Dronedarone

[Norfolk_spaniel]

Well, I finally heard from my cardiologist just 5 weeks after being told that I needed an urgent appointment. Yesterday, I received a copy of a letter sent to my GP. The 7 day holter showed that I was in SR but with lots of ventricular ectopics. The suggested treatment was dronedarone as I have been intolerant of everything else. It was also suggested that my GP might want to try beta blockers although I had not been given these before as I am asthmatic. Given my previous history of intolerance and how ill I felt, I'm really nervous about trying anything else. I have perfect blood pressure without medication and my resting heart rate is in the high 50s. What is others experience of dronedarone or beta blockers with asthma?

[Chinkoflight]

Hi, you've not said what pre existing heart conditions you might have had. 7 years ago I had tests and the outcome was Bradycardia with ectopics but SR so carry on, no meds etc. A year ago I had an out of the blue serious stroke, largely recovered, but on antiplatelet and stations. Post stroke follow up with 2x 24hr holster and 1x7day holster were inconclusive, still SR and Bradycardia with ectopics. However NICE has issued new directives on LINQ ECG implants to monitor paroxysmal AF or other missed heart issues and my local hospital trust has abandoned Holter monitors because they are so unreliable and called me in in February to have an implant. Last month it picked up an AF. Shame I didn't have it fitted before the stroke!!! It is now also NICE new guidance to prescribe DOAC to 600000 people over the next two years to reduce strokes by circa 30+ thousand and deaths by circa 5000. My meds were changed immediately to EDOXABAN. Paroxysmal is a rubbish word to stick in front of a diagnosis. I have tried to get on with my life since the stroke, it's nice a year on to feel as if the preventative treatment is no longer a finger in the air!If it's appropriate I suggest you at least ask why you shouldn't have more effective 24/7/365 monitoring if your heart if you are at risk and get a LINQ device fitted. It's a nurse trained procedure with local anaesthetic.

You may or may not need the current drug regime offered.

[Norfolk_spaniel in reply to Chinkoflight]

I had persistent AF but couldn't tolerate any of the usual medication given for it. I had a successful ablation last October but still suffering with lots of ectopics (sometimes 1 in 4 heartbeats) which leads to fatigue and breathlessness. I avoid all ttriggers Such as alcohol and caffeine. Thanks for your really useful feedback.

[pusillanimous in reply to Norfolk_spaniel]

I have mild asthma and take 1.25mg Bisoprolol per day with no ill effect. I think latterly the jury is out regarding asthma and beta blockers, one cardiologist whom I asked about this, told me that Biso, being cardio specific. is not a problem - but as with everything 'recollections may vary' !!!!!!

[frazeej in reply to pusillanimous]

NO β-blocker is 100% specific for cardiac vs. pulmonary receptors! Yes, the selectivity ratio may vary between individual drugs, but if you increase the dose enough with ANY β-blocker, you WILL get pulmonary side effects-that's just a pharmacological fact of life!

[DawnTX in reply to Chinkoflight]

after my first afib episode in which I blacked out and hit concrete. My doctors waste a little time to find out what was going on. You could have 1000 EKGs and not catch an a fib incident so I had a loop recorder fitted within two weeks once the neurological had cleared anything there. Within another week, they had the answer. I was immediately put on anticoagulants at Cetera. They did have me trying to holter and it was ridiculous. Even trying to get readings during the night it seem like the foolish thing was always having problems. I’m sorry it took them so long for you. Some doctors are on the ball. Some stick to the same old thing going forward never just settle if you feel it so they are not doing their job. Find another doctor ASAP. I was blessed with a good one from day one.

[Halfheart]

I have asthma, and I found that beta blockers would make me very slightly breathless, almost imperceptibly at times, and not anything like an actual episode. It was tolerable for a while, but was one of the reasons I didn't want to stay on beta blockers long term.

[dmac4646]

I have been on Dronedarone for 8 months following years on Flecainide - its a much kinder drug than Flecainide but for me not as successful in keeping AF away - I had AF every 3 days on Dronedarone so had an ablation am still on Dronedarone as in blanking period so very little AF now - the great thing I have found re Dronedarone is that it always gets me out of AF within 24 hours and the HR is rarely higher than 120 so it keeps you away from hospitals ! I cannot tolerate a BB with it.