Hi,
I'm posting regarding my mum, 70 who was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 2 weeks ago.
She's now on 7.5mg beta blockers, with an additional 2.5 to take when needed.
However they don't seem to be working. Throughout the day particularly after eating her heart spikes again to 150 even when resting. It stays like that for hours after.
Can't get a doctors appointment for some time and just don't know what to do.
Is this normal??
Beta blockers are not going to stop your mum's AF episodes. Your mum needs to take a rhythm control drug. She will need to have her heart checked for structural irregularities before she knows what drugs are safe for her to use.
That is interesting because I just saw my regular doctor and my BP was high and she wants me on meds for it saying it will help the Afib. You are saying beta blockers do not. I actually saw the cardiologist last week and he didn’t put me on any drugs so I am seriously confused.
Beta blockers can reduce the intensity of an AF episode. Antiarrhythmic drugs, such as Flecainide, Dronedarone or Amiodarone, are used to control AF.
I guess because my BP spiked they are concerned
As John says, Bisoprolol won’t stop AF episodes, they should however control the heart rate. 150 is still high so I would be banging a few desks and insisting on a referral and proper assessment and tests with cardiology for which she should be referred.
Bisoprolol and other rate drugs are the only medications GPs can prescribe - apart from anticoagulants of course - which I hope she HAS had an assessment for from her GP?
Do visit the AFA website and look at all the fantastic information there which is easily downloaded about tests, diagnosis and treatments and how to access them.
What is the name of the beta blocker ? May be a low dosage that needs to be increased or changed to another.
With a sustained 150 bpm heart rate of 4 hrs plus, would be good to take her to the emergency room. Should also expedite an appt with a specialist.
And insure she is taking an anticoagulant.
It is normal for an increased heart rate after eating, but that is very high for that length of time.
Hi,
I endorse what has been said by John3333333 and CDreamer.
However, noting I'm a fellow patient not a medical professional, I've been on Bisoprolol for nearly 13 years and it is a tricky little drug but effective. My take is that 2 weeks just isn't long enough for Bisoprolol to have any effect. In some people it may take many, many weeks to slow the heart rate. Fer instance, prior to AF my heart rate was always around 88 to mid 90 bpm. When diagnosed with AF it was clocked at 156 bpm. Nowadays taking 5 mg at night it stays at around 62 to 67 bpm, I'm 78 by the way and still work driving double decker buses. Keep the faith 🙂
What time of day was the Bisoprolol prescribed for, morning or evening. I found some very unwelcome side effects when I took it in morning ...like .... random full flow nose bleeds. I saw my GP and changed the dose to night time (11 years ago now) and I haven't had a nose bleed since.
Now I note what you say about eating seeming to bring on a high HR event. In some of us ( like me) food can do this by adversely interacting on the Vagal Nerve. This nerve is a nerve in the central nervous system which impacts on many organs BUT PARTICULARLY the heart and digestive system. Until I got my diet under control many years back I would get massive, massive and very painful bloating which would trip me into a full blown AF event. Do suggest you research vagal nerve and also google schematic diagram of the vagal nerve ...... it'll help you understand what I am talking about.
Next, when yer Mum gets these high HR bits and bobs, does it occur after every meal or just one. After a snack or a main meal ? If it occurs after the main meal of the day, an evening meal keep a diary of what is in the meal and what time of day it is eaten. Even after all these years (since January 2010) food can often impact on me, like hard cheeses are OK soft cheeses are not. Pork with fat or crackling or roast duck will send my heart ballistic BUT FOR ME it affects my blood pressure. The Bisoprolol does its job and keeps within the 62 to 67 bpm range. Many other foods taken as a main meal also affect me. It probably won't do any harm to eat the main meal no later than 6 pm ish, and eat small meals, nor would it do any harm to go gluten free, wheat free or even oats free. Eat a small meal. Visit the Free From section of your local supermarket. It may need you to keep a food diary for a while and look at foods eaten.
Best I can advise you for now. The problem with what I've just said most GP's don't understand the vagal nerve much less how to deal with one thats a bit wonky. I gave up on mine and just deal with a nutritionist for the food issues.
Further, I do recommend as essential reading that you read well the bit of paper inside the Bisoprolol packet. Its not there to be thrown away. 🙂
Hope this helps or gives you some clues anyway. for me diet, food and meds have enabled me to minimise my AF and Heart rate.
John
I can’t take rhythm control drugs so had ten mg bisoprolol a day for nine years I have just weaned myself off them after a pace and ablate
Oh dear. It isn't good to have that high heart rate for extended periods. I would get an appointment to see the GP pronto, pressing the practice for this.
AF is most often treated with beta blockers, which suppress the racing heart effect it can cause, and, in so doing, can actually stop the AF sometimes. There are other drugs called calcium antagonists that can also safely be given, I understand. Alternatively, but a cardiologist must initiate them, there are drugs that can directly affect the AF called anti-arrhythmics. These are more potent and can have more side effects. Alongside these an anticoagulant is given as AF increases the risk of stroke happening.
I would insist on a GP appointment. A private cardiologist appointment is another thought, at about £200 (mind you, an ECG will also be needed, although your GP practice could do this, otherwise they are about £100; and an echo-cardiogram also would be £450).
Steve
At 150bpm for that long if it was me I would attend A&E (ED).
It is not acceptable to have Tachycardia for any length of time.
Pete
Good morning Mariannegeraldine, if you are at all concerned then it may be wise to get things checked out for your mum, whether that is with GP or at the hospital. If you would like to talk things through with a member of our Patient Services Team, please feel free to call our helpline: 01789 867 502 or email: info@afa.org.uk We also have a wealth of information and resources on our website: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa... where you can learn more about the condition in these early days. Please do not hesitate to get in touch.
I will endorse what carneuny said. If the beta blocker is bisoprolol, then yes, the body's response can be somewhat delayed. However, the aim of the beta blocker as I understand is not to stop the AF, but to limit the sometimes very high heart rates that can be reached in AF, 200 bpm or more. I think it also reduces response to anxiety, which can further increase heart rate. The downside is that it reduces heart rates when not in AF and can limit a person's capacity for exercise. I found that when walking up a hill, it would take a few minutes for my heart rate to increase sufficiently to make the exercise comfortable. (You would only notice that if the hill was a long one.)
Has your mum had a referral to an Electrophysiologist (EP)? That's a specialist cardiac surgeon for arrhythmia.
just think like that. Suppose you run a marathon how would be your heart rate? And how long you can run with such high heart rate? Nobody can sustain such high heart rate for hours especially at her age. Only option, bring her to hospital.
I was diagnosed with PAF over 2 yrs ago, prescribed 5mg bisoprolol.Heart rate was 170+ at diagnosis, now between 50/60.
As far as I know I haven't had an episode since, if I had one the betablocker would let me know due to heightened awareness of heart beat
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