Amiodarone and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Roc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 28, 2019

For Arrhythmia "Was on this drug for a couple of years until last summer when my thyroid went super hyper. A specialist got my thyroid back to normal and feeling great with bisoprolol, 12.5 mg per day and perindopril, 8mg once per day. Amiodarone is a slow killer, I'm sure. I tan easily, but on that drug, my skin would turn deep red/blue after a few hours. Sleeping was difficult and other elevations of organ counts, blessed that drug is far behind me!"

• 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"

• 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."

• Nic...
• December 8, 2016

For Arrhythmia "I had mitral valve repair-open heart surgery in 2010. I was on amiodarone for about 2 years for atrial fibrillation. I am now off of it as suggested by the heart surgeon, including several other prescription drugs for 20 months, who sent a letter to the cardiologist. Side effects are still with me. As listed on the label: hyperthyroidism, insomnia, vision problems - RVO retinal vein occlusion, stroke in the left eye, lost central vision in the left eye."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2020

For Arrhythmia "Been taking 100 mg Amiodarone and Bisoprolol 7.5 mg per day for almost a year now. Side effects are feeling groggy the next day and having sleeping problems. So, I take Zolpidem at times and Valerian Root and Passion Flower to get a good night's sleep. Midnight to 9 a.m. most nights. Without sleeping aids, I used to wake up between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. and not be able to get back to sleep. Do not like taking sleeping pills, but found it very difficult waking at 4 and not being able to get back to sleep. I am 79 years old and have never had sleep problems ever in my life before taking Amiodarone and Bisoprolol for AF. It has worked to get my heart rate down from 140 bpm to 65 bpm. But horrible not being able to sleep all night."

• Rem...
• October 3, 2017

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I had two ventricular tachycardia experiences, my ICU corrected both. I was given amiodarone intravenously in the hospital. Then 400 mg orally when I was released. I experienced rashes, uneasiness, trouble walking, insomnia, real bad. Nervous all the time. This stuff is strong and should be used cautiously. Serious medicine. It wasn’t good for me. I am off it now. I understand it takes months to get this stuff out of your system due to its extremely long half-life! Good grief!"

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2022

For Arrhythmia "Had open heart surgery June 2019. On discharge, was given 200 mg amiodarone tablet daily, only took a few days, did not finish course. Caused vivid, detailed dreams and a sleep disorder. After dreams, wide awake, cannot go back to sleep. Go to bed at 12:00 a.m., have two or three dreams per night. Usually get up at 3:00 or 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. I go back to sleep at 10:00 a.m. and sleep till 2:00 p.m. (if I can), no other side effects. Was not warned of side effects by heart doctors. Current doctors and nurses do not believe I could have side effects three years later."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2021

For Ventricular Fibrillation "Been on amiodarone for about 6 months due to AFIB for over six months. Did not see a cardiologist due to COVID. Started on 400 mg per day, then 200 mg per day until cardioversion. Went back into sinus rhythm in the operating theater, so cardioversion was aborted. The drug does help my AFIB. Side effects are very bad dreams, insomnia, skin rash that is difficult to heal, and now hypothyroidism. Started on thyroid medication today. The electrophysiologist wants to do ablation, but I declined."

• Bic...
• May 18, 2020

For Arrhythmia "On amiodarone I had panic attacks, couldn’t sleep, life was a challenge because I felt so bad... hard to describe how bad I felt. I would rather die than go back on that drug."

• Rem...
• September 26, 2017

For Ventricular Tachycardia "Dizzy, insomnia, nervous, anxious, upset stomach, wobbly, difficulty walking."