Meds with a pacemaker

[Quilter43]

Are meds required to be taken with a pacemaker? I thought my dr. said something about that.

[BobD Volunteer]

A pacemaker alone will not affect whatever drugs you were prescribed. For example anticoagulants if applicable will still be needed.

[bantam12]

I take anticoagulants and Beta Blockers to slow my rate down and the pacemaker stops it going to low.

[Troilus]

Hi Quilter. My husband continued with all of his normal meds when his pacemaker was fitted. He has been recently diagnosed with AF and we are led to believe his Clopidogrel will be swapped for a blood thinner.

[Ozette]

I still took meds related to my AFib. The pacemaker is for heart pausing. They are two different problems. AFib is an irregular rhythm where pacing is rate or speed.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Ozette]

Hi

Interesting.

With 47 H/R at night Metroprolol was the culprit in giving me pauses.

It didn't happen with Bisoprolol or Diltiazem.

I had rapid heart rate during day until CCB Calcium Channel Blocker was introduced.

Above tested on 24 hr heart rate monitor.

So a Pacemaker and on Metroprolol is very questionable.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Ozette in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I think the metoprolol was because of AFib and Tachycardia. Three Electrophysiologists were involved and they didn’t disagree. Thing is that on all those drugs are warnings that they may cause arrhythmias. We have to trust that our doctors are making decisions that they think are best for us based on our history, current situation, their knowledge and experience. But I feel more like a real person off the beta blockers and anti arrhythmics. So I’m very happy about that.

[Quilter43 in reply to Ozette]

If they are caused by a med..like toprul why have a pacemaker?

[Ozette in reply to Quilter43]

My pauses were dangerously long. I was in Cardiac ICU so they witnessed one first and called for Code. I don’t think the doctors thought the Beta Blocker was the problem or wanted to take any chances. Every patient and situation is different.

[Quilter43 in reply to Ozette]

I understand that. It's all so confusing.

[Ozette in reply to Quilter43]

yes it is confusing….very!

[Ozette in reply to Quilter43]

you are a quilter? Me too

[Quilter43 in reply to Ozette]

Trying..hard

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Ozette]

Hi there

Metropolol is on my Ban list.

Getting back to our DHB hospital they said in 2021 that Metropolol was given to every person with a stroke. When I said no not that as I was in trouble with it in 2008, the clinic in Kaipara did not put on my ban list because on low dose I was OK. But within 2 years I was taken off it due to low BP.

Bisoprolol is now given to patients with AF.

I had AF on no meds.

Metroprolol should not be given to asthmatics either.

I have a friend who had a heart attack who is on 96mg Metroproll who is fine but he has too much blood and he has to have regular blood taken.

It was CCB Diltiazem which brought down my H/R day by 105 so this was twinked down to 120mg dose AM with a 2.5 Bisoprolol at night.

Cheri JOY. 74 (NZ)

Have you lost your AF?

[Quilter43 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

No..had two ablations .works for a while and returns

[opal11uk]

I have a PM, 8 years ago, and I am still taking meds as although the PM controls the heart going beneath 60 revs it cannot prevent the A/F taking the rate above, or so I am told hence the meds and between them keeps me A/F, however I am due to have batteries replaced in the next year or so and I'm not looking forward to that!

[Hidden in reply to opal11uk]

I’m on my third box now and I found the two replacements much less traumatic than the original implant when they put the 2 leads into my heart. ( The trauma was mostly due to the realisation that I needed it as I still watched with interest as the leads went into my heart via an overhead screen ). I hope I need a couple more before I go for recycling ( large electric items, Bay 10)

With new pacemakers there is always the chance of new releases that can do more … “Alexa, restore NSR” !

[Murdy1 in reply to Hidden]

Love your humour OldGrit, stay safe and well 😀😀Tom, fellow pacemaker 👍

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to opal11uk]

Hi

There is a new pacemaker which acts like normal folks in that a lower reduced

heart rate is normal.

Controller my h/R day avge is 77-88 but at night 47 regardless of meds.

cheri. JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Hidden in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I have mine now tuned to work when I go < 50 during the day and < 40 during the night. Consequently it works about 3% of the time. Prior to this setting it was set to support 24/7 at <50 and was working 8% of the time.

With the new setting it will extend the battery life somewhat…

I’m just waiting for the new solar charged PM which works in combination with a few body worn solar panels - either on hat , back of shirt and/or lapels ….

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Hidden]

Hi

I dont have a pacemaker but I understand the old pacemakers were levelled the sae day as night.

Isn't 40 very low. I hope that you don't fall during the time that you get up at night.

Even 50 is low. At 51 I was light headed and wouldn't drive at that. Diltiazem was reduced from 180 to 120mg. Much better.

My new boyfriend wers one but I dont know what meds yet.

cheers JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Hidden in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I’ve never had a problem with that ….so far - and it’s not unusual for a normal heart to drop to 40 during the night. My average during the day is around 63 with obviously higher peaks when I’m exercising in the gym or occasionally rock climbing (when depending on the level of excitement /terror I’m sure it could go much higher😂although I’m usually very very calm when I’m up a mountain )

When I get my ugly PAF attacks it’s almost always manifests as slow AF ..

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Hidden]

Hi

That helpful.

I'm intrigued why having been diagnosed with rapid persistent H/R

that no matter the meds my avge H/R at night is 47.

Thanx.

JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Suesouth]

I’m still taking all my meds, but could be because I need an ablation!

[Ozette in reply to Suesouth]

I had 3 ablations and still took the meds. It is only now after the AV node ablation that the usual beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and anti arrhythmic drugs were stopped.

[Quilter43 in reply to Ozette]

It worked?

[Ozette in reply to Quilter43]

the first 2 ablations worked for 6 years. 3 ablation no. So the AV Node ablation which doesn’t stop A Fib just makes it so I don’t feel awful symptoms. Unfortunately not a cure for AFib. Meds and procedures might make it manageable if you’re lucky.

[Ozette in reply to Ozette]

I am permanently dependent on pacemaker now to keep my heart beating.

[Hidden]

Before AF I was on pacemaker alone - no meds for 13 years … I take a blood thinner now as a result of the AF diagnosis.

[reinaway]

I have Tachy/Brady syndron AF and because of another heart problem cannot fake rhythm drugs so although I have had the Pace and Ablate procedure I still take an anticoagulant a blood pressure tablet and a small dose of beta blocker. The latter of which I am tailing off.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

It is always best to check with your own Doctor, medications will vary on an individual basis.

[Barb1]

My Pace and Ablate was done because of constant high heart rate. My EP told me to come off Nebivolol immediately but it took me about 18 mths. I am now taking Edoxaban and Spironlactone.

[Hylda2]

I had pace and Ablate. Just take Dabigatran now plus a few diuretics

[TanyaSo]

I take anticoagulants and meds related to my AF.

[DawnTX]

I will be curious about this as I just had my pacemaker inserted on Monday but right now it is not connected. I will have my AV node ablated on the 27th as well as connection of the pacemaker. At that time I have a two lead pacemaker. I do know I will remain on blood thinner probably the rest of my life. However, my heart is totally reliant on the pacemaker itself, which will be set on March 1 by the tech and the doctor. My doctor mentioned somewhere between 60 and 70 heart rate I am under the impression though I may be wrong that I will not need my other meds after all of that. I will always have a fib however, my heart only takes directions from the pacemaker. I’m not sure how many other people have this type. I know my doctor told me it is relatively new and kept calling it special.

I think I feel a little bit more human today. It wasn’t so much the implant as possibly the rounds of antibiotics for prevention. I still ache not as much, but it has been like having a bad flu since Monday. So far so good according to my doctor if it stays the way, it is with the leads and the next part goes the same he believes it will be life-changing for me, he has a passion for giving us quality of life. I also had my loop recorder removed because my pacemaker has a phone app which the doctor can dial into as can I and it replaces the loop recorder besides doing other things.

So far so good I think when I consider the light at the end of the tunnel😊🙏🏻

[Quilter43 in reply to DawnTX]

Why did you have all this,? What was your condition? Pace. And ablate?.

[DawnTX in reply to Quilter43]

although less than three years with a fib, it has been hell for the past year almost. My first two lasted six months and a year and a half, and then a fib returned with a vengeance. My last ablation was in Houston on the vein of Marshall done by the pioneer of the procedure. It failed miserably, at least in my estimation, and it’s my body that has suffered. I have barely been able to walk without crushing chest pain and problems, breathing as well as dizzy and almost blacking out. This is even crossing my kitchen floor. My heart rate hit the 150s and continued without a break until I found myself a new doctor in October. I remained the way I described the entire time, and I truly felt I was near death. Sometimes I would’ve preferred it rather than living this way. I could not get any response from my doctor or his nurse, etc. shameful. Besides the vein of martial he had also done a hybrid at the same time. For almost a week I thought I was going to be OK and that was it. I was constantly feeling ill on top of all of this with my heart pounding and thumping. I actually called my previous EP in Florida. When I spoke with him, he told me to get to another doctor ASAP. I actually found a great one at the hospital 15 minutes from my house I had gone for the bigger, fancier well-known one, but trust me this place and the doctors are amazing. You don’t have to be a big shot to be a great doctor, as I have been blessed enough to get a great doctor now.

The new Cardiologist scheduled for a cardioversion that week. When I woke, it felt like a miracle how I was feeling. Unfortunately it failed in 3 1/2 weeks. I then met with my new EP who is scheduled another one immediately because of my heart rate. I was going to be in the hospital on a new med and monitored while on it, if it had worked, it would’ve been wonderful but unfortunately three shocks and the cardioversion failed. We sat, and the doctor spoke to me about a pacemaker, but not your every day pacemaker. I am in the beginning of heart failure. He felt that this pacemaker could not only turn that around, but be life-changing. A few years ago this did not exist, and I would’ve continued in heart failure I have been on a variety of meds, nothing lasts for long. The last thing he put me on was digoxin. It worked for two weeks, then stopped so he doubled it and my metropolol s XL the same thing happened again. At the time that he doubled it, I was scheduled for my pacemaker. It is a double lead yes with AV node ablation. I will still have a fib, but it won’t matter because my heart only takes directions from the pacemaker. As I mentioned earlier, I believe that I will only be on blood thinners most likely for life. The others will not matter because the pacemaker is controlling everything.

Dr. is very pleased when I finally went home yesterday and said if this continues with the second surgery, he he believes this is life-changing for me. The hospital evidently is not always happy with him, because he does not repeat things that did not work, such as cardioversions and oblations. We are all different, but he is going by me. He said my heart, and I cannot take any more. He is right I am physically mentally exhausted and evidently according to him, so is my heart. He has nothing to gain he could make more money doing other procedures, over and over again, the hospitals do not like to use this pacemaker, supposedly because of cost if you read up on two lead pacemakers they speak of it as being better, but I also read where because the people that need it are usually older they don’t consider it worthwhile, which really angered me. I may be 70 and not a kid but to tell me I don’t deserve how ever,much time I have left with quality of life is disgusting to read. I have said it all along. I often believe once we stop working and giving as much they don’t seem to consider us very important. I may be 70 but in my head I am still 35. I still have so much I want to do. I don’t want to run a marathon or climb a mountain but I want to do things and I’m sure everyone here feels the same. My other doctor made me not care about being here anymore.

don’t let any doctor make you feel like I did

[Louisep1958]

Just curious, what is considered a constant high rate to need a pacemaker with persistent Atrial Fibrillation

[Quilter43]

Feel for you...

[DawnTX]

it’s OK I feel for all of us even though we have different forms it is just a nasty thing. I was talking about it with my nurse and as a doctor walked by and heard me say about what a horrible nasty thing it was he kept bobbing his head yes. Unfortunately we all have our individual struggles with a fib or flutter but they are working on things. I will be happy to see how I feel after the 27th

[Quilter43 in reply to DawnTX]

True. I am lucky as fairly symptomless but what to do or don't do upsets me..going to these doctors all the time..find it very depressing..Wishing you well.

[DawnTX in reply to Quilter43]

The key is to finding the right doctor that is what worked for me in Florida and again since I arrived in Texas. Once they get a handle on it, it’s not as bad I just had a bad spell and I’m just not like everyone else I guess lol the doctor said for whatever reason my body is resisting everything. When you get relief, it’s wonderful. I had six months the first time And a year and a half the second and lead a pretty normal life except for all the extra stress I had where I was living. A year and a half ago. I was packing up my house planning my move to Texas. I did almost everything myself and made a couple of different moves before the big one. I was having a few issues with my a fib, but not anything that bad after I got to Texas I was caught in a bit of a hole where I had no doctor, I had found one recommended by my doctor in Florida but it was having to wait until my insurance also got sorted out. In the meantime, my a fib got very ugly. Without the novel I will just tell you I had problems with the first new doctor here and until I kicked myself in the butt and got another one I have been suffering because I had a fib and atypical flutter with a constant heart rate in the 150s. I could not walk I could not do anything without pain and barely breathing as well as nausea. Thank heavens for the mail lady that we have that is how I found my cardiologist 15 minutes from home at the hospital and he recommended my EP I am very happy with everything now. What state are you in? If you don’t mind me asking? For me it’s all about the doctor. I loved Houston Methodist but the hospital is only as good as your doctor. Trust me. I understand about going back and forth. I was supposed to have back surgery when I got to Texas. I still cannot get that done and I am going to need all of my teeth removed because my first a fib event was a doozy. I hit my face on the concrete floor because of my heart rate no one will touch me thankfully when all of this is over and my pacemaker is doing well, I can get my back done and my teeth. Yay. The problem with both is the general anesthesia. I am not having either of those done without it.

[DawnTX in reply to Quilter43]

I think we all question what to do at times. My first afib event when I hit the floor when I blacked out I did not really even think about calling 911 and getting help. I was intent on getting to my bed when I blacked out the second time and woke in the bathroom I did the same only managed to get in bed and go to sleep. Normally it would not even be a question about calling for help. When you read things, it will give you a list if you have this that or that call for help but I have those things every day all day long, I can’t imagine calling all the time when I feel those ways see you are not alone, not knowing what to do. Commonsense tells me it’s only been a few days since my surgery. Of course I am going to hurt if I were not seeing the nurse Monday. Maybe I would call so many darned if you do darned if you don’t. Talk to the doctor please