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Does Amiodarone Cause Fatigue And Elevated Liver Enzymes?
Had a hurting pain a year ago in right side. Never found out what it as. Then I started getting tired easily. Went to dr. pushed on my right side below rib cage sore. Us abd. GB cyst. Liver enzymes really high & thyroid. Took me off amiodarone. Surgeon doesn t think it is GB. Heart tests all good. Turn grey loose color can t hardly hold my head up sometimes from being so tired & weak. This has been going on for two months now the tiredness & color. could it be amiodarone toxicity?
Mon, 10 Dec 2018
Hello,
It is certainly the amiodarone toxicity. Symptoms you are facing now are due to amiodarone related hepatotoxicity or liver injury from:
The history, I suppose that you had used it for at least 1 year which is definitely an adequate time for the adverse effects to taking their toll. photosensitivity occurs in about 40% of the users.
So exposure to excess sunlight is to be avoided. For the elevated liver enzymes to return to normal it takes months and in few, the damage may be permanent.
But please don’t worry as the damage won’t progress further as you have stopped using the medication. The most important thing is that
1) Amiodarone is to be taken only under strict supervision of a competent cardiologist and when you have adverse effects, you need to report the same to the prescribing doctor and any changes in dose or drug withdrawal should be done only by the cardiologist who had previously prescribed it.
2) For hepatotoxicity, it is advisable to take the opinion of a gastroenterologist such that he/she can assess the degree of liver damage and prescribe appropriate medicines.
So, I would like to conclude by saying that amiodarone is definitely responsible for your present symptoms and in order to return to normal, it takes some time.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Pallavi.m, Anesthesiologis
It is certainly the amiodarone toxicity. Symptoms you are facing now are due to amiodarone related hepatotoxicity or liver injury from:
The history, I suppose that you had used it for at least 1 year which is definitely an adequate time for the adverse effects to taking their toll. photosensitivity occurs in about 40% of the users.
So exposure to excess sunlight is to be avoided. For the elevated liver enzymes to return to normal it takes months and in few, the damage may be permanent.
But please don’t worry as the damage won’t progress further as you have stopped using the medication. The most important thing is that
1) Amiodarone is to be taken only under strict supervision of a competent cardiologist and when you have adverse effects, you need to report the same to the prescribing doctor and any changes in dose or drug withdrawal should be done only by the cardiologist who had previously prescribed it.
2) For hepatotoxicity, it is advisable to take the opinion of a gastroenterologist such that he/she can assess the degree of liver damage and prescribe appropriate medicines.
So, I would like to conclude by saying that amiodarone is definitely responsible for your present symptoms and in order to return to normal, it takes some time.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Pallavi.m, Anesthesiologis
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