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Verapamil

7164 profile image
7164
12 Replies

Dear all

As always I turn to this forum to get some experience from those of you that have walked this path.

I have paf symptomatic most likely vagal as it hits me after meals and when bending or relaxing. I was initially given bisoprolol which really didn’t help. Flec put me in hospital now I take low dose verapamil. It feels better than Bisop but giving me more palpitations and weirdly I can walk fir miles no problem but getting up from sitting or out of bed at night for a wee then palpitations? Bit if a tight chest with it as well. Went back to GP who did an ecg and saw no probs and reduced me to 80 mgs per day.

I feel like stopping all the meds apart from Apixiban. Not felt right since I started my meds’ journey nearly two years ago?

I know you are not medics and I have today e mailed the EP but your experience always gives me pointers!!😊

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12 Replies
10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

I have straight forward permanent Afib.Had it c 10 years.No major complications. I have taken verapamil almost since the begin.....now 80 mg x twice daily and it seems to keep the rate down nicely.My doc. gave me 120 x twice daily for some years then in 'older' age it made me slightly dizzy. the lower dose is fine.he reckons it is the best med. for lowering the heart rate.

7164 profile image
7164 in reply to 10gingercats

Ginger cats

Thank you

My heart rate when not in Afib is 60-70 so no probs. Only when I get the Afib does it take off. The veramapril gives me more palpitations then ever? As I say when I have to get up for any reason and after meals. Too confusing

Rod

Hi,

To be honest I would be cautious about stopping all drugs without professional health care advice. That said, have you considered running a food programme in tandem with your tablet programme.

You seem to have identified food as an issue. So, why not initially anyway, keep a food diary- then consult a Nutritionist. There is always the chance that food you are eating is aggravating or even inflaming the vagal (vagus) nerve which is playing around with your AF.

If you care to click on my username it should take you to some of my posts on this and related topics.

John

NikkiGiff75 profile image
NikkiGiff75

Hi,

I am on verapamil 40mg 3 times a day, they put me on that after trialing many other drugs that didn’t agree with me, but I’m on it for Svt not for my afib, I’m not on anything for afib. I also have not felt right with being on meds and I am going to ask my cardiologist if I can get off it or take a pill in a pocket, or just vitamins like magnesium and CoQ10,. Here’s hoping 😊

Octaviascout profile image
Octaviascout

It’s interesting to see the different doses of veramapil with folk. I am in PAF, diagnosed a year ago. I take 360mg of verapamil once a day which I seem to cope with, blood pressure around 100/60 and an average HR of 80 ish. I have suffered no light headiness since coming off bisoprolol and moving onto this drug 3 months ago.

Bmwpaul1971 profile image
Bmwpaul1971

Hi. Your symtoms are very similar. Walk miles no bother, but getting up/ going upstairs, then palpitations. Miles better than bisoprolol mind. I'm on it for SVT.

sfh3l profile image
sfh3l

Hi 7164,

The first thing I would say is that I think messing with your meds without consulting professionals is dangerous and you should discuss with them first. I also agree with the earlier comment about a food diary and would extend that to cover what you had been doing in the few hours prior to the episodes, alcohol and so on, just so you get the broadest picture possible and can discuss that with the specialists.

My own experience of Verapamil was in my early twenties, after my first bout of documented AF and first cardioversion. I was put onto the drug (can't remember the dose, it was over 30 years ago now!) and it just slowed everything down, but did not reduce the frequency or nature of the AF very much at all. In addition, I put on a stone in weight in just three months and felt lethargic at my very best. Contrary to my suggestion to you ("don't do as I do, do as I say"), I unilaterally declared that Verapamil wasn't for me and stopped it.

That was just my personal experience from a long time ago and it also coincided with the whole having to deal with the fact that something was wrong with me trip that my head was not really in the right place to be fully receptive.

Good luck and get it checked out.

My best wishes,

Sam.

7164 profile image
7164 in reply to sfh3l

Sam

Thanks

Are you okay now Af wise

Rod

sfh3l profile image
sfh3l

Hi Rod,

Same old, same old really. I've had small bouts of it and flutters since my teens and they continue, perhaps a couple of times most days. You live with AF, as opposed to recovering from it.

Take care and thanks for asking,

Sam.

TonyStrad profile image
TonyStrad

I have been taking Verapamil 120SR for over 30 years and it has been a helpful part of my life with chronic AFIB. I learned some time ago that it was important to take Verapamil with food, since a sustained release pill taken without food can create anxiety. I wish I knew more about your specific medical profile, but I simply wanted to share that the drug has been helpful for me over an extended period of time.

7164 profile image
7164 in reply to TonyStrad

Tony

I had my first PAF two years ago at 59 after playing golf. No idea what it was. No heart or health issues but drank too much and was three stone overweight. Not looking after me. Pretty much lone Afib.

Straight to A&E. Afib. Saw cardiologist two weeks later who told me no fizzy drinks and don’t worry about it.

Two weeks later another bout. Same cardiologist put me on bisoprolol . Didn’t stop the Afib.no mention of weight and lifestyle. 18 months later still getting Afib. Bisoprolol was making me feel lousy.

This forum told me about EP and trying to help myself. Flec was not good for me. I now await ablation. But I have lost three stone and no alcohol etc etc.

I take magnesium, Apixiban, and small dose verapamil.

The life change and anxiety has been the hardest to live with.

Lainie2875 profile image
Lainie2875

I get it totally you just feel your body needs a rest a good clear out of all the drugs

It’s very complicated and totally individual how AF is for some people talk to your EP about all the options good luck

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