Exercise and A. F

[Redfood]

I was diagnosed with proxy A. F just over 2 year's ago and my E. P give me sotalol which has helped but still get long period of A. F 3-5 day's Mybe every 2_3 months I always liked to walk but last while now not in a, f after Mybe 2 km I start to get really tired legs get sweaty I know strange Mybe eyesight bit blurry never out of breath I have to stop rest some and try to get back home where I would be so exhausted I would fall asleep rite away last time I noticed heart rate still slow 70 bpm blood pressure normal I was wondering was the beta blocker slowing my heart to much and not getting enough blood pumping around body any help would be great first post on this great site thank you

[Autumn_Leaves]

You need to report this to your GP just in case there’s something else going on. I don’t know much about the particular medication you are taking but my understanding of sotalol is that it works as an anti arrhythmic and beta blocker combined. Nobody here will know why your EP prescribed his rather than another medication because we don’t know your medical history and we can’t see or evaluate your test results, nor is anyone qualified to advise you on what medication to take or what dose.

Some people do report fatigue etc with beta blockers and some people reduce or stop their beta blockers, but this is dependent on many factors and your medical history is not necessarily the same as theirs, even if we all share the diagnosis of AF. Besides, we shouldn’t be making our healthcare decisions based on what “bloke on the internet” says. Your symptoms warrant further investigation and nobody here can possibly “diagnose” what’s causing them. All someone can say is “beta blockers made me tired” but that in itself is meaningless outside of the context of their particular medical history, not yours. See your GP.

[Redfood in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Thanks for taking time to reply yes i understand that 100 percent Just curious to see if anyone had this experience will contact G. P thanks

[javo123j]

I've got paroxysmal AF and am on Bisoprolol and I am a regular runner and it has no effect on me as long as I'm in sinus rhythm. During an afib episode exercise is really hard but only noticeable with being out of breath. I think I'd check up with the Doc if I was you just to be safe

[Redfood in reply to javo123j]

Thanks yes gp next week when I have afib episode it's hard to walk any distance hits me hard

[Buttondog in reply to javo123j]

My AF is triggered by exertion (cycling) now all the time; heart rate spikes and stays far too high. The rest of the time HR is fine. How do you think Bisoprolol would be?

[javo123j in reply to Buttondog]

Personally I like the Bisoprolol as it keeps HR down when in afib. I have no side effects like some people complain of like tiredness so to me it's a good aid to afib

[Buttondog in reply to javo123j]

many thanks

[Speed]

I’m 58 and like to do regular exercise. I have Prox AF. Episodes resolved with PIP Flecainide on top of 50mg BD.

I was previously on Bisoprolol (beta blocker) and it crucified any attempt at meaningful exercise as it lowers the HR from resting with increasing impact as my HR increased. I struggled to get my HR above 110 whereas I would hit 155 pre medication. It was demoralising as I could no longer enjoy going out for a run. I was taking it in conjunction with the Flecainide (recommended if taking flecainide) but dropped it with agreement with my EP for reasons of QOL (exercise was important part of life) and acceptable compromise for me

Hope you find a resolution that you’re comfortable with.

[Redfood in reply to Speed]

Thanks for your reply I noticed that during walking my heart rate did not increase much and was thinking it could be the sotalol check up next week see what they say as you say exercise is important for various reasons and have to say no now when mates are going for a walk

[55zuzanka61]

I was placed on sotalol after flea inside and amiodarone did not work.Sotalol converted me to sinus so I am quite grateful ,but yes, I do have some issues as a avid hiker and walker experiencing leg heaviness,a lot of annoying sweating and occasional dizziness and blurry vision. I tried to work through that and symptoms got better over few months. I also noticed that my bp dropped after starting sotalol and after cutting my bp medication in half my symptoms got even less pronounced.

Jerryczech

[Redfood in reply to 55zuzanka61]

Thanks for your reply sounds quite similar. When I try to push on I lose at the minute I have check up with gp next week but I will keep walking and build up slowly you have give me some hope

[Dalmatianangel]

make sure you are notifying your doctor (EP) when this happens.

Have you had a cardioversion or ablation?

I’ve been on Sotalol since Nov. 2016 and was in NS until a little over a year ago. Tried a cardioversion (my 5th) with no success. Ablation was very successful. They tried taking me off Sotalol but I began having some minor issues. So I still take Sotalol but half the dose.

I know it’s different for everyone. I guess my main point is to keep your EP informed.

[Redfood in reply to Dalmatianangel]

Thanks for your reply neither procedure so far but I have been considering ablation if it is meds

[oscarfox49]

Hi there,

I don't know if I can help but I have been taking Sotalol (80 mg a day but in two 40 mg doses morning and evening... half a tablet of course) since 1995 when I had my first severe attack of AF.

I do recall it taking me a long time to get used to it, and I felt so washed out and tired I pestered the local doctors to give me something different which was a very bad idea. I was given propranolol and atenolol which are not cardiac specific, and Sotalol was at least at that time, seen as a cardiospecific beta blocker. Without it I had constant AF, but after about a month I adjusted to taking the Sotalol and had far fewer AF episodes.

I have been taking it ever since, which is almost 30 years, and although I suffered a stroke three years ago and am technically in permanent AF, I do reasonably well on it, and my pulse is a steady 60 to 70, apart from episodes when I find the pulse races to 120 for several hours when I have eaten something spicy or odd the previous day, or worked too hard on something physical. (I am 77). I have never tried bisoprolol which I think is the more modern one, or Nebivolol, which my last cardiologist recommended, though I stick with Sotalol while I am doing ok with relatively few unpleasant symptoms.

I recognise the blurry eyesight problem and I walk for 45 minutes every day with the dog in the forest, relatively briskly. And I make myself climb up a steep slope once or twice days (around 25 metres but very steep). I do feel breathless but not unduly so, it is more the sensation of my heart racing. The walk though just wears me out though I recover quickly.

Sotalol of course DOES slow down your heart quite a bit, which is the way it really works with AF as it does not control the rhythm apart from through rate control. I took Amiodarone after the stroke for a few months but although that seemed to control the AF rather better, what with side effects and feeling like death, and with almost every other medication being contraindicated with it, it was really not something I would recommend! I was never so glad to get back to Sotalol.... though after Amiodarone you have to very carefully phase one out and the other back in.

Your question suggests that Sotalol is still leaving you with AF for extended periods of 3 to 5 days, which suggests that it is not really being very effective you. I have had lots of AF episodes on Sotalol, but they are mercifully very short. The 'permanent' AF means it always shows up on an electrocardiogram and even on my blood pressure monitor, but it causes no unpleasant or disabling symptoms due to the steady pulse rate (with lots of missed beats).

Has the Dr suggested you try Bisoprolol or one of the many alternatives. I know several people for whom this has been successful.

Good luck,

Adrian

[Redfood in reply to oscarfox49]

Thanks for your reply it was a very interesting read that's quite a long spell on sotalol and Mybe I need more time I was put on bisoprolol at start but it was not helping me much and sotalol was better gp next week so fingers crossed they can do more