anyone gone the Magnesium ....Taurine...Arginine ....route.

[bluebell111]

Thinking of trying alternitive meds .....as prescribed ones are not suiting me....having read Suzy Cohen on abnormal heart rythm......would value opinions on this subject.

[Japaholic]

I prefer complementary medicine to alternative. I feel they sit side by side and that it's not a choice of one over the other.

I personally go for Sotalol and Acupuncture!

[bluebell111 in reply to Japaholic]

Thanks ...I can't take Sotalol affected my breathing ......but I had'nt thought of acupunture.....may give that a try (my dog is having it ...so perhaps the vet will do us both) have been on Amiodarone, Viazemxl....... now on Digoxin & Warfarin but feeling fatigued all the time.

[Japaholic in reply to bluebell111]

I've been having acupuncture for a year, helps me relax and has taken away my anxiety about AF. A couple of times it's even stopped the AF in it's tracks when I have been for an appointment while having an episode.

I'm due a change of drugs soon, Sotalol doesn't seem to be working as well as it did.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to bluebell111]

I will never ever take Digoxin again. It made me feel quite ill, weepy and mentally befuddled. I really hope you get on o.k. taking it. I took Amiodarone for about 18 months, felt great on it, but still had breakthroughs.

[jeanjeannie50]

In the early days of my AF, which was quite a few years ago, I took magnesium and unfortunately it gave me a sore stomach so had to stop. It took me almost a year to find out that, that was the cause.

I know a lot of members on here believe CQ10 is good to take. Have you gone down the route of cutting out all food with artificial additives? This has helped me tremendously.

Jean

[bluebell111 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean for your comments... gosh it's such a lottery trying to find what suit's one ........yes I am cutting out foods with artificial additives ......takes some doing I have never read so many labels ....I felt so awful telling my lovely cardio that what she prescribed just made me feel worse. Now being asked to take flecainide.....hey ho here we go again. I just feel like dumping the whole lot.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sotalol no longer recommended for AF treatment.

[bluebell111 in reply to BobD]

Thanks!

[davebakerpurton in reply to BobD]

That's strange, I've just been put on it by John Radcliffe heart unit

[BobD Volunteer in reply to davebakerpurton]

Latest Nice guidelines.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to davebakerpurton]

I believe Sotalol is still used for atrial flutter. My EP prescribed it for me last August for that, but it didn't do a lot. Flecainide suits me so much better.

[rosyG]

i have found making sure enough potassium- Difficult to get right amount- by diet (not supplements as dangerous) and magnesium and low sodium is making a great improvement. Flaxseed is good for magnesium and just discovered coconut water has more potassium than bananas!!

[bluebell111 in reply to rosyG]

Thank you.... I will try the flaxseed....it's just finding out how much of anything is the right amount depends on the individual I guess.

[Loo53]

I've started a vitamin regimen rightly or wrongly I believe in treating the body holistically not just for the heart and if I'm doing the wrong thing I'm sure I'll soon find out. My regimen is around fat burning as well as blood supply, joints,energy etc because I feel like I've had the stuffing knocked right out of me with my last ablation. I take a multivitamin,Omega 3,amino acids,

l-cartinine,CLA,Tumeric,Glucosamine+Chondroitin,Glutamine, Q10,Vit C,Vit E, magnesium,B6, spread out throughout the day

I have Wheatgrass in my shakes and/or Spirulina on my breakfast. Consistency and commitment is the key. This is just what I take I'm not recommending that others take it but since the question was asked !

[Loo53]

Sorry meant to mention that the above is not a replacement for my other meds unless there is a contraindication to them which should be checked out before popping stuff into the system!

[bluebell111 in reply to Loo53]

I feel like you & that is just with the meds (no ablation yet!) so many different combinations ...just finding the one that suits.....thank you for your input....everyone is so helpful.

[rosyG]

Extra magnesium is just excreted but difficult if you have too much potassium so best to do it through diet. Flaxseed is easy as you can sprinkle it on anything- Sainsbury's stock it!

[jennydog]

25 years ago I sought the help of a Cancer Help Clinic. I was advised to take vitamin and mineral supplements to bolster my immune system. Vit C, zinc and selenium were most important. My ( now retired) GP declared that I had the most expensive urine in the whole of Wales.

25 years of meticulous tablet taking and a good diet have apparently done nothing to prevent AF. Indeed I have wondered if it has caused it! Who knows?

[CDreamer]

Taurine & Arginine did nothing for me but I still take Magnesium also Ubiquinol which is refined active ingredient of COQ10. Flecainide worked for me very well with no adverse side affects until ablation. I like you was very anti meds until the AF episodes became intense and frequent, then I was grateful for anything that worked but it is often trial and error as what works for one doesn't for another.

If you are intent on looking at complementary therapies I would also look at acupunture, especially to sooth the vagus nerve, point just under the knee. Many people have also managed to be AF free through dramatically changing their diet, it is often not what you injest but what you don't and there are quite a few threads here on this subject. Unfortunately although I found I reacted to several food triggers, I continued to develop AF despite all the diets and complementary therapies. But it does work for some so worth a trying anything.

Incidentally ablation did work and I have been AF free now for some 5 months so now focussing on keeping it that way!

Very best wishes

[CDreamer]

Oh, AND I am with Loo re all those supplements and the holistic approach and that complementary can sit alongside mainstream medicine. The other big one is VitD.

[bluebell111 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi, so pleased your ablation worked (might help if I am offered one) early stage for me so just trying to gather as much info as poss....meds knocking me about, hence looking at other ideas....will try acupuncture & Vit D as well as some others......just need more energy.......but looks like I will be rattling & rolling.

thank you this forum helps so much....so mamy kind people......not so scary, with you all out there with the same problem.

Hope you stay AF free. take care.

[Therealsue]

I use a magnesium spray and I've just started with taurine. I'd be interested to know how much taurine others take. I take a 500mg capsule but the bottle says I can take double that. I stopped COq10 before I started on warfarin as I read somewhere that you shouldn't take the two together. I take fish oils and vit D. Does it all do any good? No idea!!

[MarkoVan in reply to Therealsue]

About the magnesium spray, may I ask what concentration and amounts you use?

[Therealsue in reply to MarkoVan]

Hi Mark. I buy it from holland and Barrett or you can get it on line, from a company called 'Betteryou'. I use 10 sprays per day and they claim that this delivers 180mg of optimally absorbed magnesium (60% RDA) They recommend you start with a smaller amount though. I don't know whether it does any good, but frankly, I'll try anything! Good luck. Sue.

[bluebell111]

We are all just grasping at straws & trying anything that we believe will help...have read that you can take anywhere between 500-3,000mg a day...there is a case study "Elimination of Cardiac Arthymias using Oral Taurine with L-Arginine, Stabilizationof the SinoAtrial Node".

[MarkoVan]

It's a bit anti drugs but this page may help: knowledgeofhealth.com/contr...

[jennydog in reply to MarkoVan]

Thank you for this link. I have just read it through and will study it in detail later. He just about covered everything except ablation. It's very readable which is more than you can say for a lot of the stuff about AF.

[Hidden]

However difficult I think it's good to have a strategy you believe in but accept it may have to change. I needed stabilising first and 200mg/day Flecainide did that. I then distilled the information from the docs, these columns and my own feelings.

I have Lone Paroxysmal AF - vagal nerve triggered I believe. In these circumstances I think alternative meds, complimentary treatments and lifestyle could work to some degree and certainly worth a go.

My Naturopath tested Mg and CoeQ10, which were at the bottom of the range and said they should at least be middle range; suggested a Mg supplement with some Taurine, Potassium and more in it, which certainly helped my sleep. About to start the Q10. I always do half the dose suggested as very cautious.

There is some quite cavalier advice out there that claims top quality doses of Mg (rubbed into the chest) and a Taurine spray + other stuff should sort it easily ….I'm a bit sceptical however tempting it sounds.

Equally important have improved diet/lifestyle significantly…….all this seems to be keeping it at bay. On the other hand it may have been corrected by just doing a lot of overdue dental work and better teeth cleaning regime….ditched lazy habits of a lifetime!

[MarkoVan in reply to Hidden]

Is q10 a bad mix with anticoagulants? I'm on Pradaxa at the mo, and did ask the doctor about supplements but was told diet wouldn't effect it.

[porridgequeen]

Just a comment on the glucosamine. I was told to stop taking it when I went on warfarin. Haven't noticed any difference so not sure that is was doing any good anyway!

[Loo53]

Well I'm not taking any of my stuff to prevent AF Im doing it to boost my health in the event of AF because you never know when you need to be fit for an operation or cope with a complaint. As an ex bodybuilder I am aware of vitamin depletion when exercising a lot because you start to notice it. I believe my years of keeping fit has kept me in good health (post booze) and apart from some excess weight which AF prevented me from shedding I'm in good nick for a 61 year old which I put down to my vitamins and exercise. Can't wait to get back in that gym!

[bluebell111]

Thanks guys & gals for all your input.

[iris1205]

I have tried nearly everything! Naturopathy, Phytotherapy, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, supplements. NOthing worked for me in terms of eliminating AF. All that said, who knows if it hasn't helped reduced the severity or frequency!

I continue to seek complimentary solutions and don't regret a bit of my efforts, they've held the rest of my body in good stead at the very least!

I agree with Japaholic, complimentary, side by side!