Amiodarone and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Jea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

For Arrhythmia "Started to take amiodarone 2 weeks ago and experienced almost all of its side effects, it was awful! I felt dizzy, confused, tired, out of breath, my hands were shaky, and I couldn’t even walk due to numbness in the lower part of my body. I didn’t feel like myself anymore... I decided to stop, this med was poison to me!"

• jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2019

For Arrhythmia "My mom was on this. It was slowly making her worse. She couldn't get out of bed, tired, hair falling out. She stopped taking this drug, and come to find out, this drug can stay in your system for up to 8 months after being discontinued."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Cap...
• August 22, 2014

For Ventricular Fibrillation "After taking medicine for a year after ablation, I started getting severe constipation and low thyroid. The doctor then took me off of it. No more constipation! Just feeling tired now and need to get my thyroid checked again. Also, my heart has stayed in rhythm thus far for about 4 weeks."

• Rit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2024

Amiodarone for Supraventricular Tachycardia "I have trouble walking, always dizzy, and constant constipation. Exhausted all day, plus signs of liver and kidney damage. Heart rate is better, but don’t like the side effects. I decided to stop taking it. Will deal with the heart condition. I’m taking 200 mg once a day until I decided to stop. I was on 2 x a day for a month after a failed procedure. It did do what it's supposed to do, I’m not denying that, but can’t deal with the side effects."

• Ham...
• June 10, 2015

For Arrhythmia "Taking for 2 months prior to ablation, and 1 month after. It seems really strong at first, kind of makes you dizzy, but I got used to it within a few days. I can't say I've had any problems with it at all, other than being in the sun/heat seems to make me very tired very quickly. Keeps my rhythm good. I wanted to say, not being sick or dealing with pain or excessive stress is a MASSIVE part of staying in rhythm. The heart will react to anything wrong or unusual with the body. Even a cold/flu or even allergy symptoms."

• bug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2015

For Arrhythmia "I have been taking this for only 1 week, and my side effects are hard to deal with. I am very tired, and my pulse dips to the 40s. I am taking 400 mg 2 times a day, so hopefully at my follow-up, the Dr. will reduce it. My chest hurts on and off, but that could be due to 3 cardioversions in 6 weeks' time. I have had A-fib episodes for the last 5 years, so this is my last medicine to try. So far, it is working. I feel the familiar flutters and then...nothing. I am glad it is keeping my rhythm intact."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 12, 2022

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I had ventricular tachycardia due to AV block second degree for which I had a pacemaker installed. I am also a bradycardia case. Also, I am using 100 mg Amiodarone for over a year, once a day. I am feeling okay with no arrhythmias so far. The cardiologist will be performing an AV ablation to see if Amiodarone can be eliminated from my daily take since often I feel too tired in the afternoon and also feel uncomfortable on some days. I have the feeling Amiodarone is the problem due to its long half-life. Now I am using 100 mg every other day until full elimination (I hope)."

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2021

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I am taking amiodarone 100 mg since 5 months. After 2 weeks, my supraventricular tachycardia, previously 2-3 times/week, did disappear. No lung or liver complications, except photosensitivity and vision problems. I replaced iodized salt with Himalaya and pray God to keep me out of salt. Though, tiredness is excessive, so probably I will discontinue."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2021

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "Started with amiodarone 200 mg without food, in the middle of the day, (in the AM I take my HTN meds irbesartan, hydrochlorothiazide, plus metformin for frequent supraventricular tachycardia 5-4 times/week, regular with few PVT, with episodes 5 minutes to 3 hours almost daily, apparently calmed down by repeated Valsalva maneuver. Being 81 years old with multiple other conditions, I refused atrial ablation. I tried diltiazem, metoprolol, bisoprolol alone, having also HTN. Nothing worked, got progressively tired (plus other side effects), and slowly SVT duration and frequency increased under any of the above treatment until Dr. at one episode under 1. Added at bisoprolol 5 mg, amiodarone 200 mg. After 2 weeks, I saw HR 46-47, so I reduced to half, and my situation is improved (1 SVT under 15 min./week stopped after Valsalva."

• Anonymous
• December 7, 2010

Amiodarone for Arrhythmia "Decreased sexual drive/interest. Tired feeling and going to bed early."