V-Tach Storm

Good Morning,

On March 2nd, after having my Boston Scientific CRT-D for over three years with only one shock...I received a warning shock and 30 minutes later, my CDT-D went into overdrive and fire 31 times between calling 911, ambulance arriving on scene and eventually place in the ER.

Place on Amioderone IV and the investigation began as to why this happened to me.

So the process of elimination began...first with a heart cath angiogram to rule out clogged arteries...and no clogged arteries.

My EP offered two solutions:

Be placed on Amioderone for life along with beta blocker and ace inhibitors...

or have a Cardiac Ablation...risky yes, but would reduce the amount of time on Amioderone...3-6-12 months.

Since Amioderone is a nasty drug, I chose for the ablation. Which was successful; however not before 8 more shocks in the hospital.

Has anyone have experience with Amioderone, Metoprolol or Lorsartan??? Also has anyone had a Cardiac Ablation?

Would love to hear your stories.

I'm writing this from home as I was released yesterday and still have the shakes!!!

Thanks!

Ron

13 Comments

Amiodarone

by hrticknor - 2013-03-11 09:03:46

Ron,

I have been on amiodarone on and off for the past 15 years. I have been on it continually since 2003 with no discernible side effects: my skin hasn't turned blue, I'm not light sensitive and my liver and kidney functions are fine. While I didn't have an electrical storm like yours I did have significant V-Tach that led to an ablation. Between the ablation and the amiodarone I have had several years of shock-free living with good rate and rhythm control. Best of luck,
Henry

Ablation

by ebfox - 2013-03-12 01:03:06

Ron,

I personally would not take amiodarone.

Google "amiodarone induced lung toxicity" and you will read some horror stories, the problem is that if you are unlucky and it damages your lungs, that damage is irreversable.

Go with the ablation.

EB

Dosage

by hrticknor - 2013-03-12 02:03:44

Ron,
For many years I was on 200mg a day which as I understand it is a pretty minimal dosage. Since my ablation I have been able to cut back to 200mg every other day.

As for long toxicity, every 6 months I go in for a pulmonary function test and so far I've had no problems. I have acquired the corneal changes that come with amiodarone but they in no way affect my vision.

Lastly, with the good rate/rhythm control I can exercise "to my heart's content"--biking, hiking, swimming, jogging--and haven't been shocked for over 5 years.

Lost to consider. Best of luck,
Henry

amiodarone

by TMK - 2013-03-12 03:03:17

Hi Ron,

I have been on amiodarone (100mg a day) for 2 years now. I have my pulmonary functions and blood drawn for liver check, etc every 6 months. So far so good. I have always had an irregular heartbeat and it has made it almost normal now. I had to have a defib implanted in 2006. Went 4 years with now shocks. Then in 2010 starting getting them regularly. I had been talked to about amiodarone and told all the side effects and was not eager to start it, so we waited until I couldn't stand it anymore. Meaning the shocks were frequent enough that I couldn't function normally anymore (very high anxiety and afraid to leave the house) I was put in the hospital and given amio in an IV drip for 24 hours. That was February 7, 2011 and so far was the last day that I have been shocked. Of course I worry about the side effects but now I am able to go to work, go to my kids sports and band activities and not be a basket case!

I am glad to hear the reply from Henry since he has been on it longer than I have. No one ever has anything good to say about this drug, so it's nice to hear from someone that it is working positively for.

Take care and good luck Ron.

Terri

Ablation

by ICDBros - 2013-03-12 04:03:36

man 30 + shocks. that is terrible im 17 and have gotten only 2 shocks. ive had my ICD since november but the only thing that is different from me and you is that my VT is genetic. ive been through 3 ablations and i just got use to them. As long as your doctor is experienced you should have nothing to worry about. the death rate is less then .001 percent!! no worries if you ever need another one !!
good luck!!
youtube.com/user/icdbros

My 2 cents

by idmt12 - 2013-03-12 06:03:04

Hi Ron,

I have been on the dreaded Amio for 3 months...200mg in the morning, 100mg at night. I would LOVE to get off the stuff but only because of the horror stories. I am not experiencing any adverse side effects at this point. I am scared to death of being taken off of it, but at the same time, I feel I need to push the docs to taper me off.
I was taken off completly once shortly after my surgery and in about a week I went into A-Fib and was put back on Amio. I am planning on asking the doc on my next visit if there are safer alternatives...something a little less toxic.
Anyway, wish you the best!

Roger

Dosage?

by Ronniecolorado - 2013-03-12 12:03:32

Thanks a lot Henry.

Your comments are very helpful.

Would you be willing to share the dosage of amiodarone you're currently taking?

Thanks again and all the best to you.

Ron

Thanks to All

by Ronniecolorado - 2013-03-13 10:03:49

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

Been home 3 days from the event and am still visibly shaken, tired and weak with an ejection fraction of 15% down from 35%.

I am on 800mg of Amiodarone by the way.

I'm doing the best I can, like we all are and hoping and praying for the best for all of us.

I'll keep this thread going with latest updates.

Thanks again,

Ron

amiodarone

by Laben - 2013-03-15 07:03:30

Ron, just want to say that I have been on amiodarone (200mg daily) and metoprolol (50mg twice daily) for the past 18 years and have regular blood checks and x-rays and so for no noticable harmful effects. I hope it continues to stay that way. I was told that ablation was not an option for me. Best of luck to you.........Laben

Amiodarone

by Ronniecolorado - 2013-03-15 08:03:25

Thank you Laben.

That's encouraging news...I too hope it stays that way or even get better for you.

800mg of Amiodarone and 150mg of Metoprolol are what I've been on since being release from the hospital on Sunday. Thurday I an appointment with my EP and I believe his intentions are to taper both drugs over time.

In the meantime, both of those drugs at those dosages are wearing me out and causing some night sweats. I also take Lorsartan 25mg a day.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing your story, it really helps.

All the Best,

Ron

Amiodarone and ablation

by Nicole33 - 2013-03-22 08:03:42

I have been on Amiodarone for the last 2 years. I have tolerated it very well. All though there are a lot of SCARY side effects I am being monitored properly and have had no issues whatsoever. (Knock on wood.)
I was started on it after my ICD fired off 23 times within a 2 hour period. As long as they did not run it fast it was okay. That was 2 years ago and I am still okay with it.
Ablation is not really the route my cardiologist wants to go. Can you tell me a little more about it please?

ABLATION

by Ronniecolorado - 2013-03-23 01:03:23

Nicole33...

My ablation was successful for the most part; however when my EP turned on my third lead of my Boston Scientific CRT-D it acted up. So he decided to leave the third lead turned off.

The cardiac ablation procedure is performed when the EP suspects there is a small part of the heart that may be contributing to Arrhythmias...and destroys it. Allowing the ICD to function with a pesky part of the heart interfering.

Of course, that's my layman definition of ablation, you can always google it for more details.

I've been on Amiodarone for about 3 weeks...starting out at 800mg per day until two days he reduced it to 400mg per day.

What is your dosage of Amiodarone?

All the best Nicole33.

Ron aka Smitty

Oooops...Correction:

by Ronniecolorado - 2013-03-23 01:03:53

The cardiac ablation procedure is performed when the EP suspects there is a small part of the heart that may be contributing to Arrhythmias...and destroys it. Allowing the ICD to function WITHOUT a pesky part of the heart interfering.

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