Amiodarone and Fatigue: What Users Say

• wil...
• March 15, 2016

For Arrhythmia "Tiredness/fatigue. Confused/forgetful. Dry/burning eyes. Ringing in my ears. Skin feels like it is crawling. My hands and forearms feel like they are burning, like all the nerve endings are on fire. To a lesser degree, this is also affecting my feet. I can't bear anyone touching me, even the slightest touch is painful. Clothes are irritating me. Can't sleep/disturbed sleep. Swollen ankles. My vision seems more blurred, I have to take my glasses off to read now. I can't go outside without getting horribly sunburned in a matter of minutes. I am having to wear factor 50+ inside the house and still getting sunburned inside. I feel like a prisoner, unable to go about daily tasks and share time with my family. I feel dizzy and a little wobbly."

• Rin...
• September 13, 2018

For Arrhythmia "I have Parkinson's disease. I was put on amiodarone after developing atrial fibrillation following mitral valve repair surgery. It controlled the afib but exacerbated all my Parkinson's symptoms. By the end of a month, I was so fatigued and lethargic that all I wanted to do was sit in front of a television set drooling. My cognitive processes slowed down, and my motor coordination slowed down. I finally decided that I'd try without this drug. There was immediate reversion to pre-amiodarone levels of motor issues, although it took about 6 months to reach full recovery. I had never had tremors prior to amiodarone but developed a slight tremor in one hand while on it. This has never cleared up, but it hasn't worsened, thankfully. If you have Parkinson's, beware. This may return your heartbeat to normal, but the side effects are not worth the benefit."

• taz...
• April 28, 2009

For Arrhythmia "Good after cardioversion. I was prescribed it and my heart went into atrial fibrillation. Side effects I suffered were stomach pains (like carrying a 10-pin bowling ball in your stomach). Couldn't keep anything down, from light snacks to drinks. Severe fatigue, tiredness, diarrhea, dizzy spells. After my cardioversion for the 3rd time, I feel 100% better, and I am still on amiodarone and all the above symptoms have subsided. The only side effect I have now is: short-term memory loss, lack of appetite, get sunburnt very easily."

• Scr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 16, 2018

For Ventricular Tachycardia "While helping the heart condition, I experience substantial debilitating side effects with this medication: severe fatigue, wheezing, red/itchy eyes, renal failure, painful scrotum, difficulty walking, swollen hands after sunlight, back pain, several other not-so-debilitating symptoms."