Having cardiovertion tomorrow at local hospital & been for pre assessment this morning, when talking to cardiac nurse/practitioner,she tells me I need to come back in,in 3 months to have a lung function test ? I say, surely your taking me off Amioderone & putting me on flecanide or rhythmol & she'd never heard of these drugs & only use Amioderone! Now that's scary to think my life is in there hands,says I need to stay on amioderone for another 3 months.
So now looking to see an EP to get put on something to keep me in rhythm,although I have been in rhythm for the last 2.5 years without anything.
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Nugger
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Are you anywhere near Bradford? There is an excellent GP there who is one of our medical advisers who has a special interest in AF and may be able to advise. PM if you want details.
Hi Nugger, I may have got the wrong end of the stick (often happens) but if you have been in rhythm for the last 2.5 years, are you sure they will carry out a cardioversion. I thought it would only be done if you are in AF. Often Amioderone is used after a CV to help maintain rhythm for those whose history suggests that this might be difficult which again seems at odds with what you have said. I suggest you follow BobD’s advice and talk to someone with a known understanding of AF.
My understanding is that Amiodarone can (emphasis on can) switch you back to normal rhythm. Didn't work for me but the DC conversion did. Still on Amiodarone short term. Good luck.
I don’t think that’s the case when it’s used for a fixed period after a CV. The intention is to support the effectiveness of the CV by helping to maintain NSR after the procedure........best of luck, let us know how you get on.
So right Amiodarone should be used only as last resort terrible side effects which can be life threatening see Amiodarone toxicity.
Same here in Herefordshire. As Bisoprolol didn’t keep the AFib away they gave another cardioversion and stuck me on Amiodarone, never even spoke of any others. Then because it kept me in sinus rhythm they simply kept me on it.
I was taken off all medication other than apixaban after my successful 1st CV in May. My daughter-in-law who is a specialist heart nurse in the US was surprised I wasn't put on amioderone for 3 months afterwards. Prior to this I had been on various different beta blockers, calcium blockers and different amounts - bisoprolol, verapamil and another tablet I cannot remember the name of and I could not get on with any of them - at between 3 to 6 weeks on them my heart rate and blood pressure would get really low and I would feel dizzy and faint and get breathless from practically just standing up. I was put on digoxin a couple of months before my CV and at 125mg that had the same effect but coming down to 62.5 made a difference. Thankfully, I am still OK and in NSR. The best thing you can do is check all this out with a cariologist or better still an EP if you can contact someone in time. Who is the Dr referring you for CV or doing the CV surely it would be best to contact them at the hospital where you are having the CV?
As Flapjack said, I think it's fairly common practice to be on Amiodarone in the short term after an NSR as there are studies that show that it improves your chances of staying in NSR for longer (I'm in that situation right now). I believe it's also the most effective drug for potentially converting you back to NSR without the cardioversion. But definitely get an appointment with an EP, it's best to investigate these issues as early as possible and you want to avoid being on Amiodarone long term if you can.
Hi, I’m going in on Monday for cardioversion. The first one worked fine and lasted a year. the second one just didn’t work, so they put me on amiodarone hoping it would put me back into NSR and if not it may help with this cardioversion. I was told that I would have to continue with the amiodarone for six months after, if the cv is successful, with regular blood tests. Never been offered any alternatives to this and bisoprolol.
Cardioversion worked,heart rate ranging between 43-50 & told to cut bisoprolol by half,so 5mg,so bit hesitant to take a beta blocker but that's what they said,so going to try 2.5mg & see what that does,thanks for all the replies.
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EP specialist.
post cardioversion
Amioderone or not?
