Mom develops atrial flutter after ablation to treat afib. Any experience with taking Amiorodone for arrhythmia?

Not uncommon at all for ablation not to work. Didn't work TWICE for my partner. He has to take several meds, both of which slow his heart rate a lot, so he has a pacemaker for years now. Had his third battery change several weeks ago, and last battery lasted him over 10 years. The tech gets better and better. He is on this drug for years, with no side effects and also takes atenolol. I have atrial fib, take an aspirin a day and one half the dose of atenolol he takes. They will work on what drugs work best for her exam to exam. Read the side effects and know the side effects, but all drugs have side effects including aspirin, so there you are.
Chronic Atrial Fibrillation is not at all unusual after a certain age. I cannot honestly tell I have it any more and have been having it chronically for over 20 years. Hope she has the same good luck.

My husband took Amiodarone after his Cabg surgery and again after his arterial valve replacement. Both were short term (under six months) and taken as a precaution to hopefully eliminate afib. It is a heavy artillery drug and should be monitored carefully. He experienced no side effects, but took his drs. advice seriously.....healthy diet, exercise and eliminating as much stress as possible.

I took it for three years without any problems. BUT, it does have to be monitored closely. And follow doctor’s instructions exactly. There are a number of side effects that can be dangerous and/or life threatening. I saw my cardiologist every month and followed a strict cardiac diet and supervised exercise program. Also, be very careful that other medications you take do not interact with Amiodarone. This includes over-the-counter drugs and supplements.

My father was initially prescribed Amiodarone for A-Fib.   We learned some few years later, from his neurologist, of the side effects (which I can't remember at this very moment).   Dad had actually experienced those side effects, and I had raised that issue with his neuro doctor.

Next time we saw his cardiologist, I raised the issue and the Amiodarone  was d/c'ed, replaced by Toprol.

The drug of choice is I understand dependent on factors which I also don't remember (beta blockers vs. something else).  I apologize but a lot of this information has just vanished from memory after my father died.   So I have no idea if there are other drugs that can be substituted for the Amiodarone.  

But I would ask your mother's cardiologist.   

My father  never had ablation.

I remembered this morning what the side effects of Amiodarone were that my father experience:  loss of sense of smell and taste.    After d'c'ing the Amio, those senses eventually returned.