changeover to Dronedarone

[elkewilliams]

Diagnosed with paroxysmal AFib in 2022, on 2.5 mcg Bisoprolol only until last week. Had only few AFib episodes( 4 in a year) and found beta blocker increasingly difficult to tolerate, especially nausea. Saw an EP cardiologist last Monday who suggested to stop my Bisoprolol , take nothing for 24 hours then start taking Dronedarone- which I did. My pulse has been up from 12 hours after stopping, checked on my Kardia monitor for AFib and took blood pressure (also up). Went into Afib at 5pm for 5 hours last night which then stopped. Pulse ist still in 80’s now and I am wondering how long it takes until Dronedarone starts working? Has anyone does the same thing? Switched from Betablocker to Dronedarone ?

I am female, 72 years old

[Buzby62]

I haven’t switched so can’t help you there but I did come off 2x1.25mg bisoprolol six weeks ago following my ablation review. I definitely had a bit of a rebound with heart rate up and blood pressure up after about 3 days and took a few more days to settle down to acceptable levels but still higher. Some will tell you 2.5 is a small dose but it can have more effect than you might expect. We’re all different.

Here is a link to the AFA medication page where you’ll find info sheets on the drugs

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Best wishes

[Efka]

I can't help re switch either, sorry, but same here regarding bisoprolol. Just lowering bisprolol from 1.25mg to 0.625mg resulted in 2 weeks of "under the weather" and random symptoms. For some these re powerful drugs. Bet of luck

[elkewilliams in reply to Efka]

That is helpful to know, thank you! Makes it a bit easier to ‘ride it out’.

[Tonksei]

I switched from 7.5mg bisoprolol to dronedarone. I have had paroxysmal afib only since Dec but am in and out every few days, lasting a few days each time, and the bisoprolol was not really controlling the rate. The first week of changeover was dreadful but it settled after that. It doesn't stop me swinging in and out but it is much calmer now and at least I can sleep which is a bonus. The only downside is making sure you have a full stomach when taking them as I'm not really a morning eater.

[elkewilliams in reply to Tonksei]

Good to hear from you, thank you for that! Did you have a high resting pulse as well during that week? Mine is between 80-90 when it was 60 before and shoots up when I do anything. Not so good to hear that it took a week for you to settle, but I hope it continue to work for you. Hoping the same for me.

[Tonksei]

My resting rate was all over the place but I was in afib half the week. My rate in bed the first night of afib that week was 120 to 150 all night. I was ready to tell my cardiologist I wanted off them and then it settled! Hope it does the same for you.

[Drone01]

You’ve apparently been switched from a rate control beta blocker to a rhythm control medication. That will allow your heart rate to go back up in normal sinus rhythm. I stopped bisoprolol for precisely that reason, but am now taking an ACE inhibitor to keep the blood pressure down. Nothing wrong per se with a pulse in the 80s.

[elkewilliams in reply to Drone01]

Wasn’t aware really that I changed from rate control to rhythm control. My blood pressure is normal to low usually and 100/72 at the moment. My heart is pounding though, at rest, and as soon as I do anything it jumps up to 95+, pretty much stuck at home, so that’s not a long term solution.

[Tomred]

Hi Elkie, i take bisop and multaq , they have not stopped af but do subdue it for me , missed a dose one day last week and went into faster than usual af, stopping the bisop i would think may have increased your pulse, dronederone is more for rthtym control and bisoprolol for rate control.

[LaceyLady]

DON’T I am glad to be off it! Takes 3 months to get it out of your system. It exacerbates my neck back AND the sun brought me out in itchy sore rashes!

There are alternatives, they decided there were not wirking and put me on THAT instead of an ablation because that consultant didn’t do them an he’d lose my private fees!

[Buffafly]

Have you tried Diltiazem?

[wischo]

Shame you could not tolerate bisoprolol as a lot of people do. Bisop takes 2 to 3 days to fully leave your system and abrupt stoppage can cause Tachycardia and other side effects so that is the likely reason your heart rate is much higher. I would ask my cardiologist to try Sotalol before I tried any of the dronedarone, amioderarone type stuff first. This is just my opinion and of course should be discussed with your health care professional.