hi all
so when I’m Af my heart goes up and down from 70. to 140bpm
They have now told me to take 10mg of bisop and 125mg of Digoxin
I’m used to taking 10mg of bisop but the Digoxin is new to me .
I’ve just gone back into AF after 2 weeks of NSR my heart rate is fluctuating but I’m nervous to take the Digoxin
anyone got any experience of it or what it even does ??
Thanks as always
matt
The drugs can be complimentary although Digoxin isn't used as much as it used to be, at least in the US. Digoxin toxicity can be a concern, so I assume your doctor will monitor you.
Jim
Im in a similar situation, been P/A/F free for 8 years now in permanent A/F, have a pacemaker and taking Bisoporal 2.5 and Disopyramide. They are trying to slow down my very fast heart rate so upped my Bisoporal to 10 mg now suggesting I might have to go on to Digoxin, also taking a water tablet for Odema in my legs so I too am getting worried about taking this new drug on board but quite frankly I don't see an alternative as I am also now in minor heart failure!!!!!!
I am Permanent with various other issues. I take 10mg Bisoprolol with 312.5 mcg Digoxin and 10mg Apixiban. Been on this level for three years now. Daily in the morning first thing. Took me a while but I seem to have accepted this dosage and feel on the whole ok, or as well as I can feel. After several reviews with Cardiologist the view is that it is as good as it gets in keeping me alive and well, so…..Several lifestyle changes also. No alcohol, no smoking, controlled eating, and reduced sugar. IMO take what it takes. The alternative is not being well at all..
Wife was on Digoxin for 3 months along with her regular Bisoprolol when she had persistent AF. She self reverted back to NSR so they removed the digixin.
4 years on and she's back in persistent AF. Just seen consultant who has recommended to GP switching to Nebiavol, and adding Digoxin later if needed. She's also giving a range tests done at ghe hospital to see how her heart and AF may have changed over the 4 years.
It's the oldest drug, I believe, and was the only one hat reduced my heart rate when I had atrial flutter, before my ablation in 2019. I had no side effects at all and think very highly of it.
I think the dose is in mcg not mg, btw - 125mcg?
Steve
It worked for my wife. Her heart rate wouldn't come down on Bisoprolol alone. Addition of Digoxin did the trick - and allowed her heart function to recover.Still OK after five years on Digoxin. (Still has AF but heart rate not excessive).
Note that the dose is in micrograms not milligrams.
i was put on digoxin, very quickly went into nsr and stopped taking it. Was taking it with sotalol.
I was given that when I last had an AF attack. It was was a last chance drug in A and E who frankly had no clue. My cardiologist and heart failure nurse then prescribed other drugs and took me off Digoxin and I only have some as a pill in my pocket which to date I haven't had to take.
Probably of no help but when one of my medications for permanent AF was Digoxin a few years ago and I had occasion to see a heart consultant in India. He immediately told me to stop taking that ****** useless drug which UK practitioners prescribe will nilly and is of no use. I stopped and reported back but was never put on it again!!!! Did not appear to make any difference to me and I am still here.
I was put on digoxin in the past two months along with Nebivolol which I have been taking for the past four years. Like you I was reluctant to start yet another drug. But I did and I have not felt this well for years. I am on 62.5 micrograms once a day, which is the smallest dose. It took a few weeks to kick in but it is worth taking.
I was on it for about 6 months a couple years ago and had no problems with it whatsoever.
I understand your nervousness. I hate taking any new meds, I have to psych myself up for anything that sounds a bit unusual or risky. But then I hate being in fast AF so I think I ’d be willing to try it to get into a better rate.
I know this is just one person, but I know someone who has been on digoxin for many years now, it keeps his permanent AF at a good safe rate, and he lives a normal and active life because of it. He didn’t like the idea of it, but now wouldn’t swap it! JX
Hi - I've been on Digoxin for a couple of years now after flecainide stopped working and tikosyn failed to work after a 5 week trial. I'm in permanent afib and also on extended release metoprolol which, along with the digoxin, keeps my heart rate down in the 60-70s. I was nervous about taking digoxin but I haven't noticed any side effects. Your doctor can check your levels periodically to put your mind at ease. Good luck.
Hi
Have you been 24-monitored on metoprolol? It showed for me not to do much bringing down H/R and gave me 2 x 2 sec pauses during the night.
Bisoprolol changed to but it too was not controlling my H/R.
It was CCB Diltiazem 120mg which brought down H/R to 62-88.
cheriJOY
I have a pacemaker which is monitored every 3 months so it would detect any pauses. So far, metoprolol and digoxin seem to be a good combination for me.
OK great!
Have you had your carotid arteries checked along with your thyroid?
As on day 4 after my embolic stroke the scan showed arteries clear but I had a shadow showing on my thyroid. Further it showed a 1.9mm carcinoma
I was put on digoxin when I was in the hospital . I did not have very good results. But everyone is different
I was told you had to be in the hospital to be given it and you had to be in the hospital to got off it. I had to go to emerg to git off it. It made me so lethargic I couldn’t do anything.
It fairness to this drug I was on a pill to lower my blood pressure which I should not have been on as I have low blood pressure.
As soon as I went off the blood pressure pill I was so much better. By then they had taken me off of the digoxin and put me on flecaininide I was much better.
I am just saying it is a very strong medication!
Hi
Digoxin is a very old med.
I've steered clear of it. It was offered by my 80 plus locum.
But I'm quite settled on CCB Diltiazem for Heart Rate day abd
BB Bisoprolol for blood pressure. Pradaxa 110mg which I chose x twice a day as it is reversible and I saw the benefit taking twice a day.
Research it on Google in a repriable site. Research.
cheri JOY
I was on digoxin for a long time since my heart attack in 2017, was told like you when HR climbs to 140 or over to take one which I did but I noticed my HR would drop to high 30 and low 40's so called the nurse hotline and spoke to an ER DR. in Arizona, I live in Calif.. After explaining what was happening the DR. said to stop the digoxin which I did and now HR is now low 50s which my EP told me on Tues. "that was very good". Told him I stopped taking digoxin and he said OK cause everything looked good. Hope this helps, just remember we all react differently to medication. Good Luck.
How does Digoxin work?
Digoxin
Digoxin or Diltazium 
