Less toxic alternatives to amiodarone

[Gillermo]

Are there any less toxic drug alternatives for controlling heart arrythmias (specifically PVCs) than amiodarone?

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Due to the very toxic side effects, mainly involving the lungs, Amiodarone should be used for arrhythmias that are life threatening or that are very disruptive to one's life.

If your only problems are those related to PVC's and you have no underlying heart disease or defect, I can't imagine a physican even recommending this drug as a treatemnt option. There are many others that can be used.

If you are looking to take an antiarrhythmic for supression of symtoms there is, Flecainide, Sotolol, and Propafenone to name a few.

[Jerry_NJ]

I'd add Rythmol (with is a patent, not generic, I believe) which is available in slow or extended release, so one can take if fewer times, maybe only once, a day.  I've used both propafenone (225 mg three times a day - 8 hours) and Rythmol 425mg SR twice a day.  While the propafenone seems to help keep me in sinus against AFib, neither it nor the Rythmol have been effective in converting me back to sinus.

Along with Brook's comment about Amiodarone, I will add that following my last failed (one week only) electrocardioversion my EP said we could try Amiodarone, but given my lack of serious symptoms from my AFig he did not "push" me going there...he did recommend against trying an ablation.  So, the medical advice I've received for AFib is don't take "unnecessary" risks if you can just live with it.  I assume the same advice applies to PVC.