Re-jigging medication!

[Mamamarilyn]

I have paroxysmal AF and take Arythmol (Propafenone) 150mg three times a day. Has anyone tried lessening the dose unsupervised? I haven't had a serious episode for about 18 months, just occasional 'blips' a couple of times a month.

[Hidden]

Never done it unsupervised with rhythm control drugs. But I asked my EP for a range of doses for my drug, and he said anything between 250mg and 750mg a day as I see fit, although he said try and keep to 500 if in doubt. Next time you see him / her perhaps ask for a range?

PS. I tried reducing my rhythm control dose within those parameters, and I felt OK. BUT....the Alivecor said otherwise, so upped my dose back to norm.

I was on Arythmol years back, 150 x 2 times a day.

Koll

[BobD Volunteer]

Of course we should never advise regarding changing drugs without speaking to your EP. When I was told to get off Propafanone after my last successful ablation I did it 1/2 a tablet at a time over several weeks/months and trust me when I say that last 1/2 is the hardest to give up.lol

Bob

[EngMac]

I couldn't get any advice on what to do and because it was a capsule, I could not split it. So I just spaced it out taking fewer capsules each day for about a week and then I stopped it all together. Took a few weeks for AF to calm down but it did and I don't take drugs now, just supplements and avoid what seem to be triggers. Taking magnesium when I do get very infrequent AF seems to shorten the episodes which have never been longer than 4 hours for me.

[Mamamarilyn]

Thanks for all your replies guys. Very helpful. The thing is my cardio has actually signed me off so I'll tackle the issue with my GP first I guess!