Thoughts on Digoxin for AF?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi, Ive been on Bisoloprolol 2.5mg for my AF for 6mths but due to side effects my gp has now took me off these & has given me Digoxin 125mg to take instead. I'm initially trying them for 2wks then I go back to see her. 

?She informed me this medication does not work like Bisoloprolol & wont stop me going into AF just will slow my heart rate down.

?Ive had a look on the internet about this medication & seems more doom & gloom than a help for me. What ive read states this should be used more or less as a last option if nothing else works which concerns me to be honest. I don't have persistant AF, Mainly after food & at times waking me at night (but the Bisoloprolol stopped all this,& my AF was absolute minimal, but I had a side effect of my skin was feeling badly sunburned so I had to come off this).I understand the link between my AF & my vagal nerve & a change in diet habits has also helped with this.

?Has anyone ever had Digoxin, & please what are your thoughts/experiences with this?

?I'm a 42yr old male, eat healthy,relatively fit. I was very confident with my previous medication & was starting to feel my old self (apart from the skin side effects), but now feel ive took 10 steps backwards, or am reading the information incorrectly & this medication is just as good? My thoughts are, if unlike the Bisoloprolol  the Digoxin doesn't prevent AF,then am I at more risk of future PERSISTANT AF?

?Just very confused at the moment,any help or advice is really appreciated thankyou.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi dean I've been on bishop for nearly 3 years also amiodrone doctor rang me today to tell me my thyroid is capput due to the amiodrone I'm more worried about going back in permanent af no matter what we take always a risk but truthfully af is the devil's work I would take any meds to keep it off.

    • Posted

      Hi, good point thankyou for getting in touch. Read so much negative stuff about this med but like you say if it keeps it off then doing its job. Sorry to hear about your thyroid, I wish you the very best.
    • Posted

      It's a bugger dean but any body who has or had af will say if it stops it it's worth the risk

  • Posted

    Hi there from what I know digoxin is a very old drug. I was on it as a baby 58 years ago. Since then many newer drugs have come on the market that don't have such a negative profile. I've been on flecainide for 2 years with great success. It's been the market for about 15 years. I'm on the lowest dose possible with no side effects. However my biggest life saver is the FODMAP diet and I SWEAR by. It changed my life. It's even better than an ablation. Do this diet. Stick to it and you'll be amazed. Hope you get back on track soon.

    • Posted

      Hi, I'm having some stomach tests in December, ive had GERD for 12yrs, & I see a direct link with my AF & the GERD,ive been informed once the 24hr monitors have been done then they will be sending me to see someone about FODMAP so looking forward to this.

      ?Ive had a call back today about if I can change this new medication, but the GP I spoke to said didn't want to get stuck between a patient and a GP, (I had to wait 2wks to get a call back from original doctor who changed meds) & said that I shouldn't really use websites to look at medication reviews... he obviously hasn't seen how good this website is along with other very good sites,& the power of personal experience goes a very long way in my opinion.

      ?Thankyou for getting in touch, I'm going to do some research on FODMAP diets,& take this new medication for 2wks & hopefully get it changed in my review appointment.

  • Posted

    Hi again Dean. I got my copy of the FODMAP diet from the Stanford university website in the US. I trusted it the most. I found that this diet can vary from site to site too much. The one from Stanford makes the most sense to me. Are you seeing a cardiologist? You will get the best care from a specialist. Plus they are up to date on all the newest and best drugs. If you can start the FODMAP diet right away you might see a change very quickly. The diet is actually for Gerd, IBS, etc. However A Fibbers found that it worked amazingly well for them too. I would say at least 85% of us on this forum believe that 90% of their A Fib comes from food related issues such as food sensitivities (not allergies that's different), Gerd, IBS, gas, bloating and is associated with the vagus nerve etc. So maybe you too can get yourself back on track with a diet change. The FODMAP diet won't cure your A Fib however you will begin to control it instead of it controlling you. Have a great day Dean.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.