Anxiety and Afibnow can take nothing

I was just looking up the side effects to Bisoprolol, that can also cause heart failure as well . Like I said all drugs have side effects some worse than others . 

Apparently Citalopram is the safest anti-anxiety drug to take with Warfarin. I have had AF for over twenty years and, after trying several ineffective medical regimens, have gone drugless except for the Warfarin to help with the stroke risk. Everyone is different, but after years of worrying myself sick about the AF, it didn't kill me so I have become slightly sanguine about it. If your AF, like mine, is uncontrolled by medication, maybe you should ask your doctor about quitting the rate control meds, continuing the Warfarin to ward off stroke, and having access to the Citalopram for your anxiety. 

Upon my first diagnosis with AF many years ago I freaked out and began thinking about getting my affairs in order. Then I didn't die. You probably won't die either, so if you can manage it, reject this foul disease's hold on you, don't give it free rent in your mind and flip it off by living joyfully. It's the best revenge.

Easier said than done, I know. Good luck.

I believe in natural remedies as much as possible. I take a supplement called Nervine by Provita. And Calms Forte. The latter def helps to calm anxiety. I too believe meditation would help. Breathing slowly in the face of an anxiety episode can be challenging but it does help. Yoga. Self talk. If you are on face book there are aupport groups. GP's do not know everything. The pharmacist is a great source of knowledge. What works combined with what is their job. I go tk my pharmacist when I wonder. By the way I developed anxiety post hip replacement. Probably always had it. I then was diagnosed with a heart flutter. Had an ablation last Monday and am taking the Calms and Nervine. It helps. Good luck

And one more thing. Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother) goes a long way to help with GERD. Morning and night. Fiest thing and then after dinner. Tsp in warm water.

Hi Barbara.  I was diagnosed with Atrial flutter and was put on Multaq and metropolol.  I have been suffering w anxiety for many years and have tried multiple medications to help w it.  I was put on Lexapro by a physchiatrist ( asked her about drug interactions, and was told there was no need to worry). Within a month, I felt great!  I was so thankful that my anxiety was finally better.  Fast forward 5 months when I decided to stop using mail order for the Multaq, and went to have it filled at Walgreens when I was picking up my Lexapro.   Much to my surprise, the pharmacist basically told me I was lucky the 2 meds together didn’t kill me!  At that point, my cardiologist recommended buspirone for the anxiety, as it didn’t interact w the heart meds.  I had to stop the Lexapro. This really upset me. I feel like there was no comparison between the two drugs.  I also only take a very low dose of it.  Fast forward to now... two months ago we list our medical insurance so I could no longer afford the Multaq $600 per month without insurance.  My new cardiologist took me off the Multaq , but increased the metropolol.  My Palps have been so much better.  I’m starting g to wonder if the Multaq caused increased Palps?  I think you should ask your cardiologist/ pharmacist if there is an anxiety medication that won’t interact, or if you can change your heart meds.  Good Luck!  Keep me posted 

Oh dear Barbara...I'm in the same boat...Please see another doctor who can think outside the box...I stopped the beta blockers and am on simple aspirin...when I begin to get anxiety symptoms which can go from tachycardia to pvcs then to a fib...I take a .5 lorazepam under my tongue and wait for the first symptoms of tachycardia to abate..if it doesn't within 20/30 mins...i take another. .the secret is catching the symptoms early...it's harder to convert once it's full blown afib...do you get regular bouts of afib or is it a sporadic thing? If you are not constantly going in and.out of it...you shouldn't be on these meds that have such deleterious side effects...I'm lucky in a way...having researched and found world class docs in Eastern Pa. And my "problem "which I have been plagued with for many years of a constant pulse sound in my ear which mirrors my pulse and heartbeat...been thru all sorts of diagnostics and no pathology...no aneurysm...just a swollen ear canal that gets the pulse transfer from my artery..boy did that pulsing cause classic anxiety attacks!...whereas some people can't really feel or tell what the ectopic heartbeats feel like or self diagnose their afib...I can...I feel and hear every beat whooshing in my left ear! Tough to get to sleep without white noise but my doctors all are astonished by my ability to spot my condition approaching...I am not on ativan regularly but I do take it as needed as described above...as far as the other...especially gastric symptoms go...I take Pepcid complete...the otc is ,10 mg. The clinical dose is 40... you can take up to ,4... they do not conflict with any known meds as the simethicone products (gasx) also do not...they will stop the churning and , bloated feelings that are part of the vicious circle of.anxiety/afib...I carry these products with me at all times... if you aren't constantly going in and out of afib on a regular basis...I would consult another doctor and run the protocols which I use by them... it took about 5 years to get me straightened out but I have only had 2 attacks in the past year and they woke me up at night...couldn't exactly.see those coming! Another thing is to keep your electrolyte levels up ...magnesium and potassium are essential...I use vitamin supplements and a product called propel water...like Gatorade but without the sugar...they also have the tubes of dry powder to add to your.water at the supermarket...great for late night leg cramps if you triple the tubes in a bottle of spring water...I hope I have been of assistance to you...the last time I responded on this site...the poor sufferer didn't even want to "go on " anymore..don't know where you live...but there must be a practice that does think outside the box...look around if your current ones.won't consider trying new options.my protocols work for me and may work for you too but don't try anything without consulting your physician first...thanks,Fran

Hi Barbara, sorry to hear you are suffering so much.  I also think you can take both sorts of meds.  I'm on metoprolol, Pradaxa, atorvastatin, omeprazole and due to my panic attacks I'm now on Citalopram, and have been for about 8 months, so I think you should ask your GP to change your betablocker so you can take Citalopram or something else as there are loads of different sorts.  Your GP needs to help you more. I wish you all the best.  Stay strong and take care, deep breaths too. xx 

Barbara,

Sorry you are going through this. Me too, I’m going through hell. My life is so messed up.

I had my first panic attack in last July.  Since then started to worry about my heart, but cardiologist appointment is two months later. In those two months my anxiety level kept going up, and one night I woke up in afib. I have no doubt that the prolonged and constant anxiety caused my afib but cardiologist and EP didn’t agree.

Now I’m stuck with afib for life. And my anxiety is from afib, afib can’t be cured, so my anxiety won’t go away. Please help us.