Low-dose amiodarone for maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or flutter. In addition, premenopausal women who had not undergone tubal ligation or hysterectomy were excluded.Patients with atrial fibrillation lasting more than 48 hours had to undergo treatment with an anticoagulant agent at a dosage adjusted to achieve an international normalized ratio of 2 or more for a minimum of three weeks before randomization.Amiodarone was given at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight each day for 14 days, followed by 300 mg per day for 4 weeks, after which a daily maintenance dose of 200 mg was given. Access This ArticleLYLE A. SIDDOWAY, M.D., is director of the cardiac electrophysiology laboratory at York (Pa.) Hospital and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey. Humbert L, To fully rid myself of the drug took about 6 months. The second time I had the courage to bargain hard. Zocor [package insert]. : R. Gendreau and R. Couturier; Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal: D. Gossard and C. Roy; University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ont. No proarrhythmic effect was observed among the patients assigned to amiodarone, and clinically relevant thyroid and pulmonary abnormalities occurred in a small proportion of patients. High-resolution computed tomographic scanning can be helpful in making a diagnosis.The primary treatment for pulmonary toxicity is withdrawal of amiodarone and provision of supportive care and, in some cases, corticosteroids. Half life can be up to 142 days in some people!There is no doubt that it kept me in NSR following my cardioversion but I'm not sure it was worth the side effects.I have refused to have it twice in A+E whan they wanted to give it to me IV, never againHow long and what strength were you on Amiodarone after cardioversion to have your thyroid damaged?5 months in total, 2 months before my first cardioversion and 3 months after.Was on the normal 600mg a day loading dose then 200mg a day maintenance doseI hope that now you have got it off your chest, you do feel a bit better. Roy D, Treatments of amiodaroneinduced hyperthyroidism include the withdrawal of amiodarone (if this can be done safely), the addition of antithyroid medications or prednisone, and surgical thyroidectomy.Liver toxicity, manifested by elevation of liver transaminase levels, is common in patients who are receiving long-term amiodarone therapy. Granted, we all react differently, I am trying to figure out an average length of time and strength for the thyroid to get messed up. Ojamaa F. If clots are detected, the physician may decide not to proceed with cardioversion. To get me back into sinus mode, I was given 600 mg a day, after 3 days I was back in sinus rhythm. The rates were 52% in the amiodarone group and 61% with placebo, according to Dr. Darkner. I said "My cardiologist said he would like me to stay on them for a few months". Sunderland B. Fifteen patients assigned to amiodarone (7 percent) and 14 assigned to sotalol or propafenone (7 percent) were noncompliant with the study protocol or discontinued taking the medication for other reasons. Pollak PT. (S.C.); the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ont. Uncontrolled studies have suggested that amiodarone in low doses may be more effective and safer than other agents in preventing recurrence, but this agent has not been tested in a large, randomized trial.We undertook a prospective, multicenter trial to test the hypothesis that low doses of amiodarone would be more efficacious in preventing recurrent atrial fibrillation than therapy with sotalol or propafenone. Prepare to become a physician, build your knowledge, lead a health care organization, and advance your career with NEJM Group information and services.The institutions and investigators participating in the trial are listed in the Appendix.The restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm is a desirable goal in patients with atrial fibrillation, because the prevention of recurrences can improve cardiac function and relieve symptoms. And, I had been on Amiodarone since Nov.20, 2017. 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