What Meds ?

[ScotRun]

I've been A-Fibbing for nearly 10 years permanent. First medication was Amiodarone swelling of ankles and fatigue came off after a few months. Next up was Bisoprolol extreme fatigue. Told the GP I felt better off off of it so he said stop taking it if you want.

I take Apixaban and Losartan. The latter for high blood pressure (seems to work)

Just wondering what other options are out there for Afib medication and if there is anything that doesn't cause nasty side effects ? Anyone else tried a few options before settling on something that works ?

Pretty fit for my age walk about 20 miles per week and weights 3 time a week.

Any advise is welcome

David 69

[Desanthony]

Like you I can't take most medication for rate control - beta blockers, calcium channel blockers or various mixtures. Tried about 6 or so of them over the first year with AF and all left me feeling worse than the persistent AF so stopped taking them. Have had 3 successful cardioversions - the longest lasting keeping me in NSR for 15 months. Was waiting for my ablation when Covid stopped everything! I was due to have it in the April after the first lockdown started. Had another appointment in September but my Brother-in-Law died and I was helping my sister to move house when the call came through to come in in 2 days! Had another appointment for the October but the Cardio Unit at the hospital had to close down due to an outbreak of Covid. At the time I was still in NSR after my 3rd Cardioversion so not unduly worried. Left it with the EP to call me back the following year. Then because so much time had elapsed between diagnosis had to have all scans again and found they wouldn't do the ablation or more cardioversions because my heart had remodelled itself so further cardioversions or an ablation would not work. So now in permanent AF and on Eliquis only. My HR is between 56 and 120 - the 120 pops up when I am exercising in the Gym. All in all life is not so bad with things as they are though I don't necessarily do everything with the same "gusto" or as often as I used to I am still more active than many people years younger than me so quite happy with things the way they are.

All the best.

[Thomas45]

Having read your two previous posts, I judge you to have Persistent AF, as you are still looking for solutions to return you to Normal Sinus Rhythm. 2 years ago you were thinking of contacting a Scottish EP and also thinking about having an ablation. Did anything come of that? It might be helpul to read the following link about medication to treat AF, heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Unlike your GP I don't think 69 is too old to have an ablation. I believe people older than 69 have had ablations.

[ScotRun in reply to Thomas45]

Thanks to all for the response. Never got an appointment been waiting 2 years. However I have just returned from an appointment with a Cardiologist. Had the EKG and mapping tests. Slightly enlarged upper chamber. Doesn't think an Ablation is the answer due to the length I've been in persistent Afib. Not sure about medication as it seems I am doing Ok without. The conclusion was to organise a 24 hour heart monitor via my GP. Then decide on the next step. All in all a bit of an anti climax.

[JudyMarieC]

I've had permanent afib for about 2-1/2 years. I'm on digoxin, extended release metoprolol and Xarelto. In the past, I was on flecainide, then tikosyn. I had an ablation and several cardioversions since my diagnosis in 2017. The meds I'm on now seem to be the best combination for me.