Amiodarone and Cough: What Users Say

• SLA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2016

For Arrhythmia "This drug killed my mom. She was recuperating from heart surgery and developed afib, which I understand is not unusual. Rather than prescribing a safer drug, her cardiologist prescribed Amiodarone - the drug of last resort. We did not even know that he had prescribed this drug until she was showing certain side effects such as coughing, weakness, swelling, inability to sleep, etc. Only after I said that maybe there is a conflict in the drugs she was given did another cardiologist take my mom off of Amiodarone. But it was too late - the damage was done. She went into the hospital on October 21st and never came out, dying - no, suffocating to death from lung toxicity on December 19th. Amiodarone and the cardiologist's neglect killed my"

• Mol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2018

For Arrhythmia "In 2018 in AZ, my AFIB acted up. I went to a Cardiologist. He prescribed Amiodarone, 800 mg - 400mg in the morning and 400mg in the evening. It helped, and I went back to him. He told me to continue this dose. I saw him a total of 3 times. At the end of my stay, I felt worse. I had swollen ankles, shortness of breath, and no energy. I called the Dr., left a message, and got no reply. I also experienced added issues like dizziness, blurry eyes, back pain, and cough. I had an appointment at home with my Cardiologist. He questioned me regarding Amiodarone. When I mentioned my prescription was 800 mg daily, he was shocked and said I should have been on that dose for 10 days only. He cut the dose in half. My primary care provider ordered many tests including an Angiogram, blood tests, Upper GI/Colonoscopy, 4 Cat Scans, and X-rays. My liver and kidney tests showed high levels. He decreased my dosage until tests revealed Amiodarone toxicity in my liver. I have been off it for a little over a month, and I still have many side effects as mentioned above. I am only 66 years old and would NOT recommend this to anyone."

• Bjt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2021

For Arrhythmia "On the plus side, this drug stopped my atrial fibrillation in its tracks. On the negative side, I had chronic nausea, anorexia, low bp (sometimes 70/40), gritty eyes with blurred vision, and a chronic cough. As a nurse, I know that amiodarone is considered a rescue drug and not meant for long-term use. Do the risks outweigh the benefits?"

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2022

For Arrhythmia "For me, this medication absolutely wrecked me. Started with dyspnea and bronchial spasms, then worsened from there into cough, nausea, a regimen of naps due to sleepiness, being cold, gastrointestinal issues, and more. And I was on a low dose of 400 mg. Fast forward as the EP takes me off it to go to Sotalol (another horror story), which I eventually discontinued as well. At this time, one would think symptoms would improve; they did not. I went to the GP, who did a list of blood tests only to find my thyroid and liver were a wreck. Previous blood tests show no issues here which led him to believe the amiodarone was the suspect. Yes, my body is hypersensitive to this class of medication. My first warning came from the cardiologist when I told him my EP started me on amiodarone, and he said, 'ewwww.' I asked why, and he bailed out by saying I am not the prescribing physician."

• jen...
• September 19, 2015

Amiodarone for Arrhythmia "I take 200 mg od, and after the 2nd dose, I started feeling chest congestion, dry cough, pain in the diaphragm, loss of appetite, and nausea."