Amiodarone Nerve Damage: Signs, Risks, and What to Do Next

When you take amiodarone, a powerful antiarrhythmic drug used to treat serious heart rhythm problems. Also known as Cordarone, it saves lives—but it doesn’t come without risks. One of the less talked about but serious side effects is nerve damage, a condition where the drug harms the peripheral nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or muscle weakness. This isn’t common, but when it happens, it can be long-lasting—even permanent. About 1 in 20 people on long-term amiodarone show signs of neurological issues, according to clinical reports. It’s not just about your heart anymore; your hands, feet, and nerves are in the line of fire too.

Amiodarone nerve damage usually shows up as peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve injury that affects the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. People report tingling like pins and needles, burning sensations, or sudden loss of feeling. Some can’t button their shirts or feel their toes when walking. These symptoms don’t come on overnight. They creep in slowly, over months or even years, which is why many patients ignore them—thinking it’s just aging or diabetes. But if you’re on amiodarone and notice these changes, don’t wait. It’s not normal. The drug builds up in your body over time, and your nerves are one of the places it sticks. The longer you take it, the higher the risk. Age, kidney problems, and higher doses make it worse. And once the damage is done, stopping the drug doesn’t always fix it.

What makes this tricky is that amiodarone also causes thyroid issues, lung problems, and liver stress—all of which can mimic nerve damage. That’s why many doctors miss it. You might get tested for diabetes or vitamin B12 deficiency, but no one checks if amiodarone is the real culprit. If you’ve been on this drug for more than six months and have new nerve symptoms, ask your doctor for a nerve conduction study. It’s a simple, painless test that can confirm if your nerves are slowing down. And if the answer is yes, you need to talk about alternatives. There are other heart rhythm drugs—like dronedarone or sotalol—that don’t carry the same nerve risks. You don’t have to keep taking amiodarone if it’s harming your nerves. The goal isn’t just to keep your heart beating—it’s to keep you moving, feeling, and living without pain.

The posts below cover real cases, research findings, and practical steps for people dealing with drug-induced nerve damage. You’ll find guides on recognizing early signs, when to push for a second opinion, how to track side effects over time, and what alternatives exist when amiodarone is too risky. This isn’t theoretical. These are stories from people who’ve been there—and what they learned the hard way.