Silly Question.....

[Stucoo]

Hi everyone,

I had a DCCV last week and am back in NSR (great!) and am now taking Flecainide 100mg twice a day to help me stay in NSR - I know it is not a cure.

I'm also taking Apixaban and 2.5mg Bisoprolol.

I feel well apart from continual joint pain in my toes (gout) for the past 6 weeks that according to the NHS website, can be caused by beta blockers. I thought the pain was receding yesterday and went on a long bike ride only to wake up this morning with another joint inflamed. I've had enough of the constant pain! I don't drink alcohol any more, drink lots of water and have reduced my consumption of red meat, and try to exercise when my toes allow me.

My question - is why do I need to take Bisoprolol if it is causing the gout anyway? When I was in AF my heart rate was still below 100. I know I should have asked the consultant but I'm not seeing him again until next month. I did tell him about the gout and he said he would look at an alternative medication. Do I need to be taking beta blockers?

Thanks,

Stuart

[Finvola]

You need to talk to your physician about your own specific needs and the possibility of alternatives to Bisoprolol. However, my EP told me that Bisoprolol is needed because of Flecainide's ability to cause tachycardia and/or flutter. I take only 1.25mg and have runs of mild tachycardia (120bpm) which he says are caused by Flecainide organising the rogue signals and the rate has to be controlled by a beta blocker.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Not a silly question, but consider that the main cause of gout is you have an excess of uric acid, caused by the breakdown of animal foods in your body. If you stop eating animal products your gout should resolve. You can discuss the beta blocker issue with your EP but just know that diet is much more the contributor than the meds. Be well!

[Azbycx]

Look up home remedies for gout they might work you.

[Bagrat]

Nothing to add to what Finvola said except I have been on Flecainide for 5 years without a beta blocker as 2.5 bisopro!ol droppedm my pulse too much. A month ago had two episodes of unprovoked tachycardia ( no exercise) and am now on 1.25 bisoprolol with a reduced morning dose of flec. I seem to remember a discussion about whether bisoprolol adversely affects vagal AF.