Slow pulse after ablation

[Cassag]

My normal sinus pulse is 55 to 60 resting. Digoxin and flecanide have sent it even lower.Also meds are giving me all sorts of different rhythms and pauses.

My cardiologist will do an ablation but says I may need a pacemaker after. Anyone with experience of bradycardia from drugs ?

[Gumbie_Cat]

Definitely! My usual resting pulse was in the low 50s, and the medications took it down into the 40s. Both rate control and rhythm control seem to do that. I’ve had an ablation recently, but gone back into persistent A Fib - so far. My resting rate went up a little, it now tends to be in 50s with the Bisoprolol, and would be higher without.

For a while last summer, the rate was hitting 30s sometimes according to my Apple Watch. I was in rhythm, but had to stand up to get a Kardia reading that wasn’t ‘bradycardia’.

[pottypete1]

Bisoprolol will slow the heart. I was taken off it because of my slow heart rate.

I am on Flecainide but that is a rhythm medication not rate medication.

Pete

[Cassag in reply to pottypete1]

Thank you .I think I am only having digoxin to avoid the possibility of flutter. Are you only taking flecanide alone ? I only take 50 mg twice a day and digoxin 62.5 but sometimes i only take half. I never know when I will go back into a fib , the slow pulse is only in sinus. I have tried all the other meds with negative outcomes.

[pottypete1 in reply to Cassag]

I take 100mg x 2 Flecainide, Warfarin & Candasartin (blood pressure med).

Pete

[BobD Volunteer]

Ablation usually increases resting HR by approx 10-15. This can take six months or a year to settle back to pre ablation rates.

[Buffafly]

Yes, Propafenone and diltiazem combined sent my HR down into the 50s with occasional pauses. I was given the choice of ablation or pacemaker. I chose the ablation which was partly successful, also seemed to raise my heart rate generally, but if I needed anti arrhythmia meds and or a higher dose of diltiazem etc I would have to have a pacemaker as another ablation is not advised and my heart rate varies a lot between very high and very low.

[Foxey2]

hi I had an ablation due to not being able to take medication as I have a low heart rate, the ablation was in October 2021 and I just take Rivaroxaban. My heart is still low 50’s in the day, low 40’s at night but no AFib (just etopics) hopefully it will stay like it! 👍

[Cassag in reply to Foxey2]

Thank you - I could cope with that pulse rate and a few ectopics if it means no meds after ablation and no pacemaker.