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What Causes Face Flushing, Persistent Cough And Sexual Dysfunction After Taking Amiodarone?
Question: Thank you. My husband had a cardiac arrest last year. He was working out at the gym. He was given five heart compressions at the gym and regained consciousness. He was taken to hospital and was diagnosed with ventricular tackicardia? It was stated a piece of dead tissue had coursed the problem. He was defribed which bought the heart back into rythm. A implantable defribillator was implanted and he was commenced on amiodarone 200mg last September. He has had checkups every three months and there has been no event during this time. He is experiencing major face flushing, persistent cough, major sexual dysfunction and shortness of breath. He is a very young 68 that exercises daily and is very conscious about his diet. He has read about the side affects and discussed them with his heart specialist, however, the specialist States he just has to stay on them, because research indicates that people live longer when they take this medication. This explanation is totally unsatisfactory and he wants to stop taking it. The question is what is the best and safest way to do this. Thank you for you honest response.
Brief Answer:
Several lab tests need to be done as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that as your husband has suffered an important heart attack with such a serious life threatening complication (ventricular tachycardia), it is of utmost importance to follow the double treatment with Amiodarone and ICD, in order to yield as much as possible an optimal prevention and successful treatment of arrhythmia, respectively.
So Amiodarone is necessary to prevent possible underlying arrhythmias.
As such it is important to keep continuing this therapy according to his doctors prescription.
From the other side it is quite true (though it is a best choice for ischaemia induced arrhythmia), that it has potential numerous adverse effects: it is deposited in body tissues leading to possible underlying organ dysfunction (pulmonary fibrosis, liver toxixity, blurring vision, renal dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, renal dysfunction, etc.)
So when continuing on this treatment periodic medical check ups (physical examination and several lab tests) should be done.
It is necessary to be performed on a yearly basis (thyroid, liver&kidney function tests, pulmonary x ray, cbc, ophthalmologist check up and abdominal and testicular ultrasound, etc.).
If any obvious adverse effects is confirmed by the above tests, Amiodarone should be stopped and you have to discuss with the attending physician for alternative solutions.
But if no any adverse adverse drug implications are shown, you don't have to worry about keeping on such a treatment.
Otherwise you need to discuss with his doctor for possible alternative explanations of his current complains.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Several lab tests need to be done as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that as your husband has suffered an important heart attack with such a serious life threatening complication (ventricular tachycardia), it is of utmost importance to follow the double treatment with Amiodarone and ICD, in order to yield as much as possible an optimal prevention and successful treatment of arrhythmia, respectively.
So Amiodarone is necessary to prevent possible underlying arrhythmias.
As such it is important to keep continuing this therapy according to his doctors prescription.
From the other side it is quite true (though it is a best choice for ischaemia induced arrhythmia), that it has potential numerous adverse effects: it is deposited in body tissues leading to possible underlying organ dysfunction (pulmonary fibrosis, liver toxixity, blurring vision, renal dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, renal dysfunction, etc.)
So when continuing on this treatment periodic medical check ups (physical examination and several lab tests) should be done.
It is necessary to be performed on a yearly basis (thyroid, liver&kidney function tests, pulmonary x ray, cbc, ophthalmologist check up and abdominal and testicular ultrasound, etc.).
If any obvious adverse effects is confirmed by the above tests, Amiodarone should be stopped and you have to discuss with the attending physician for alternative solutions.
But if no any adverse adverse drug implications are shown, you don't have to worry about keeping on such a treatment.
Otherwise you need to discuss with his doctor for possible alternative explanations of his current complains.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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