How long does it take

[Tikaneko]

My Adizem dose has gone up, how long does it take before it starts to work?

[BobD Volunteer]

This is a trade name for the drug diltiezem which unless I am very much mistaken is a calcium channel blocker rather than an anti arrhythmic drug. As such it will do little to control AF merely slow the heart during events in the same way that beta blockers do. For control you need an anti arrhythmic drug like flecainide or propafanone or last resort amiodarone all of which can only be instigated by a consultant level cardiologist/electrophysiologist.

There is an excellent fact sheet on drugs in AF available form AF Association website.

[Tikaneko in reply to BobD]

Thank you BobD, I don't understand, why then if I have been diagnosed by my cardiologist with AF and put on Adizem, at first it wasn't persistent but now it is. I am not seeing my cardiologist until a week next Tuesday.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Tikaneko]

There is no cure for AF as such and all treatment is only ever about improving quality of life.(QOL).

First line treatment is usually to control rate to prevent the heart racing and possibly causing further problems. Rhythm control is another matter entirely and to be honest there is no real difference in outcome with either form of treatment, only how you feel. and your QOL

[Tikaneko in reply to BobD]

I am truly struggling with this at the moment. The Adizem does slow the heart rate but the rhythm is way out. It has been suggested that they perform an ablation but nothing concrete as yet. I assumed that if that was done then that would sort me out! Having read various comments on this forum I am not so sure now. Thank you for your comments, they are really appreciated