Hi I’ve just started digoxin and it has helped me to feel better ! But since monday i seem to be getting like quivers everyday ?? Not sure if related to digoxin ? Also take beta blocker, grateful for any help !!! It’s been a while since my last post, but nice to know you’re still here !
Digoxin : Hi I’ve just started digoxin... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Digoxin
Written by
Edm174
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
44 Replies
•
Hi. I take Digoxin and it's worked well for me. I am in persistent AF which won't change now but at least the rate is slower. I also take Bisoprolol 10mg. I did have a few "funny feelings" at first but they soon settled down. Hope this works for you. I believe Digoxin is an old drug but an effective one. Good luck.
Hi thank you for your reply I also take 5mg bisoprosol I hope it settles down as I do feel better on the digoxin i have been taking it for 6 weeks now !!
Hi I am in AF and may have ablation next year. I am on 125 mg digoxin to help control heart rate and diltiazem. My HR varies a lot and keeps low if I am not active but swings up as soon as I go out. I took for three weeks then came off it. At the time I thought it was reacting with diltiazem because my neck was red and I was wheezing. I don’t think these two drugs marry well.my cardioversion failed so got put on digoxin again. The alternative is amiodarone which may have to consider.
How much digoxin do you take
Hi same dosage 125mg I was a bit hesitant at first but it did work after a few weeks just these little beats that I seem to be getting? I’ve rang my cardiac nurse just for some guidance! I am in permanent Af !
It was the only tablet to bring down my HR when I had atrial flutter and I was very grateful for it. After my ablation, I stopped it. The dosage was the same as you both, I am thinking (i.e. 125mcg).
I had many weird feelings on it, but I wasn't sure what was causing them. It was a very stressful time, I do remember that, so no doubt many of those strange feelings were down to the high levels of anxiety.
Steve
Hi Steve thanks for your reply !! I just hope these little beats settle down i agree that the digoxin definitely settled my heart rate!!! And I felt a lot better for it !
They just do what they do in my experience. On a FB site about AF, mainly American, I read so much about "triggers", well, I can't find anything that triggers mine. Luckily I have had very few prolonged episodes of AF and my AFl seems to be no more since my ablation in 2019, but I still have regular ectopic beats and sometimes daily tachycardia that arise out of nowhere.
Let's hope for a peaceful Christmas, though. Omicron, ectopics, AF or not... it's still my favourite time of year! 
Steve
Good you have a cardiac nurse. Does it keep your heart rate down? I think i have slight allergy to it when taken with diltiazem. I am ok on diltiazem alone which I have been for years. But don’t think they mix well. I was in sinus for years but a month ago went into AF several weeks ago.
Yes my heart rate definitely lower and not so breathless, I had 2 cardio versions but neither worked, so just medication !! I hope I find out what’s causing these extra beats ? I have appointment 9th feb for 24hr monitor but hoping they bring it forward !!
Is your heart rate stable? Mine changes rapidly from 85 to 110. Sometimes higher if gets further have to go to hospital
Mine changes rapidly all the time. I've never known anything else with it (permanent AF). I've got used to it I suppose. I am on a Beta blocker, 2.5mg, but they took me off Digoxin when I had a cardioversion which lasted for some weeks and I didn't go back on it. I'm hypothyroid and shattered all the time from that so I really don't want more drugs to make me more tired. I just put up with the ups and downs.
I understand the tiredness is the worse i go for walk 3 times a day that’s helps me !! And i attempt zumba once a week !!!
Walks and any other kind of exercise are complete no-no's for me because of the broken thyroid. It's literally like dragging my legs of lead through viscous treacle trying to walk anywhere. Bloody awful. So I concentrate most of my efforts on trying to fix my thyroid hormone issues (standard NHS Levothyroxine does nothing for me and the NHS knowledge of difficult thyroid cases is zero these days) and ignore the heart. I'm pretty sure the AF is connected to the dire state of my body due to the thyroid to be honest.
Oh that sounds awful I hope you get that sorted soon !! Some days when I feel like that i just throw my coat on and walk around the block all the times cursing this AF 😂
I think we stack our issues. The AF, now it's permanent, isn't really bothering me at all. I've got used to it. But the hypothyroid thing has ruined by life for the past 8 years. It's made me see the NHS through different eyes that's for sure. And not good ones.
Hi. Yes I understand. It happened to me but I have imerged!
Under priv Heart Specialist
120mg Diliazem Calcium Channel Blocker
2.5mg NIGHT Bisoprolol
Energy back.
I had continual A.F. Monitor fitted on Monday.
Pulse dropped 40 b.p.m. now 60s-70s. NormalBP 132/72-77
See a priv heart specialist who will assess you after relevant history.
My friend just had Sleep Apnea. Now BP normal no drugs.
I take 125mg Thyroxin under tongue @ 5-6am sip water prior piece banana 1/2 hr later go back to sleep, then CCB at 7am PRADAXA at 8am with breakfast 7-8am.
Take care. I had thyroid cancer removed. I guess you hav had a neck scan to show your thyroid.
TAKE CARE, JOY
Thanks Joy. My blood pressure is fine and has been throughout. I have an Apple Watch now so can run single lead ECG's which show me what's going on and it produces daily graphs of my pulse against time which is excellent for monitoring the thyroid meds I am now starting to take (T3).
I was on Bisoprolol. I found it very depressing and exhausting. I had a switch to Nebivolol. I'm not depressed on it but it doesn't control the rate as well. However, I can't be doing with more energy being taken away. I have my first face to face cardiology appointment since the pandemic began coming up first week in Jan. A new cardiologist (old one must have moved on) so I'll see what he says. However the old one tried to terrify me off using T3. Idiot! I let him for a while and he did me no good at all. I'm never taking their scare stories to heart again. It's already expensive enough as I have to get my HRT privately and pay for a private endocrinologist to get the tests and prescriptions for T3 that I need, which I then have to pay for. I have been considering a private EP appointment, but will see what this new doctor is like. If the appointment doesn't end up canceled.
I've been taking 125mcg Levo for a couple of years now. It's always made me feel worse. No matter how high I push my blood levels my all important T3 level stays low or goes down. After having basically trained myself to be a thyroid doctor I can now see that I have an issue with up-regulating D3, which means my Dio3 enzyme sees the incoming T4 and over-reacts to it, converting it to rT3 which is useless to the cells. The only way to reverse that situation is to remove the T4 and increase T3. So I'm reducing my Levo, now on 75mcg a day and probably heading for 50 and increasing my T3 in 5mcg amounts spread over 3 times a day. It's not pleasant while the clearing is going on and everything is out of balance. But the other week, for the first time in years, I was able to walk properly without pain and without feeling like my legs were made of lead and belonged to someone else, I'd just borrowed them. As levels have fallen and risen since that effect hasn't been as good but it is better than it was. For me breathlessness is most definitely a hypo symptom not heart. I get it when my T3 level is too low. It's a good indicator for me.
Thyroxine molecules are too big to be absorbed through the membranes of the mouth so it's pointless putting it under your tongue. You are just dribbling it slowly down your throat. You might as well just swallow it with water and be done with it. You can dissolve natural desiccated thyroid products under the tongue for absorption. But the particle size is much smaller.
I've never had a neck scan. I don't have Hashimoto's. It seems to be a conversion problem all the way for me. Conversion problems develop with age in some people.
Hi I had thyroid cancer too and no thyroid now. I wonder if the suppressive doses of T 4 over the years put us into AF?
Hi cant see why not.
He, Mr B Wong ,
He also works at Northland DHB. I am under Head of Cardiology and even though I wrote she did nothing!
The CCB reduced the need for 125mg Synthroid daily. I take them under tongue. Can take sips water and food 1/2 hr later.
No nothing to do with your thyroxin.
What happened to me .. feeling exertion took away my energy, sweating.
Then stroke, 3 days later diagnosed with thyroid cancer - caught in time before spread.... given metoprolol even when I said NO to it. Struggled with exhaustion and breathlessness. No follow up and Drs wudn't change my med Metoprolol.
2 years 4 mths demanded heart specialist. Changed to Bisoprolol. Upted dose over time.
Still exertion = zapped energy.
CCB worked and is controlling my BP and HR.
Therefore controlling A.F
Today hav a monitor fitted for check on new drug regime. ECG prior. Fingers crossed better controlled pic of me.
Referred back to. Head of cardiology!
In NZ are you?
cheri JOY
Hi. Reread yours.I never got to suppression. Fought against it. Got down to .90 only.
I refused Radio Active Iodine! Did you hav that!!!
At low risk after 1 year in Feb had my neck scan. No cancer resurfaced or remaining cells etc. Mr M. Sanders surgeon. Great guy.
He knows that I manage my health.
He agrees that normal level is OK. Between 2.0-3.0. I take 125mg and add 25mg two days over 4 weeks.
CCB changed things. Cause 1.1 I considered too low.
I have a blood test if I want to know where I am at.
Good to have someone about the same history as myself.
Have you had a stroke like me? JOY
I had rai and radiotherapy. High risk, suppressed below 1. uK
Oh dear Moonriver. How many months/years ago? I will pray for you especially. How did they find it?3 days after the stroke on checking the Carotid Scan, the scanner Jade also checked my thyroid and said "oops you have a shadow on your thyroid. I'll call the boss!"
She saved my life as they caught it in time. In both thyroid R & L but had to look hard at left. Down two right lymph nodes only 12 taken.
You were and are very brave Moonriver.
Take Care.
Some of my energy has returned after taking CCB. Yipee.
Never to run again! 100m fast winner .. WAS.
JOY
Found 20 years ago by accident. They thought I had goitre, my thyroid tests were fine but I had slow reflexes on knees when tapped. Investigations done after that.
Hi. I have been shattered with loss of energy for 2 years plus.
A.F emerged, stroke and then thyroid cancer removed.
Beta Blockers will tire you! Are you breathless after stairs? Bisoprolol better and aligned with A.F
Saw a priv heart specialist. He put me on Ditiazem a Calcium Channel blocker. It worked so well 51 pulse too low so balance
120mg CCB
2.5 Bisoprolol at night
Success. 60s-70s pulse. 132/77 BP
Take care. JOY
I wondered who your private cardiologist was or can’t we say on this site?
I've been on digoxin since this past July. It works well to keep my heart rate down and keeps me from feeling every skip and thump, especially now that I'm in afib 100% of the time.
Hi I hope mines works as good !!! I’ve got 24 hour monitor in feb hopefully they will identify these little beats !
It’s amazing the different experiences of digoxin. I don’t think it suits me or doesn’t suit with Diltiazem. It does not control my heart rate at all but my local doctor added tiny dose of Bisoprolol 1.25 and now my heart rate is about 85 whereas before it was 120 or could be and very eractic
I can’t believe I was in sinus for so many years after an ablation and now in AF. I wonder what tipped me in? inhalers, stress, steriods or infection?
It’s a strange thing this AF ???? I’m in permanent had 2 cardio versions didnt hold ! And no attempt at ablation so just medication and try and keep healthy !!!
This is definitely a strange thing this AF! And all the more difficult because each and every one of us with this as our companion have different symptoms, different triggers (if we can ever identify them!) and different reactions to the various treatments on offer. I am in permanent AF now and also have a pacemaker; it was during a pacemaker check that the technician said oops and contacted my arrythmia nurse before letting me leave the clinic. I was prescribed 125 mg Digoxin there and then and within days was experiencing what you describe as quivers, with weird odd beats all over the place. Quite exhausting, and fairly scary as well. I reported not feeling very well and digoxin was reduced to 62.5 mg which seems to be serving me very well at the moment. I also take Bisoprolol. I would add that during my AF journey I have had my medication changed or tweaked many times as I react in my own unique way to whatever gets prescribed, but sometimes I think things have improved as my body has adjusted to the medication itself. Many of us have other conditions for which we are medicated and as Moonriver says, some drus don't marry well! I do hope your quivers soon settle down and to echo Ppiman, everyone has a peaceful and healthy Christmas.
Thank you for your reply!!! I can’t believe they have actually stopped had them all week !! I dare not move or breath 😂
I am on tiny dose of Bisoprolol now since my heart rate was not controlled by digoxin which was rattling away. Now I feel peaceful totally different. But I find I am so sensitive to these heart drugs. Diltiazem and digoxin make me wheeze and can get very unpleasant with breathlessness. I wonder how you are coping with digoxin and Bisoprolol? And what doses are you on.
Hi Moonriver, my digoxin was given to me all in a rush at 125 mg. Definitely not appreciated by the old body although the arrythmia was a lot less rollercoasterish. Rapidly reduced to 62.5 when I complained about the unpleasant effects and, over the months I have become quite used to my little blue pill. I take bisoprolol 5mg x twice daily (I was previously on flec which was stopped as my AF progressed to persistent/permanent). When I first started taking bisoprolol I thought I was stuck up to my knees in a thick bog, others have described it as like wading through treacle and I know just what they mean. Really spirit sapping. As an IBD sufferer, the inability to shift out of first gear when having a flare up added to the general misery! However, I count myself as extremely fortunate, I have adapted to the bisoprolol over time although I'm a bit wheezy now and again and hang on to my fluid a bit, Percy the pacemaker keeps the heart above stopping level, and I have an amazing team of consultants for my various ailments and so far they've all managed to haul me over each crisis. I miss my rambling, my gardening, my cycling and so many other things but I guess we all have to adapt, and whilst I would rather not have AF at all, I have discovered that now it's permanent it doesn't cause as much havoc and disruption to my life. My advice would be, if medication isn't making you feel better, or you are having an adverse reaction, tell your medical team as soon as possible and get it changed.
AF59. I had a go with Bisoprolol and was feeling good but next day in the evening had breathing probs so it was stopped. But that could have been anything. Reaction to other drugs, anxiety who knows? Glad you got a good team about you. Makes all the difference if they monitor you and you feel you are being taken care of. Good luck to you
Hi. Read up Digoxin! It is risky taking it and I wouldn't take it long term.
Digoxin reduce something!
My priv Heart Specialist introduced Calcium Channel Blocker.
It works a dream but I had to reduce dosage from 180 down to 120. Also reduced Bisoprolol to 2.5 and take it at night.
My A.F will be monitored on Monday on new drug.
Take care JOY
Thank you joy !! Hope all goes ok with your new drug !!
I have been taking a calcium channel blocker for years after an ablation. Good luck
Well, apart from Apixaban, the only drug I'm now on is Digoxin. I was on Bisoprolol - a disaster for me, made me far more "unwell" than the persistent AF I was suffering. Prescribed Flecainide, that was not so bad, but gave me some weird feelings - almost vertigo. So, I'm back on Digoxin. I have to say I am not aware of taking it. It seems to have no effect on my wellbeing. I'm also suspicious that it has no effect on my heart. I doubt if I could tell whether I'd been taking it or not! Dose is 125 micrograms, once daily.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Digoxin
I was over medicated for years. Toprol xl, digoxin, and other medications for Afib, and flutters....
Digoxin
Hi does anyone taking digoxin have memory issues? My husband has been taking it for paroxysmal Af...
Digoxin. AF. Bisoprolol
Hi I came off digoxin around six to eight weeks ago as my doc said she wasn't a fan of the drug and...
DIGOXIN
I have just started taking DIGOXIN ( 62.5 micrograms) as an additional to BISOPOLO ( 10mg ) to...
Digoxin
Hi
Long story but After a few posts last month when I explained that after Covid I was getting more...
Digoxin
Digoxin verdict ? 
Persistent AF and Digoxin
Digoxin? Help please....
