Has anyone had any luck with using anti-arrhythmic meds to reduce/stop premature atrial contractions?? If so, which one? I have tried 2 so far and unfortunately neither worked (Flecainide and Sotolol). They both made matters worse so I had to stop treatment. I’ve had PACs for a few years but they were made significantly worse after I had an ablation for AFib about 10 months ago. They are driving me insane and can be super intrusive. I appreciate and and all advice/feedback
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I wear a chest strap monitor when sleeping and was getting 800 Pac's, 400 PVC's and about 30 AF eposoides every night.
Since taking 50mg twice daily of both Flecianide and Diltiazem for the last 6 weeks my AF has stopped and the PVC's and PAC's are into single digits each night.
Robert
I am sure all the members here will offer their advice based upon their own personal experiences. Of course, AF can affect everyone in different ways. For medication advice, it is vital that you discuss this with your own Doctor or Consultant. They have access to your medical notes and will be able to assess and prescribe the correct medication for you. This will take into account your age, the type of AF you have, any underlying health conditions and other prescribed medications.
For further details and advice regarding a few of the most common antiarrhythmic medications, you can download our 'Atrial Fibrillation Drug Information' patient booklet from Patient Resources: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...
Alternatively, please contact our Patient Services Team on 01789 867 502 or info@afa.org.uk
I've been taking Flecainide for 9 years and have had runs of ectopics in that time. The only remedy I have found for them is 'belly breathing' - slow, deep, calm breathing using your diaphragm, not your chest. Get comfortable, breathe in to a count of 5 and out to a count of 5 (ie 6 breaths a minute). Continue for at least 5 minutes - I do 10 minutes.
The first time it worked for me was like magic - ectopics stopped. Once I was confident that I had a possible remedy, I was more relaxed about them and gradually I felt I had won.
Awful things - I hope you get relief from them.
Some years ago I went through a period of almost constant ectopics dropping every second, third, fourth etc up to eleven and then starting back at second, third etc ad nauseum. Eventually I was told about the slow deep breathing exercise. Use your diaphragm not your shoulders and slow to less than six breaths per minute for at least five minutes. Once I got it right (not easy) and eventually settled on 4 breaths per minute for ten minutes twice or three times a day they gradually faded away and not had them since.
OK we all get ecptopic beats , everyone on the planet up to 200 a day as they are a normal function of a healthy heart but stopping those clusters was amazing.
The really wonderful thing about Bob and Finvola's experience is that it is completely natural (and free too). You don't have to worry about side-effects, compatability with existing medication, etc. I followed a similar, Natural, route by learning all I could about Earthing and the effect it had on our body's electrical systems.
After reading something on here about Iodine I researched that too.
The result was that I went from 30,000 - 40,000 ectopics to under 200 a day.
I started Earthing myself regularly and took nascent Iodine and slowly increased the amount to two drops twice a day and the ectopics went down noticably within a week.
Not for everyone perhaps - but it worked for me.
I also do a regular breathing exercise now.
Breathe in for a count of four, hold for seven and breathe out for eight.
I do this when I get up on a morning while I'm stood on an Earthing mat doing a few simple and easy exercises. I walk on the spot and use this to help me to keep count .
Five minutes does the trick.
Sotolol did nothing for me but make my afib worse. I'm currently on the low dose 200mg amiodarone and my Afib is now nonexistent. I'm currently in the blanking period from my 1st ablation and hopefully I won't need the Amio any more come this March.
Since my 4th ablation almost 2 years ago I get masses of ectopics. Sometimes these last for days/ weeks with just short respite. They don't bother me very much but I'd rather not have them ! They are supposed to be harmless so I just put up with them.....Compared to my AF episodes they pale into insignificance but I appreciate that some are mightily troubled with them.
I'm taking the anti arrhythmia drug Disopyramide but obviously no use for ectopics 🤔😬
I feel sure that stress, even mild amounts, can be an instigating factor.
New Treatment For AF
Getting of bisoprolol
persistant afib that hasn’t stopped since mid June 
Taking Responsibility for your Own Health & Treatment
