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IS ANYONE ON MEDS WHICH CONTROL THEIR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION?

Posted , 13 users are following.

Kingjerry42
Kingjerry42

IS THERE ONE FANTASTIC MEDICATION which can control ATRIAL FIBRILLATION? If anyone out there has a success story, please tell me and make it known to everyone else who may be reading this.

Thank You

2 likes, 51 replies

51 Replies

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  • simon56380
    simon56380 Kingjerry42

    Posted

    Loved the Medscape article!

    Many thanks Don and Elizabeth for bringing it to my attention.

    It has given me a lot to think about as I went back into Afib two weeks ago after being in rhythm for 11 months.

    I've addressed my severe sleep apnea, alcohol consumption.

    the best thing I can do for myself now is to lose some weight (I'm 49yo, 190cm tall & 104kg - so need to drop at least 10kgs).

    This is what I am going to focus on , and not so much on my AF.

     

    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 simon56380

      Posted

      Brilliant Simon! I'm definitely stopping my meds ...rampril is the next to go but I'm going to concentrate on losing weight and not worry about snuffing it from a/f. I can't believe I've at last found someone who talks sense.
  • Mr.Bond
    Mr.Bond Kingjerry42

    Posted

    Atrial fibulation or irregular heartbeat not caused by an heart valve problem I had all my life until my 50's. It scares the living crap out you doesn't it? On a few occassions I found myself being monitored in the ER, only to hear them say, you're good! It feels like an earthquake tremor in your chest. Your heart will skip a beat sometimes even when you're not in love. I've learn that some of the things I was putting in my body, not putting in my body, and lifestyle was causing my heart palpatations. I rarely ever get them now and if I did I know exactly why. Knowing is half the battle and knowing what to do is the other half. Here's a list of possible contributors to consider; 1. Sugar and caffeiene intake. 2.Artificial sweetners 3.Salt intake 4.Sleep apnea causes the heart not to get enough oxygen which creates fluttering and in some cases angina 5.Improper rest is due to lifestyle which in most cases is a choice. But some people just can't fall asleep. Taking magnesium will give you energy when you are up around, but helps you to sleep when its time. About 60% of Americans are missing magnesium in their diet. The lack of it also causes irregular heartbeats. Main source of magnesium is from green leafy vegetables of which I eat in combination of taking my magnesium supplement 6. Your heart is the only muscle that matters in the end so strengthen it. Even by only walking. While making all these changes I started walking. Then I later became an endurance runner, running close to 40 miles a week. I never taken any drugs. I hope this helped.

    My best

    • Kingjerry42
      Kingjerry42 Mr.Bond

      Posted

      Thank you for the feed back. You covered a lot of ground and you are 100% Correct.

      Yes. The causes by many of the foods, stimulants etc., have a direct effect on AFIB.

      Thanks again for the feed back.

      Kingjerry42

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 Mr.Bond

      Posted

      Thank you for your very helpful post.  I find my AF only comes on at night, I don't know if this is the same for anyone else.  I have stopped all alcohol and drink only decaffeinated coffee and tea.  I am not overweight and eat very healthily with very little chocolate and other sweet things.  I tried taking Hawthorn which worked for about a week but then the AF came back.  I am now on Sotalol which hasn't stopped the AF but the episodes are not so 'violent' as they were.  As someone who prefers natural remedies to medication I am now at a loss to know what to do.  I am finding that AF really does impede the way I live my life.  I went away in November and had palpitations every night which meant I was very very tired during the day and couldn't really do anything - what a waste of time.  I do hope your great advice works for others.

      Best wishes

      Gloria

    • Mr.Bond
      Mr.Bond gloria31511

      Posted

      Gloria thank you for your kind words. I am pulling for you to get some relief. I still think the supplements in combination may help long term. And don't forget drinking a fair amount of water with them. Try not to worry it's just one day at a time. How brave of you to give up chocolate! I given up a lot of things (cheese steaks, turkey hoagies, potato chips, etc.) but chocolate would be like giving up a limb. Anyway all my best!
    • CDM2
      CDM2 Mr.Bond

      Posted

      Good points. I take Vit E and Vit C supplements (both known to help).. But I would like  to remind peole that many of the vitamins sold in the US are a con. There was a report issued by the Attorney General of New York last year when they did an investigation as to what was ACTUALLY IN THE BOTTLES.. and wow!!! So: you really have to be careful and make sure that you get a good product!!! 
  • elizabeth_12
    elizabeth_12 Kingjerry42

    Posted

    I've posted lots of stuff on bisoprolol atenolol rampril and A/F. It's been 5/6 years now since it was diagnosed. What hell I've had with it! It's now permanent! I've stopped the meds except for 2.5 rampril and the rivaroxiban. 

     They reply from MrBond makes so much sense. It's exactly what drjohnm. American electro cardio physicist says. Check his web site. He says 13 things about AF to his patients....it all makes such sense. I feel so much better after reading his info on AF. 

    If you take time to read it, let me know what you think!

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 elizabeth_12

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth

      Your post was very useful about drjohnm and actually gave me hope.  After reading it I contacted my GP to ask for a referral and second opinion at a clinic that specialises in arthrymias - I only found it existed after doing some research - so why my GP didn't refer me there a year ago I just don't know.  I have been saying from the start that something must be causing this despite my GP and previous consultant saying they have no idea what the cause is.  These things don't 'just happen'. 

      I am now on Sotalol but it hasn't stopped the AF just lessened the impact.  I had terrible side effects from all the other medication I was put on that I had to stop them, they didn't make any difference to the AF anyway!

      So thank you for posting this article.  I hope you get your AF sorted soon.

      Best wishes

      Gloria

    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 gloria31511

      Posted

      This article was so good...I'm not so worried now. Because I have this anxious feeling all the time I honostly thought I was going to pop my clogs...as the saying goes. The meds didn't improve my AF,so I'm weaning off...just the rampril to go! The anti coagulant I will keep taking as there is a bigger risk of stroke. It's got to be a lifestyle change...I have to lose weight. I eat healthily and don't drink very much...oh and up the e excerise. The last point I'm not keen on! 

       Take care.

    • GotAbitBetter
      GotAbitBetter gloria31511

      Posted

      I don't think you'll be allowed to post the name of the clinic specialising in arythmias on this site Gloria, but after having to call 999 last night because I thought i was a gonner, I'd be grateful if you could send me the details via a private message. My AF at present is so life limiting, because of the side effects of the drugs, I, like many others on this site, am becoming quite despondent. Will understand if you don't wish to do this but thanks anyway for your informative posts which keep a lot of us hopeful of come improvement..
    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 GotAbitBetter

      Posted

      I've replied but it's being moderated! I thought I'd try again! I know how you feel. The meds have had such awful side effects. I have permanent AF,having been diagnosed 5/6 yrs ago. I've posted on biso buddies as well as this one. I'm now off the betablockers,and ready to drop the rampril 2.5 mgs. I will still take the anticoagulant,which is stroke preventative. 

       I read an article by drjohnm and feel I know much more about AF. The information I've read has given me so much help. It's beyond belief. I hope this may help you too.

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 GotAbitBetter

      Posted

      If you live in the South West which is where the hospital is then I can send you the info.

      I do hope you are feeling a bit better today.

    • GotAbitBetter
      GotAbitBetter gloria31511

      Posted

      Hi Gloria

      Had a rotten 2 weeks: had to go to A&E at Southmead, Bristol, while visiting my son. I cannot speak too highly of them. Absolutely wonderful staff and treatment. While waiting for confirmation of a change of meds I attended my local hospital in the South East which was a different story, but finally, having experienced very dizzy spells an increasing bouts of flutter/fib or god knows what it was have now stopped taking the Bisoprolol and put on Flecainide twice a day and Adizem once a day. I feel I can breathe again now and although I'm a little light headed and dizzy at least I can walk and stand unaided. I have asked my Doctor to refer me somewhere / anywhere! for a second opionion as the quality of life I've been having has been dreadful and is also very stressful for my husband, with hardly an hour going by without a blood pressure/heart rate check or a visit to one healthcare facility or another. If I hear anyone else say AF doesn't kill you I'll scream.

      If you can work out how to send me a message of your local miracle workers I'd very much appreciate it: currently I would go and see anyone who might offer meds/options tailored to my needs. I wish they would understand that AF affects each patient in a different way.

    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 GotAbitBetter

      Posted

      I was given bisop which was eventually changed to atenlol. I stopped the atenolol. I was taking 100 mgs and eventually it was reduced to 50 then 25 mgs with my GPs permission. I was suffering awful side effects. I then cut the 25 mg into smaller pieces and eventually stopped taking it. Reducing the beta blocker was so hard. Some days I was unable to walk,even to the toilet,without the help of my husband! It's taken a year to get off it! The side effects have disappeared. 

        I'm still taking 2.5 mgs rampril...I feeling so rotten today. I wasn't sure yesterday if I'd taken it. I'd had awful puddled head as the day progressed and this morning,I was so dizzy that my husband had to take me to the toilet,help me to get dressed and take me to the lounge! I've taken the rampril this morning. I just hope this was the reason! 

         I'm replying to you because,the withdrawal from bisop may give you terrible symptoms. I forgot to mention that the Palps were so  much more intense. Like you,I have A/F. Permanent now. I also keep checking my BP and pulse. It was 134/102 pulse 104, not brilliant,but I'm feeling very stressed.

        I know all of us with A/F respond differently to meds. Unfortunately there's not a1 fix solution. Another on going research! Please read drjohnm on the net. He talks so much sense. He too has A/F,is a electrcardiologist specialising in A/F.   Ha has listed 13 things he tells his patients. It's so reassuring.

       I hope you're feeling better today. Hope this helps,believe me I know how you feel.

    • GotAbitBetter
      GotAbitBetter elizabeth_12

      Posted

      Thank you Elizabeth. I will look out for the side effects of withdrawal. The best side effect so far is that I feel I can breathe again, which is what had me calling the ambulance as I felt every breath was going to be my last.

      What gets me down most was that every time they put the stickers on for another ECG, Echo and 24 hr BP they tell me it's normal and can't understand why I can't walk, feel like my head's going to burst and alternately have pulse of over 100 and down to 50.  

      Take care.

    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 GotAbitBetter

      Posted

      I don't have the out of breath feeling, but when I was on biso and then the atenolol,I felt I couldn't walk or stand for anymore than a few mins. I described this to several of our GPs but got no answer,neither did the cardio specialist explain. They all listened to my concerns and then moved on. I asked if it was the meds or the A/F. No explanation given.You have described exactly how my head is at this moment...feels like it's building up to burst. My pulse is chaotic...all the time! Horrible. 
    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 elizabeth_12

      Posted

      What makes me laugh is that they can send men into space for months at a time but can't develop medication to get AF under control especially as it affects so many people.  The money lost by people being off work and wasted funds prescribing medication that doesn't work - ok rant over!  But you all know what I mean surely it really isn't that difficult to do research into this problem that is affecting thousands of us.
    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 gloria31511

      Posted

      I agree! I'm having a slightly better day! I forgot to take my rampril on Thursday. I was so ill Thursday night and yesterday I couldn't stand. My head was so dizzy! My head is feeling less of the dizziness this morning. If this was withdrawal then I can now believe how hard it is for those who try to stop smoking or worse still come off hard drugs. I missed one day of 2.5 mgs rampril!

         Have you read the most recent research on A/F? I've read it....understood some of it.....no new meds,but change in lifestyle and it shows how the heart remodels. 

      Im sick to the back teeth of meds...I now hate them,even if they are deemed necessary! I've had 5 years of trouble with awful side effects and no doc to understand how they were affecting me. 

    • donald85642
      donald85642 gloria31511

      Posted

      I am 75yrs old and have been in permanent AF for 2yrs. I take 2.5mg of Bisoprolol once a day before I go to bed and 150mg of Dabigatron at 12 hr intervals. I have no adverse symptoms and can walk at pace for at least a mile with only occasional breathlessness. I was advised by my consultant that an ablation wasn't worth the risk and AF did not affect longevity. Hope this gives some comfort to any over 70's recently diagnosed and feeling anxious about the condition.
    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 donald85642

      Posted

      Reassuring post and it will comfort many of us here. Unfortunately,I've had bad side effects from bisop and then atenolol. Both now withdrawn. I'm taking 2.5 rampril and rivaroxiban. I can walk fairly well,but have a terrible problem standing. My back aches like mad,but then I'm ok when I sit down! 

       

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 donald85642

      Posted

      That is reassuring Donald.  I had awful side effects from Bisoprolol and am now on Sotalol but nothing stops the AF.  It started at 1.30 pm yesterday and lasted for 17 hours.  I feel totally wiped out and really depressed about it today.  Just don't know what to do any more.  I am seeing my consultant again on Monday but he just keeps saying we don't know what causes it.  I feel that without knowing the cause it is virtually impossible to treat AF.  Still will wait and see what he says.
    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 gloria31511

      Posted

      A/F is awful! I've had it this for 5/6 years. I am now in permanent AF. I've the constant Palps all day ,everyday. I've read so much stuff and unfortunately there's no consensus on how to deal with it.

         Some reckon....sea salt in water stopped the AF, another....cayenne pepper ! Meds don't stop it,just take some of the pressure off the heart! Latest med research says that the heart can fix the AF! Have you read the article I mentioned earlier? Lifestyle changes are the key.....lose weight....treat sleep apnea...exercise....

        I know how you feel. I'm so confused and have no trust in any of my GPs. Thankfully I've got people here to relate to. Some days I can get my head round it, other days I'm very low. I hope you're feeling better now.

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 elizabeth_12

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth

      Yes I have read the drjohn article you posted and watched the video.  I am going to mention to my consultant on Monday that there does seem to be evidence that AF is an effect of something not the cause but who knows what he will say. 

      Mine is getting more frequent and starting earlier in the evening rather than just during the night.  I don't know how I would cope if I had it 24/7 like you. 

      Just getting a good nights sleep would help but that is impossible with AF.  Still feeling totally washed out and depressed!

       

    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 gloria31511

      Posted

      Just wish I could give you a hug. Being so tired will be such a drain and then there's the fear that you're going to have the same thing again tonight. Trouble is our brain programmes our memory so that we don't forget! Overriding it .....very difficult. 

         As for feeling fed up....well who wouldn't be? Like me,you want some answers....I don't think there is one, but having a doc you can trust ,who listens and shows some understanding would certainly help. 

      Let us know how you're doing. 

    • elizabeth_12
      elizabeth_12 gloria31511

      Posted

      You're more than welcome. I know just how lousy you feel. How are you today? Chin up, I'm here to support you in any way I can. 
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