A difficult decision. My doctor said that many of her patients have taken amiodarone for years without any trouble and others you read about find it disastrous. There is a drug in the US called dronadarone - it has less side effects than amiodarone. We can't get it in Australia, it was one I was going to try. Have you tried Digoxin, a common drug, I would try that before Amiodarone. If your quality of life is too compromised it is worth trying other options, you can always stop if not successful. I am 66 and I am trying to keep the 'heavy duty' drugs until later, and I am trying to take those with less side effects for now. No harm in trying some options, I am feeling great after a recent change from Diltiazem to Digoxin. (Diltiazem proved very difficult after 2 years, but my side effects were rare). Good luck Ruth CR

Of course I am biased, but maybe try a new EP. My A-Fib was relatively mild, and my cardiologist also suggested "just wait". He didn't even mention an ablation. But I just hated the drugs (they made me so tired) so my primary care MD suggested it. I saw two different EP's and both would do it (even tho one suggested cardioversion first). I did the ablation (last month) and I do not regret it.

I feel much better physically now and take only dilatiazem now. Although I will say the ablation was "intense" it was not painful, I only spent overnight in the hospital, and was feeling Ok after 2-3 days. Luckily the insurance approved the procedure. You may want to consider the ablation with a different EP.

I agree with you NYNM! It pays to get other opinions. I had trouble with the drugs amiodarone, digoxin, flecainide, tikosyn, etc. They either stopped working after a while, did not help me or caused very unpleasant side effects. The worst side effect was that I was tired all the time. The flecainide caused neurological problems like tremors and ataxia (muscle weakness and falling down). The ablation has made me feel whole again.

I was told that I can't have an ablation due to the beginning of an enlarged heart. However my cardiologist gave me 480 mg. of Diltiazem and 20 mg. of Metroplol a day and my beat is down to 60 beats a minute (which is phenominal). Yes, I get tired but I'm retired so I take a nap for an hour every day. I swim every day and feel wonderful. When I took Digoxin I had such a terrible reaction that I took MYSELF off of it. It caused me terrible panic attacks for a year and my Dr. refused to stop it, so I did it myself and changed cardiologists. You have to know when your Dr. is no longer good for you. Go to another EP. If I could have an ablation I would do it today. C. Miller

Many cases of atrial fibrillation cases are caused by a nutritional deficiency of IODINE, of which 99.5% of all Americans are deficient in. I have many cases of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter that have been given a concentrated form of iodine and potassium iodide called Lugol's Solution and seen them convert to normal sinus rhythm spontaneously. They stay in sinus rhythm as long as they take adequate amounts of iodide/iodine from that point on, and the chances of converting are greatest when started within a few weeks of the onset of atrial fibrillation. After 6 months or longer of atrial fibrillation, there does seem to be some scarring or fibrosis process in the atria, or some other biochemical process that goes on that makes converting to sinus rhythm with iodine much more difficult.

Randy Ice PT, CCS
Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation
Rancho Physical Therapy
Murrieta, Calif

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Amiodarone, a class III anti-arrhythmic drug, has multiple effects on myocardial depolarization and repolarization that make it an extremely effective antiarrhythmic drug. However, amiodarone is associated with a number of side effects, including thyroid dysfunction (both hypo- and hyperthyroidism), which is due to amiodarone's high iodine content and its direct toxic effect on the thyroid.

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hids s is the first person who has given information about when an ablation can't be done for A Fib; an enlarged heart. I had an ablation for Atrial flutter but was told I couldn't have one for my A Fib. I was never told why. I do have a slightly enlarged heart so perhaps that's why I can't. I agree with all those saying have an ablation if you can. I would hate to have another attack of Atrial flutter, it was a nightmare. Love reading all the replies, they are brilliant - it gives me more to discuss with my specialist and doctor. God bless you all and have a happy Christmas

re: enlarged heart. You may need to find out more. I had a partially enlarged heart (upper atriums) but that is caused by the A Fib itself. My EP says that after my ablation (in a few months) the enlargement should reduce on its own.

Wow, great replies. Thanks so much. Didn't know of digoxin. I have been told I had an enlarged heart (left Ventrical) but my ejection fraction must be pretty good as no one ever said I was disqualified for ablation. The ablation Dr. that my cardiologist referred me to just said I was better off doing nothing. Kinda odd for a dr. whose specialty was ablation to say. Really appreciate the input folks. Motiger (go Mizzou)

The local EP that I saw told me the same thing: that I was better off not having an ablation. His Nurse Practitioner told me later that he didn't like to do that kind of ablation because they take a lot of patience, lasting six or more hours. That is when I did some research and found an EP who told me I was an excellent candidate. He was right. Success!!