

only short term effect), he/we (I insist on being an active participant in this

stuff once I've done my homework.) decided that ami was a reasonable bridging

mechanism to improve my quality of life until things happen with the EP.

At this point, I'm in normal sinus rhythm but on 400 mg a day of ami (pretty

well the maximum continuing dosage). I meet with the cardiologist on Monday.

One of the items on the agenda will be seeing if that dose can be reduced.

(Another will be discussing the magnesium that I started taking two days before

I autoconverted, but that's another story.)

I meet with the EP on April 6. If I get accepted in the program, I expect

that there will be a significant period before the ablation where I'll be back

on a rate control regimen and out of rhythm control, waiting for the ami to work

its way out of the system. (It apparently screws up the mapping process that is

necessary for the ablation to work.) I don't really look forward to that.

(From my perspective, afib may not kill you, but a long period of permanent afib

can make you wish that it would.) But the ablation at the end of the rainbow is

good motivation.

I'd suggest that you talk about alternatives with your cardiologist. Ask him

about rate control as an alternative. Ask him about ablation as a long term

solution. Let him know your concerns about ami. Ask him if he's recommending

ami as a long term solution or as a bridging mechanism. If it's a bridging

mechanism, find out what it's bridging to. I'd also do some digging in the

archives and on the wider net so that you're coming to him as an informed

patient rather than as a passive one. Google searching " atrial fibrillation "

and " amiodarone " are good starts. www.webmd.com and the Cleveland Clinic site

have good background that you can use. A support group like this is great. I'm

glad that I found it. But even after finding it and hearing all of our

experiences, you still have to go digging and educate yourself, then talk to the

doctor.

Bill Manson

" Where are we going? And why are we in this handbasket? " -- Bumper sticker

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/29/04 11:14:00 AM Pacific Standard Time,

johncodling@... writes:

<< I suppose though it like finding a good

builder or plumber,hairdresser once you find a good one you

keep him.her but it the finding of that particular person

when your feeling rough.

>>

... it must not be so different country to country. I thought I had a

good cardiologist who even SAID he liked all the internet research I did as it

allowed him to answer my questions intelligently and keep me informed. Then

when the SVT ablation done by someone he referred me to went bad, he tried to

blame ME for it (I was unconscious, so am not sure how he even got his logic),

and said there was damage, but refused to tell me WHAT the damage was or what

to do, only that I couldn't take the meds to help. He became withholding and

cold and curt. I think he was so afraid I'd sue that he felt it was

necessary. I had no intention of suing, and I had no one to get answers from.

I had

the records sent to a former doctor (one I already knew had the " I am God and

don't you dare question me " mentality, but he's the only one I knew. According

to the records by the dr who did the ablation, it was a blazing success.

This doctor then advised me to shut up and go back to the cardiologist and kiss

his butt and quit asking so many questions. This I did not do. Then we

switched medical carriers at work, and I got the Dr. Rattlesnake totally rude

female

cardiologist. I have had other doctors (my ob/gyn at the other plan, for

example) who was caring and informative and wonderful, and I hate having to lose

him when we switched plans. That is the main reason I began my own research

and found this board. I no longer trust doctors (not that my trust level was

huge to begin with), but this " I am God " crap just infuriates me. I am an

adult with a measurable IQ who wants answers and to be involved in my own

medical

care, not to be condescended to and to be expected to take meds that may harm

me or have procedures that DID harm me without question simply because the

doctor said to. If I'd had this attitude before the ablation, I'd have done

more

research THEN and maybe have prevented the additional problems I have now.

Sad statement on the medical community world-wide, heh?

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

thanx for the response. i am doing a lot of research before i go onto any

medication. it's interesting to hear your history as i tend to agree that

going on ami at this point may be premature (my g.p. agrees but defers to

the cardiologist). i have never heard of cardizem....can you give me a

little more info on it? i'm in canada and i don't know if its available

here. i have heard of flecainide, but don't know much about it. why did

your cardio choose it over the ami?

>

>Reply-To: AFIBsupport

>To: AFIBsupport

>Subject: Re: amiodarone

>Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 17:38:47 -0000

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>

>

> > i have just had a third a-fib this week, classic paroxysmal afib,

> > this one with no obvious trigger, and with increasing frequency

> > was in apr 2001, 2nd was oct 2003 and the 3rd was feb 2004). my

> > cardiologist wants to put me on amiodarone to reduce chance of

> > recurrence, stroke, etc.

>

>My first afib episode (that I know of..) was in July 2001. I was 48

>at the time. I subsequently had 3-4 episodes a year, lasting from a

>few hours to 24 hours. Even with that, my cardio never suggested one

>of the strong anti-arrythmics (like ami) primarily because of my age

>and health which was otherwise very good and the fact that some of

>those drugs can have powerful side-effects. Perhaps you, too, fall

>into that category. We felt that my intermittent afib should be

>dealt with as it happens, so to speak. When I would get an episode

>I would pop a Cartia XT (cardizem) and eventually self-convert. Of

>course, I also took a full aspirin a day. He did warn me at the time

>that as I got older, the scenario would change, assuming the afib

>continued or got worse.

>

>Unfortunately, my afib recently turned more permanent so now I AM on

>an anti-arrythmic - flecainide - and back in normal sinus rhythm.

>Again, my new cardio (I moved) did not want to use ami. I would

>proceed with caution, if I were you, about taking that med. There

>are other options. Jumping to that med seems a bit precipitous to

>me. I am not a doctor.

>

>Good luck,

>

>

>

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Just to go over this mail with my comments. I am not sure

what its like in the USA but here Drs are like Gods and think

they are!!!. They don't seem to bother to tell you what they

are

giving you and what is going to do to you in the long run. It

may be that they deal with lots of un -educated people most

of

the time. I mean uneducated not in the grammar sort of sense

but in the way people react to there medical problems.

Perhaps they get sort of cynical I just do not know.

One thing though, its your money, your illness you time and

your body. I do honestly believe we should be looked at in a

more caring way. I suppose though it like finding a good

builder or plumber,hairdresser once you find a good one you

keep him.her but it the finding of that particular person

when your feeling rough.

Just my bit for the day, I will now get off my soap box and

go and cook Tania's dinner.

JOHN C

Ps I believe you made the right shoice comming off of

Amiodarone, phew I could have said that in the fisrt sentence

and stopped wasting all of your time.

>

>--- Regarding amiodarone;

>

>I was put on amiodarone by my cardio, when my fib attacks

seem to

>have increased. He did not warn me of the side effects, and

I was

>very upset when I heard about the dangerous side effects,

and

>promptly changed cardiolgists. My new cardio put me on

Toprol XL and

>after a bumpy first three months, am now doing well. Thanks

to much

>prayer and trying to lesson the stress in my life.

>Thanks to this board, many of you warned me of the side

effects of

>amiodarone, and I got educated. I promptly went back to the

first

>cardio who put me on it and challenged him about it! His

response

>was " Its either amiodarone or coumadin "

>

>Not liking the choices he gave me, I sought a second

opinion, and am

>now very happy with my new Dr. and the meds I am on. I did

go on

>coumadin for safety, prevention of stroke.

>

>All this to say, I would always opt for a 2nd opinion, if

you have

>doubts about your treatment.

>Mandy of CA

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> thanx for the response. i am doing a lot of research before i go

onto any

> medication. it's interesting to hear your history as i tend to

agree that

> going on ami at this point may be premature (my g.p. agrees but

defers to

> the cardiologist). i have never heard of cardizem....can you give

me a

> little more info on it? i'm in canada and i don't know if its

available

> here. i have heard of flecainide, but don't know much about it.

why did

> your cardio choose it over the ami?

See: www.cardizem.com for everything you always wanted to

know....When I had my first afib episode I took myself to the ER

where they gave me an IV of cardizem. I converted within an hour.

He chose Flec because I suggested it. He initially wanted me to take

Betapace (sotalol). I read a bit of negative feedback on it -

although it certainly seems to work well for some. I have a feeling

that if the Flec hadn't worked he would have then suggested trying

Betapace and then possibly electro-cardioverson. Doctors usually

think 4 or 5 steps ahead in these matters. I did tell him that I

would not want to take ami - even if it meant staying in rate-

controlled afib. (I feel real lucky to have a doctor who listens to

me, although sometimes I'm sure my questioning can be a real pain in

the ***!) Of course, everyone responds differently to medicines and

the ultimate decisions must be between you and your doctor.

(new email address)

[Guest guest]

>

> thanx for the response. i am doing a lot of research before i go

onto any

> medication.

The link I suggested on cardizem is really just a pharma

brochure..Instead, take a look at:

http://members.aol.com/drynot/MW1/Page8.html

It's brief but informative and mentions cardizem & why it's

sometimes used for afib.

[Guest guest]

Re: amiodarone

Amiodarone is effective and does buy time for several years. One can't just

take it for too long with 'too long' varying from individual to individual. If

its working for you GREAT. Just be aware of the risks.

Shelby

Having just begun Amiodarone 200mg x 1 I'm likely to have to give it a

grace period indeed. What bothers me is I'm paroxsymal, and have in 5 years

been in

ER fewer times than the fingers on both hands, and I'm taking the

heaviest artillary out there now. How much safer are Flecainide and

Dotelifide in keeping AFs at bay? I will defer to Amiodarone in only one

strict sense,

that I am more clear-headed, spontaneous, lucid and inspired of mind

once again now that I'm on it than I ever was on beta blockers. In

that narrowest of senses, I've gotten many of my natural moods back -

and that feels good to me.

[Guest guest]

Hi Toni. I have learned never to go to the Dr they recomend

for a second opinion. It an Old boys club where theya re

shareing aorund the cake. Luckly England Is a little country

and I went far away from my district and sort another

opinion . We have a medical regitrar wheich you can find from

the library, It tell s you where each Dr studied. i look at

this and make sure they did not study at the same place. also

it lists there CVs etc.

C

>

><< I suppose though it like finding a good

> builder or plumber,hairdresser once you find a good one you

> keep him.her but it the finding of that particular person

> when your feeling rough.

> >>

>

> ... it must not be so different country to country. I

thought I had a

>good cardiologist who even SAID he liked all the internet

research I did as it

>allowed him to answer my questions intelligently and keep me

informed. Then

>when the SVT ablation done by someone he referred me to went

bad, he tried to

>blame ME for it (I was unconscious, so am not sure how he

even got his logic),

>and said there was damage, but refused to tell me WHAT the

damage was or what

>to do, only that I couldn't take the meds to help. He

became withholding and

>cold and curt. I think he was so afraid I'd sue that he

felt it was

>necessary. I had no intention of suing, and I had no one to

get answers from. I had

>the records sent to a former doctor (one I already knew had

the " I am God and

>don't you dare question me " mentality, but he's the only one

I knew. According

>to the records by the dr who did the ablation, it was a

blazing success.

>This doctor then advised me to shut up and go back to the

cardiologist and kiss

>his butt and quit asking so many questions. This I did not

do. Then we

>switched medical carriers at work, and I got the Dr.

Rattlesnake totally rude female

>cardiologist. I have had other doctors (my ob/gyn at the

other plan, for

>example) who was caring and informative and wonderful, and I

hate having to lose

>him when we switched plans. That is the main reason I began

my own research

>and found this board. I no longer trust doctors (not that

my trust level was

>huge to begin with), but this " I am God " crap just

infuriates me. I am an

>adult with a measurable IQ who wants answers and to be

involved in my own medical

>care, not to be condescended to and to be expected to take

meds that may harm

>me or have procedures that DID harm me without question

simply because the

>doctor said to. If I'd had this attitude before the

ablation, I'd have done more

>research THEN and maybe have prevented the additional

problems I have now.

>Sad statement on the medical community world-wide, heh?

>

>Toni

>CA

>

>

>

Codling

Hornchurch Essex England

[Guest guest]

>

> Re: amiodarone

>

>

>

>

> Amiodarone is effective and does buy time for several years. One

can't just take it for too long with 'too long' varying from

individual to individual. If its working for you GREAT. Just be aware

of the risks.

> Shelby

>

> Having just begun Amiodarone 200mg x 1 I'm likely to have to give it a

> grace period indeed. What bothers me is I'm paroxsymal, and have

in 5 years been in

> ER fewer times than the fingers on both hands, and I'm taking the

> heaviest artillary out there now. How much safer are Flecainide and

> Dotelifide in keeping AFs at bay? I will defer to Amiodarone in

only one strict sense,

> that I am more clear-headed, spontaneous, lucid and inspired of mind

> once again now that I'm on it than I ever was on beta blockers. In

> that narrowest of senses, I've gotten many of my natural moods back -

> and that feels good to me.

>

>

Shelby,

I hear you loud and clear. I will proceed with caution, and will bring

it up with my cardiologist that I have no intention of staying on it

long term. I recently went to a link provided on this thread that says

heart specialists are quickly coming to think that rate control is

more important than rhythm control. If this is their changing view,

then taking drugs less potent than amiodarone are no longer a bad idea

once again. Even if I've broken through on both toprol and sotalol

every six months or so, then perhaps i can just ride out the AFibs

till they end - which, by the way, I have. So long as i'm protected by

coumadin. In fact, I do recall the cardiologist suggesting that if

there was one drug he wanted me on more than amiodarone it was

coumadin. Indeed, many more on this thread experience AFibs for weeks

on end, and I salute them for their resolve.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> I recently went to a link provided on this thread that says

> heart specialists are quickly coming to think that rate control is

> more important than rhythm control.

Here is an interesting article, from PACE of May 2003 about both the

AFFIRM and RACE trials. You might find it interesting. (It is in

*.pdf format so you'll need adobe acrobat installed to read it..)

http://tinyurl.com/2a6qm

[Guest guest]

douglas, i don't know if you've read any of my previous postings, but i am

in a similar situation to you. three afibs in just under 3 years, the last

two only four months apart. my cardio has prescribed amio and i am in the

process of making a decision whether to go on it or not. i'm only 46 and

would rather not have to take drugs for the rest of my life. there is also

some question of a related LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy) which they

want to give me ANOTHER drug for (irbesartan). i am interested in your

experience and what led you to decide to take the amio.

>

>Reply-To: AFIBsupport

>To: <AFIBsupport >

>Subject: Fw: amiodarone

>Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 23:53:42 -0600

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>

>

> Re: amiodarone

>

>

>

>

> Amiodarone is effective and does buy time for several years. One can't

>just take it for too long with 'too long' varying from individual to

>individual. If its working for you GREAT. Just be aware of the risks.

> Shelby

>

> Having just begun Amiodarone 200mg x 1 I'm likely to have to give it a

> grace period indeed. What bothers me is I'm paroxsymal, and have in 5

>years been in

> ER fewer times than the fingers on both hands, and I'm taking the

> heaviest artillary out there now. How much safer are Flecainide and

> Dotelifide in keeping AFs at bay? I will defer to Amiodarone in only one

>strict sense,

> that I am more clear-headed, spontaneous, lucid and inspired of mind

> once again now that I'm on it than I ever was on beta blockers. In

> that narrowest of senses, I've gotten many of my natural moods back -

> and that feels good to me.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Coding wrote:

" I am not sure what its like in the USA but here Drs are like Gods

and think they are!!!. They don't seem to bother to tell you what

they are giving you and what is going to do to you in the long run " .

Sorry , but I have to disagree with you. Having had a fair bit

to do with various specialities such as Oncology,Nephrology, Urology

Surgery and Cardiology, both privately and in the NHS. I have found

all these people to be perfectly prepared to answer any questions

that my wife or I had. Their brief is to treat you as part of the

process and that should include keeping you informed.

The problem is: How much do you want to know and how much can you

absorb? I try to get a basis of knowledge from the books and the

internet before I consult and scribble down a short list of short

questions.

I have yet to meet one with god-like aspirations and if I ever do, I

am well qualified to wipe the surgery floor with him or her.

However, I do have tremendous respect for their proven abilities and

long hours they put in and so I try to arrive at their consultations

as well prepared as they are.

Bob Osborne

[Guest guest]

Amiodarone doesn't sound like a very good drug to be on. I am a 60 year old

woman, have very low BP and until recently have had only mild episodes of

A-Fib, frm a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. However, two weeks ago, I

went into A-Fib for about 16 hours and finally went to the ER. I was admitted

and put on 80 mg of sotalol, then 120, then 160. They tried cardioversion three

times unsuccessfully. I converted about 4 hours later and they released me.

48 hours later, I went into A-Fib again. Went to hospital but before they could

try cardioversion, I converted on my own. Again 48 hours later, I went into

A-Fib again and again the next day I went to the ER. They took me off sotalol

and put me on amiodarone and coumadin. I converted on the first loading dose of

amio w/i four hours. It is a scarey drug to be on but it has held me for an

entire week ..... the longest in two weeks when compared to sotalol. The

doctors tell me that I am a difficult bec' my BP is so low and some drugs would

lover my BP even more. My EP has said that I am a candidate for Ablation bec'

of my age. He doesn't want me on amio for the rest of my life. A pulmonary

function test was ordered which I will have done next week. A stress test was

ordered, but I'm going to wait for that and let my heart try to get back to some

semblance of order.

I took this info to a cardiologist in PHL. He said that he would have probably

followed the same protocol. Suggested that perhaps if the amio holds me for the

next year, that I could possibly switch over to another drug to get me off the

amio. He also suggested that bef agreeing to Ablation that I see a EP in the U

of Penn.

I am heartsick about this ......... Until this happened, I have never had any

health problems. I am afraid to do anything for fear that I'll break through

again. Any comments would be appreciated. Faith

[Guest guest]

--- In AFIBsupport , " Loretta and Chuck " <cleaner@c...> wrot=

e:

> This is an excerpt from the EP Cath Digest I received today regarding th=

e off label use of amiodarne for atrial fibrillation. If anyone wants me to=

send the complete article, write to me personally and I will forward it to =

you.

>

> Loretta

>

> Because of the drug's significant side effects, the FDA approved it only =

as a treatment for life-threatening heart conditions called ventricular tach=

ycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and only as a treatment of last resort=

after other drugs have failed.

>

> Yet in the past year doctors wrote nearly 2.3 million prescriptions for a=

miodarone to treat atrial fibrillation and other unapproved conditions - acc=

ounting for 82 percent of all amiodarone prescriptions, according to an excl=

usive Knight Ridder analysis of drug industry data published last fall.

>

> Throckmorton said patients who take amiodarone should discuss the risks a=

nd benefits of the therapy with their doctors.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

--- In AFIBsupport , " Loretta and Chuck " <cleaner@c...> wrot=

e:

> This is an excerpt from the EP Cath Digest I received today regarding th=

e off label use of amiodarne for atrial fibrillation. If anyone wants me to=

send the complete article, write to me personally and I will forward it to =

you.

>

> Loretta

>

> Because of the drug's significant side effects, the FDA approved it only =

as a treatment for life-threatening heart conditions called ventricular tach=

ycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and only as a treatment of last resort=

after other drugs have failed.

>

> Yet in the past year doctors wrote nearly 2.3 million prescriptions for a=

miodarone to treat atrial fibrillation and other unapproved conditions - acc=

ounting for 82 percent of all amiodarone prescriptions, according to an excl=

usive Knight Ridder analysis of drug industry data published last fall.

>

> Throckmorton said patients who take amiodarone should discuss the risks a=

nd benefits of the therapy with their doctors.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> This is an excerpt from the EP Cath Digest I received today regarding the off

label use of amiodarne for atrial fibrillation. If anyone wants me to send the

complete article, write to me personally and I will forward it to you.

>

> Loretta

>

> Because of the drug's significant side effects, the FDA approved it only as a

treatment for life-threatening heart conditions called ventricular tachycardia

and ventricular fibrillation, and only as a treatment of last resort after other

drugs have failed.

>

> Yet in the past year doctors wrote nearly 2.3 million prescriptions for

amiodarone to treat atrial fibrillation and other unapproved conditions -

accounting for 82 percent of all amiodarone prescriptions, according to an

exclusive Knight Ridder analysis of drug industry data published last fall.

>

> Throckmorton said patients who take amiodarone should discuss the risks and

benefits of the therapy with their doctors.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/27/2004 9:40:59 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

cleaner@... writes:

<< he FDA approved it only as a treatment for life-threatening heart

conditions called ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and only

as a

treatment of last resort after other drugs have failed. >>

Loretta,

I also read about Sotalol a few years ago when my doc was thinking of giving

it to me that it was initially approved for ventricular and potentially life

threatening situations, but it has certainly been widely used for afib. Of

course, Sotalol does not seem to have the dangerous side effects of Amiodarone,

but I am wondering if it is fairly common for doctors to prescribe drugs for

purposes other than their initially approved use and even if there is anything

wrong with that, since drugs work so differently for different people. I am

not expressing an opinion, just wondering and thinking on paper.

in sinus in Seattle