i have been taking amiodarone 200mg a day for three year...

My mother has been on pn Amiodarone for one and a half years now. She has gained three stone in that time which she is in no doubt is caused by this drug. She cannot go anywhere near the sun as she now has severe burning even with factor 30 sun cream on. Her Doctor has now taken her off these tablets as he believes that this has caused her problems. Her Specialist disagrees and says it does not put weight on. She has been off the drug for a month now and has lost a stone in weight already.

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My Father recently died at the age of 63 and the doctor who reported his death has stated that this was due to the prolonged use of amiodarone which had caused pulmonary fibrosis.

The amiodarone was originally prescribed following his second heart attack, prior to him receiving an ICD 8 years ago.

We have since been told that the prolonged use of amiodarone without regular reviews of this medication was an oversight. Following this, I have started some research on this drug. Although this is the best medication for ventricular fibrillation, it is clear that this should not be used for a prolonged period and this has been confirmed by x2 heart specialists and a GP. Timescales for use of this drug has been advised to me as being anywhere between 6-12 months due to the toxicity. The potenital side effects of this drug are numerous with liver, thyroid and eye problems among them, in addition to the pulmonary issues. This information is available on the web and the guidelines to monitor these side effects are listed.

Please ensure that you regulary receive 6 monthly check-up's whilst taking this drug as I would not wish anyone to suffer what my family has had to go through.

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This is in reply to T C whose father died as from pulmonary fibrosis due to prolonged use of the drug, Amiodarone.

My partner also died recently (17 June 2008). We were also told that his pulmonary fibrosis was probably due to him having been on Amiodarone. I think he took it for about 2 years and was taken off it when he developed fluid on the lungs. It seems terrible that a drug which was supposed to help him probably hastened his death. I am devastated and miss him so much. I had hoped that we would have longer together but he developed a chest infection, fluid on the lungs and had a mild heart attack. He was hospitalised and fought his way through many ups and downs in the 4 weeks he was in hospital but eventually he could no longer get enough oxygen into his lungs, and along with contracting C diff he did not have the strength to fight on. PLEASE BEWARE OF THIS DRUG - AMIODARONE.

What dosages were these patients taking?

I am on 200mg after open heart surgery in January.

They want me to keep taking it until September and I'm not too happy about it.

Thank you for listening.