So o take verapmil 40mg 4 times a day which controls my heart rate and bp...but not my irregular heartbeat/afib. ...do I need a second med to control the irregular heartbeat /afib thay I have daily ? Any experiences and input greatly appredicted .
Am now on ablation waiting list but it's 6 months long and if I can find a meds solution I would feel so much happier then having rhe ablation
It's generally accepted that rate control strategy is more important than rhythm control for most as it uses less toxic drugs and reduces the risk of tachycardia mediated cardiomyopathies. So I don't think that you should be over concerned about your irregular rhythm while you are awaiting your ablation. Would you really prefer to be put on a toxic rhythm control drug , probably for life rather than accept an ablation?
On the other hand many people are happy to stay on rate control while in permanent AFib and get on with their lives fairly normally.
Be guided by your EP
Rate control is the vital thing to prevent enlargement of the atrium and subsequent damage, Rhythm control drugs are generally more toxic and with more side effects,
Ablation can be good for many but do remember that in general any and all treatment for AF is only about quality of life (QOL) as it is not a life threatening condition and there is little benefit in outcome for any such treatments other than QOL. Obviously untreated AF can be damaging long term but so long as rate is well controlled "jobs a goodun."
It would appear that you have a CHADS2VASC score of 2 (1 for high blood pressure even if treated and 1 for being female) so you should be on an anticoagulant as well.
I have been on Verapamil 120 mgs slow release tablets for a couple of years now. Prescribed in hospital by a cardiologist and he told me that Verapamil does a little bit of both rate and rhythm control.
Oh really ...o never knew that . Do you find it controls your afib symptoms. ? I have afib episode every day at same time eaxh day which is around 5pm ...trying to work out why it happens without fail at that time
My afib was finally brought under control after third ablation, then I gradually reduced and came of the hated bisoprolol. After 7 months I started with atrial Fibrillation and it was then in hospital that the cardiologist said he wanted me to go back on bisoprolol but I refused and was offered verapamil instead which so far has worked OK apart from a couple of wobbles which were brought under control by overdrive using my Pacemaker.
Antiarrhytmia drugs amooforine, flecaidine etc .should shorter AFIB episodes , but it is toxic .Ablation is the last resort for prevention, but not always help.
Googled: UK cardiologist dr. Gupta .
His website is great for AFIB understanding and ways of handling the treatments.
Rythm control vs rate control 
Rate Control for Cardioversion?
I need a simplistic explanation of difference between heart rate & rhythm 
High Pulse Rate and Irregular Rhythm 3 days after Ablation 
How long after ablation before one can go off rate and rhythm control drugs?
