Amiodarone Induced Pulmonary Toxicity-Death

[Karen Muccino]

My father died from Amiodarone Pulmonary Toxicity on February 20, 2004. Today is the 5th anniversary of his death. Death from Amiodarone. How many deaths does there have to be, how many hearts broken, before something will be done. My father was a retired Medical Doctor, OB-GYN and neither he nor his Cardiologist thought his dry cough was a warning symptom that he was developing lung damage due to Amiodarone. The FDA suggested that Wyeth put out a stronger warning about lung damage in 2003. Wyeth did not release the updated warning until 9 months after my Father died. I just want to make as many people aware that if taking this drug, you develop a cough, have it investigated immediately. My father had a normal CT scan of the lungs just weeks before he woke up 1 day unable to breath. Amiodarone was NOT approved by the FDA for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. If anyone develops adverse reactions, please report to the FDA, so that they will be better informed regarding the severity/frequency of adverse reactions with this drug. Since I started writing about this, about 5 years ago, I have been notified by numerous people of their tragic stories related to losing a loved one to Amiodarone. Wyeth procrastinated putting the revised warning out until my story ran in 17 newspapers. The public needs to fight to change laws, that when the FDA suggests a revision to a warning, that the Pharmaceutical companies are required to get the information out to the public within a certain timeframe. It took them over a year. I feel that the only reason why they delayed publishing the new warning was fear of profit loss, as I have been informed that they made over 3 billion dollars for the use of this drug for Atrial Fibrillation. Please make certain that your Doctor is monitoring you for lung damage at least every month. Recommendations are every 3-6 months. That isn't soon enough. If you have even the slightest symptoms, cough, cold, fever. Seek Medical attention immediately.

[Joanne L]

I am truly sorry for your loss. But I thank you for sharing. I am just starting to do an internet search on this subject. My aunt has been on this medicine for a couple of years; but in this last year she has had an awful time with her lungs.I believe it started with a cough, then she developed severe shortness of breath and she is now on intrmintent oxygen. She still has a chronic cough that they have now diagnosed as pharingitis.

She was recently informed that she has had pulminary hypertension since a heart attack 5 years ago; however, as curious as this sounds,
nobody ever informed her of that OLD diagnosis until last year after she developed that
broncial cough, shortness of breath, severe weakness, etc.

It is hard to believe that she had a 5 year old pulminary disease which only manifested itself within the last year. I cannot help but feel that they are trying to cover up the damage that this drug may have done to her.

At this point, she is under the impression that unless she continues on this drug, she will die. I am convinced that so long as she stays on it, she may not live much longer. I am trying to find information that can shed light upon alternative treatments.

Karen Muccino wrote:

My father died from Amiodarone Pulmonary Toxicity on February 20, 2004. Today is the 5th anniversary of his death. Death from Amiodarone. How many deaths does there have to be, how many hearts broken, before something will be done. My father was a retired Medical Doctor, OB-GYN and neither he nor his Cardiologist thought his dry cough was a warning symptom that he was developing lung damage due to Amiodarone. The FDA suggested that Wyeth put out a stronger warning about lung damage in 2003. Wyeth did not release the updated warning until 9 months after my Father died. I just want to make as many people aware that if taking this drug, you develop a cough, have it investigated immediately. My father had a normal CT scan of the lungs just weeks before he woke up 1 day unable to breath. Amiodarone was NOT approved by the FDA for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. If anyone develops adverse reactions, please report to the FDA, so that they will be better informed regarding the severity/frequency of adverse reactions with this drug. Since I started writing about this, about 5 years ago, I have been notified by numerous people of their tragic stories related to losing a loved one to Amiodarone. Wyeth procrastinated putting the revised warning out until my story ran in 17 newspapers. The public needs to fight to change laws, that when the FDA suggests a revision to a warning, that the Pharmaceutical companies are required to get the information out to the public within a certain timeframe. It took them over a year. I feel that the only reason why they delayed publishing the new warning was fear of profit loss, as I have been informed that they made over 3 billion dollars for the use of this drug for Atrial Fibrillation. Please make certain that your Doctor is monitoring you for lung damage at least every month. Recommendations are every 3-6 months. That isn't soon enough. If you have even the slightest symptoms, cough, cold, fever. Seek Medical attention immediately.

[Diane Rose]

My father died from Amiodarone pulmonary toxicity on July 9, 2008. In December 2007 he had a heart attack and received a pacemaker and Amiodarone. This did not resolve his atrial fibrillation.

In May 2007 he underwent elective robotc bypass surgery and 2 days later had severe lung inflammation. He stopped taking the Amiodarone just 7 days prior to the bypass. His condition deteriorated and he was diagnosed with interstitial fibrosis. His pulmonary specialists was sure it was pulmonary toxicity caused by the Amiodarone.

My father never left the hospital.

[bob keene]

My Dear Sweet DAD had a very successful triple bypass and was affected by amiodarone toxicity two days later.

His lungs shut down, and he was ventilated.

Nothing the docs tried worked to stop the progressive destruction of his lungs.

He died today!

How sad my family is.
Angry doesn't begin to touch on what we feel for our father being taken from us by medication.

He had just had a physical ad his family doc said he should have lived for another good ten years.

Dad was a family doc himself for 45 years and the irony of this is unexpressable.

Bob

Bob

[hugh]

after a mitral valve repair in May of 2007, I was put on amioderone for several months. Two months after the operation I ran 2 miles in 23 minutes. Now today October 2009 I can barely run 157 yards at a slow jog before I am totally out breath. 157 yards is the circumference of a 300 foot softball field. By December of 2008 my lungs were still good, but breathless ensued shortly after that with deterioration to the present level . All the time, I am trying to train by running, but can't seem to improve much. My doctor just put me on amioderone again starting last month to correct a flutter problem which it did. I stummbled on the lung damage information this morning am now convinced that amioderone is the problem, but I have doubts that the first dosages have not yet cleared my system after two years and that also is still causing problems. In addition my TSH is now double a normal value indicating the possibility of thyroid damage. I am 73 years old.