RE: Don't know what to take don't know what to do..

[Guest guest]

>

> The toxicity of amiodarone is thought to be, in large part, a

function

> of the iodine that is contained in its molecular structure. I can't

> imagine anyone talking me into taking it for AF. My internist has

> commented that cardiologists are comfortable with prescribing this

drug,

> but he cannot imagine himself becoming comfortable. It has a half

life

> of several months, so simply discontinuing the drug when side

effects

> develop does not have an immediate effect on resolving them. On the

> other hand, skipping a dose accidentally does not affect the drug's

> efficacy either.

>

> A different molecule, dronedarone, has completed phase 3 studies

and the

> results suggest that it has side effects " similar " to placebo. What

that

> exactly means is open to interpretation, but amiodarone is so

> problematic that it should not be hard to beat side-effect wise.

>

> Both amiodarone and dronedarone have similar (and multiple)

mechanisms

> of action.

>

- OU alum in Kazoo

.......................................................

, as you know I take Amiodorone. If I had a choice, I wouldn't.

And I certainly wouldn't have it as the first drug I'd try to control

the afib. But it's the only alternative I have right now besides

being in constant afib or having a PVI which I will have if the Ami

stops working or starts having deleterious effects on my body.

Hopefully the Dronedarone will be available soon and I can get off

the Ami. With the EP/PVI field expanding so rapidly (magnetic

navigation to mention just one thing)

I know that holding off as long as possible for the PVI is to my

advantage.

I just got back from a wild turkey hunt. I awoke very early, humped

through the woods all day long, drove home (200 miles) the same day

and was totally exhausted. I was very worried that I would go into

afib. I stayed in NSR. I equate that to the fact that I'm on Ami.

When I did that same routine last November, when I was currently on

Sotalol, I went into afib. I'll be giving the Ami another test run

this week and hopefully get lucky and have a turkey for the kettle.

So the Ami is letting me get on with my life and hopefully it won't

harm my body. If it does start to effect me I'm sure the doctors

will pick up on it because of the close monitoring and testing

schedule they have me on.

If anyone is on Amiodorone and has positive results with it would

sure be nice to hear from you.

P <MI>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/24/2004 1:41:16 PM Central Daylight Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

What's magnetic navigation? Is that the thing where they seomhow

detect the electrical potentials at the pulmonary veins so they know

what to zap?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's a very strong magnetic field that can guide the catheter through the

vein rather than pushing it. It is supposed to allow easier movement. It was

developed while researching a method to guide tiny probes into the brain to

break

up clots, this doesn't work yet.

It was developed at the University of Iowa.

Guy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/24/2004 1:41:16 PM Central Daylight Time,

trudyjh@... writes:

What's magnetic navigation? Is that the thing where they seomhow

detect the electrical potentials at the pulmonary veins so they know

what to zap?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It's a very strong magnetic field that can guide the catheter through the

vein rather than pushing it. It is supposed to allow easier movement. It was

developed while researching a method to guide tiny probes into the brain to

break

up clots, this doesn't work yet.

It was developed at the University of Iowa.

Guy

[Guest guest]

> JPindorski@a... writes:

> If anyone is on Amiodorone and has positive results with it would

> sure be nice to hear from you.

>

> P <MI>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>

> I would say that I am having positive results with amiodarone. I

too would

> like an alternative but since I still have breakthroughs about

every 2 weeks I

> doubt any other drugs would work.

> Guy

>

..........................................

Thanks Guy, it sure will be nice if..when..they approve this

Dronedarone. We'll be able to load up.

P

[Guest guest]

> JPindorski@a... writes:

> If anyone is on Amiodorone and has positive results with it would

> sure be nice to hear from you.

>

> P <MI>

> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>

> I would say that I am having positive results with amiodarone. I

too would

> like an alternative but since I still have breakthroughs about

every 2 weeks I

> doubt any other drugs would work.

> Guy

>

..........................................

Thanks Guy, it sure will be nice if..when..they approve this

Dronedarone. We'll be able to load up.

P

[Guest guest]

>

.... With the EP/PVI field expanding so rapidly (magnetic

> navigation to mention just one thing)

What's magnetic navigation? Is that the thing where they seomhow

detect the electrical potentials at the pulmonary veins so they know

what to zap?

[Guest guest]

> What's magnetic navigation? Is that the thing where they seomhow

> detect the electrical potentials at the pulmonary veins so they

know

> what to zap?

............................................................

It's new technology to detect the catheter's location inside the

heart.

Here's a good article on it. You have to register but it's free.

http://www.theheart.org/viewEntityDispatcherAction.do?

primaryKey=525099

[Guest guest]

The toxicity of amiodarone is thought to be, in large part, a function

of the iodine that is contained in its molecular structure. I can't

imagine anyone talking me into taking it for AF. My internist has

commented that cardiologists are comfortable with prescribing this drug,

but he cannot imagine himself becoming comfortable. It has a half life

of several months, so simply discontinuing the drug when side effects

develop does not have an immediate effect on resolving them. On the

other hand, skipping a dose accidentally does not affect the drug's

efficacy either.

----------------------------

Amiodarone is indeed nasty stuff. I've taken it for about three years.

It has only one redeeming factor. It works for me, and the quality of

life that comes without rhythm control is even less acceptable than the

dice roll on the side effects.

At this point, I'm using it as a bridge to my ablation. I wouldn't want

to be on it for another 20 years. For what I can see, that would almost

insure that some of the side effects would kick in. But as a short term

symptom suppressant, it seems like a reasonable bet. But I'm looking

forward to being shut of it.

------------------

I agree - As a bridge only. My ablation is scheduled for May 27.

[Guest guest]

Trudy wrote:

<<What's magnetic navigation?>>

Here is a URL that describes it, complete with a comment by Fred Morady,

a noted EP on the significance of the study.

http://www.accardio.org/cs/cjrpicks/CJRPick.asp?cjrID=550

Warren Jackman, in Oklahoma City, has one of the magnetic guidance

systems and I have read articles about it. It should greatly enhance

ablation techniques by making more accurately placed burns, as well as

reducing the time it takes to do them, and finally, will require less

manual dexterity on the part of the EP.