Amiodarone for A-Fib

Hi.  First time posting.  This site is helpful.  I have a history of heart palpatations since I was a child (usually not daily...mild case compared with many I have read).  It never amounted to much and I learned to live with it.  At the end of March 2008, I was hit with A-fib.  I went to the ER and was admitted imediately.  I cardioverted about 20 to 24 hours later with Amiodarone administered by IV (loading dose).  Since my hospital discharge, I have been on Amiodarone (oral 200 mg daily) for 2 months.  I was very concerned about the safety profile of the medication and the fact that its label claim indicates use as a last resort drug.  I plan to discontinue use this weekend (as discussed and agreed upon with my cardiologist).  I am concerend that the A-fib may return once the medicine has cleared my system (may take 4 to 6 weeks based on half life), but I also look forward to not taking this medication.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  Anyone else use a different medication for this?  Any feedback is appreciated.

[twinbee]

I was cardioverted with Amiodarone one of the times I was in the ER for my a-fib. Even thou it worked, my EP doctor refused to keep me on it. I was told the long term side effects were not good, and that since I was in my 40's I was too young to be on this med long term.. Since then I was on Rhythmol, Atenolol, and now Sotalol. I did have an ablation done in January of this year and hopefully I will be coming off the Sotalol in July.

[Sweetwaterguy]

    I had a brief encounter with amiodarone which was given to me following my ablation in December 2007.  It is a very powerful and effective. drug,     It was prescribed to keep my heart from going back into A-Fib during the healing process but I did not tolerate it very well.  I developed hand tremors that made my already poor handwriting nearly (and sometimes) illegible.  With the doctor's permission, I discontinued early.  Because of the long half life, the symptoms persisted for a couple of months.  
   Before the ablation, I took sotolol.  It worked well until I had a flu shot and developed flu like symptoms.  I believe that triggered a recurrence of the fibrillation which despite being converted in the hospital in three days, lasted intermittently for about a week.  It was then that I decided not to treat with medication, but to opt for the ablation--which to date has been successful.  I have two friends who take sotolol for a fib, and it seems to work for them with few side effects.  The only noticeable side effect for both friends and myself with sotolol is the feeling of being tired.  I seemed to have no loss of stamina, but I did get sleepy easily, when ordinarily I wouldn't.
   I hope this helps.