Is Diclofenac a trigger

[Kia62]

Hi guys

I had a cryo ablation a year ago, the first month was a bit fraught but it all settled down after. In May I had 2 episodes one for 2 hours and one for 7.Since then all fine apart from a few ectopics that only lasted a few seconds. Then in the early hours of this morning.. Bang.. Woke up with usual heart racing and erratic behaviour. Now then to what I think was the trigger. I have Bursitis of the right shoulder and am "on the list" for a steroid injection, had them before and they're truly marvellous. The pain at the moment is very bad and I resorted to Voltarol Gel, it helped withe pain, and here's the rub(no pun intended) it contains diclafenac. This seems to be a no no for us Afibbers. Any one else had a reaction like this?

[BobD Volunteer]

All NSAIDS such as ibuprofen or diclofenic are to be avoided as not only are they triggers for many but have been linked as a primary cause of AF. That said gels do not normally put much of the product into the bloodstream according to my GP so used SPARINGLY may be OK.

[Peony4575]

Yup. My first and to date only episode of AF was triggered by a prescription NSAID. As I understand it they upset the electrolyte balance of the heart potassium gets too high and off we go

[Finvola]

Oral NSAID's shouldn't be taken by AFers but if the gel is used in small quantities very infrequently, it shouldn't be a problem. I've used piroxicam gel briefly and had no problems.

[Sacha27]

This is my first post so Hi everyone.I totally agree with the comments posted regarding NSAID s. My first episode of AF was caused by Diclofenic and I suffered an allergic reaction which caused me to go in to anafalactic shock. I never take or use anything that has anti inflammatory drug in it. It absolutely filled me with fear I thought I might have died that day in Hospital. That was 2010.

After that incident my AF flipped back to normal for several years but now back again so take Edoxaban, this is 9 years on from incident and been on this drug for about a year, side effects are the bleeding and bruising otherwise I could live with it.

[Pjt55]

I have taken Volteran gel daily for years. I have had afib for years. It has never been a trigger for me. The pain without the gel is more of a trigger for me that the medication.