Appreciate experience/opinions on Digoxin please. I have to take it along with 5mg bisoprolol which I've taken for 3 years. Thanks Sunigirl

[sunigirl]

AF for 11 years. 3 ablations and pacemaker. Do not want AV node ablation. Episodes every 3 to 4days lasting 15 plus hours.170 bpm.

[MarkS]

Perhaps not what you want to hear, but I've come across a lot of very negative comments on digoxin, for instance this article, "Digoxin: the medicine from hell?"

afibbers.org/resources/digo...

Have you been prescribed it by an EP? If so then fair enough. But if anyone else has, particularly a GP, then I would suggest you might need to query this. It is an old fashioned drug and there appear to be better ones out there, such as calcium channel blockers.

[sunigirl in reply to MarkS]

Thanks MarkS. Cardioigist prescribed and I told him I had heard this was a 'dirty drug' but he said I was a suitable candidate as I had a pacemaker. Undecided now but feel I must try as cardio feels it will help.

[Brian101 in reply to MarkS]

Wow Mark thanks for the read -I've just got off digoxin after 3 months-you would think the cardios would know all this. I used to believe all that they said but now am starting to question everything

[Ewcia in reply to MarkS]

I agree with Mark. Read heaps of negative staff re: Digoxin, but my cardiologist insist I should take it. So far I am listening to my intuition and not taking Digoxin. Taking Flecanaide PIP for the last 6 yrs.

Cheers

Eva

[sunigirl in reply to Ewcia]

Hi Ewcia. I felt very strange after a few hours of taking first Digoxin. Was in a brain-fog which continued to get worse and I felt ill. Decided to stop it as felt I was being poisoned. At next appointment saw different cardiologist (never see same one) He doubled dose of Bisoprolol 10mg and I became a zombie, no energy or interest in anything. Decided to change hospitals (after 11 years) and cardiologist as felt I was being treated as a no -hoper. Think I have made big mistake. New cardiologist was very distant and felt I couldn't take to her. She reduced bisoprolol and told me I had two choices a drug called Ami..........

something or other or AV node ablation. First she said she wanted a 5 day monitor. That was end of November. Not heard a thing so phoned appmnts they contacted secretary who said she would sort it. 2 weeks later- nothing. It isn't giving me much confidence and I feel scared as I need replacement hip and could have been put on waiting list last week but need confirmation ok from cardiologist. Like I said think I've made big mistake and feel at a loss what to do. Sorry for epic moan. Thanks x

[Brian101]

Hi Sunigirl - up until 2 days ago they had me on daily 125mg digoxin 10 mg bisoprolol and 80 mg Sotalol . They cut the first two out and just left me on the Sotalol and all of a sudden I'm starting to feel human again. I had to really argue the point with the cardio and my family but I had had a guts full ( sorry about the language ) of feeling like a zombie . Every time I went to hospital I ended up taking another drug or a higher dose and I just accepted it. No more I'm over it. I think you have to have a good discussion with them and find something that's works and doesn't make you feel bad.

Brian

[sunigirl]

Thank you Brian 101. Having experienced horrendus side effects from flecenide and propefanone, rhythmn control I am terrified of taking new drugs but cardio said to put up with possible lack of appetite and feeling sickly and after a couple of weeks I will feel a lot better.

[rosyG]

Make sure you have regular blood tests if you go ahead- need to check for digoxin toxicity. My GP wanted nme to take it with beta blockers and I refused as they make vagal AF worse!! Worrying they know so little

[sunigirl in reply to rosyG]

Thanks RosyG Cardio never mentioned blood tests and you are right it is worrying. I will make sure I have blood tests at GP as don't see cardio again for 6 months.

[rosyG in reply to sunigirl]

Got this from a website- don't know how accurate it is!

'Normal values range from 0.8 to 2.0 nanograms per milliliter'. Did say range is narrow so I think blood tests essential! Hope all goes well

[sunigirl in reply to rosyG]

RosieG Thanks ever so much I appreciate this.

[Ewcia in reply to rosyG]

Exactly. Digoxin is contraindicated in vagal AF.

Eva

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Hi Rosie

First you wont need blood tests to tell you if you have digoxin toxicity you will know by the way you feel. I have a pacemaker and was put on digoxin and it was fantastic for the af - it stopped it, unfortunately it didn't like me and I had to come off it and within 2 weeks I was back in AF so if I could have continued with it I would have.

The problem with digoxin is that it does slow you heart rate down sometimes quite drmatically, As a nurse we used to check patients pulses and if they were below 60 we didn't give that days dose. It is a well tried drug and very good for some people. you will find horror stories on most drugs if you look hard enough so judge for yourself as like everything else everyone is different

Eileen