Hi
Long story but After a few posts last month when I explained that after Covid I was getting more AF bouts I was told today that I’m in permanent AF and after consultant signs off letter to doc I will be taken off flecainide, and will be prescribed Digoxin along with my usual 10 mg Bisoprolol. Heart structure is fine but I have a heart murmur. Anyone else in digoxin? Thanks..
I took digoxin for about 9 months as I didn’t tolerate side effects of beta blockers. I had no side effects and tolerated it very well. As I am under 70 I was not having regular blood tests to check on it’s toxicity but if I was then they would have kept an eye on it, as you prob know it is from the foxglove plant and so is toxic if too much in your system.
I was taken off digoxin to prepare for my surgical ablation which I have just had (and documented in here as I’ve gone through if you are interested in understanding more as it is a very effective treatment for long term persistent afib.)
I'm on Digoxin and Flecinaide at the moment.
I hope you don’t mind me coming back and posting again but I’ve been thinking about you! Being diagnosed with permanent afib is when you and your cardiologist agree that no further treatment will be undertaken and you will live long term with afib.
Having gone back and read your posts re covid and how your afib was precovid, you being diagnosed permanent seems very premature.
Maybe have a think about whether you want to accept ‘permanent’, I was 5 years plus in afib 24/7 - long term persistent, but there are still treatment options. Perhaps your cardiologist thinks that your heart rate is well controlled and you are therefore low risk of the future impacts of afib but I’d ask him/her why they are recommending permanent.
You do still have other treatment options to consider such as catheter ablation or surgical ablation if you have not already done so.
Digoxin may still be the right choice for you so hopefully you don’t mind my rambles!
X
Hi and thanks,I haven’t actually spoken to the consultant but this was relayed to me by his secretary who also said this had to be signed off before going to GP who will issue digoxin prescription. As I’m going away for weekend I probably won’t be on it until next week. Trying to make contact with GP just now is difficult although one did phone yesterday to say they were awaiting outcome from consultant’s review of my 24 monitor which is why I tried to contact cardiologist directly. Very complicated. I’m going to request referral to cardiologist. I’m a bit gutted as I was well controlled before Covid and it wasn’t actually that bad. Thanks again.
Hi there. It was the only tablet that worked when I had tachycardia related to atrial flutter. I had no side effects and it worked well.
Steve
Yes, I take 187.5mcg of Digoxin daily which was prescribed after my pacemaker was implanted. I also take Entresto, Nebivolol, Dapagliflozine plus diuretics. I have HF and permanent AF. I can’t believe I take all this. I have no idea what this cocktail of drugs does but it seems to be keeping me alive! Good luck🍀
I was given digoxin 2 weeks ago62.5 mg alongside bisoprolol as my heart rate increased from being regularly in the 60,s. Digoxin just been increased to 125mg. I am told this is still a small dose. A bit early yet to see the results. I do have side effects from the bisoprolol and was hoping it would be reduced. Have Cardiologist appt at end of month
Thanks. I think there is a feeling that the increase in Afib is due to Covid, but even the virus wasn't that bad, but AF has been going for 5 weeks, more on than off. Heart structure is fine and two valves a bit leaky. It was all well managed before I got what I would consider to be a mild case of Covid. I think the little research that has been done points to this being due to Covid but I need to do something.
I was on it for a few years and had no problems whatsoever with it.
I've been on digoxin, .125 mg. daily, since last July. I haven't noticed any side effects and I'm told by my cardiologist that the levels will be monitored once a year. I was very symptomatic prior to starting digoxin. I've been through an ablation, several cardioversions, various medications including 3-1/2 years on flecainide and 5 weeks on tikosyn (which didn't work for me). I've been in permanent afib since March, 2021. The good thing about digoxin is that I no longer feel the pounding, irregular episodes that I frequently had since my diagnosis in 2017. I don't know I'm in afib unless I take my pulse or see the symbol on my blood pressure monitor. So, for me, digoxin, along with metoprolol and xarelto, have enabled me to cope a bit better with afib. Good luck to you!
Hi that is interesting to see about the Covid because that’s when I started getting worse following Covid even though it seem to be a fairly mild case no worse than a bad cold or light flu. I had all kinds of tests to make sure the Covid had not hit my heart but here I am anyway and yes I had flipped over to permanent a fib which was not the case previous to Covid now that you mention it. I am glad that you wrote this because I have been trying to think what have I done wrong where did I go wrong to suddenly start getting even worse. It is so frustrating I know. Thank you for writing
Yes. I took my heart rate and oxygen levels for the first seven days of covid and as the rate was controlled by bisoprolol and flecainide it was fine. On day 7, it literally felt like someone was doing the dishes in my chest and off it went. That was on 2nd April and it's still there. Seems that it has broken through the drugs.
I am currently on metropolol and multaq
I went into persistent AF in January this year and was taken off flecainide and put on digoxin. I also take 5 mg bisoprolol a day. I am having a few days in sinus rhythm now and wonder if I should be going back on flecainide but cannot be bothered to contact the hospital and they seemed to have forgotten about me. They said they would follow me up in two months which has long gone.
Hi Yes I am in permanent AF but on digoxin now for 3-4 years which keeps my heart rate at a good rate and I never feel it Also an 360mg of Diltiazem.
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