P -Afib. Doctornow wanting to prescribe lopemide

[waveylines]

I've had P-Afib for a few years now well managed with a calcium blocker SR Verapamil. Due to an unrelated condition another specialist has recommended Lopermide 2mg 3×s per day up to 5xs per day. I'm not keen to take it like this long termly as I see irregular heart beat & palpitations is linked to this med. I've contacted my cardiologists secretary two weeks ago but heard nothing back. Am not taking it at the moment would prefer to try other routes. Appreciate any feedback from this lovely group. Thank you.

[etheral]

Loperimide is an antidiahreal. What condition is it being prescribed for? Perhaps there is another drug that may be helpful?

[waveylines in reply to etheral]

Thanks its not being advised to take due to diarrohea. I don't have diarrohea thank goodness. Am not sure I want to go into details of my bowel condition. I just want to know if its contra indicated. It seems to have a risk warning on drug.com when taken with Verapamil. I don't know if anyone else has taken Lopemide on a regular basis with Verapamil? Thanks

[Tapanac]

My husband takes loperamide as and when required but this drug is only for diarrhoea. On occasions I have as well.

However although both of us have afib and other problems and heart meds we don’t take verapamil. So it might be better to ask your pharmacy as sometimes the GPs prescribe medication without actually looking to see which meds you’re already on. If this happens with us our pharmacy warns us snd he gets back to our GP

Have you checked on Google?

Good luck

[waveylines in reply to Tapanac]

It's OK....it wasnt the GP who prescribed it but consultants. Anyway checked with cardiologist & he's fine about the dose of lopermide. I'm not and would rather try diet changes instead. Dint fancy taking lopermide long term if I can avoid it.

[mhoam]

Hi,

I have an ileostomy with a shortened small intestine. I take Loperamide tablets (not capsules) each day before most meals to slow the movement of food through the gut and aid the absorption of nutrients. I probably take about the same dosage you mentioned.

It does not seem to affect my AF at all, mine has improved a lot since a cryo-ablation in June. In fact my PAF was more frequent when I did not take Loperamide, however that may be a coincidence.

Did the other consultant know you suffered from PAF? If so, they could have checked for contra-indications before prescribing another drug. Perhaps worth checking if they did?

Of course, we may all react differently to medication but my experience does not suggest any issues with Loperamide affecting AF.

Hope this helps,

Good luck

[waveylines in reply to mhoam]

Thanks mbeam. Am so glad it's working for you. Are you on Verapamil as well?.

my consultant knows Im taking SR Verapamil. It appears that Verapamil increases the potentiencyl of Lopermide. (Think I have that the right way round) and it has a risk warning attached on drugs.com recommending they're not prescribed together. Still waiting to hear back from cardiologist. Thank you

Actually it's the other way round! However my cardiologist said on the low doses the specialist has recommended its fine. So all sorted. 😊