Medication

[Rainy111]

What's people thoughts on verapamil and diltiazem.my doctor changed me from bisoprolol to sotalol. But I seen cardiologist today. And he said he would recommend verapamil and diltiazem to my doctor instead of sotalol. Because iam still short of breath. Thank you

[mjames1]

It really depends what you and your doctor want to accomplish.

Bisoprolol is a beta blocker with weak anti-arrhythmic properties. Sotalol is also a beta blocker but with true anti-arrhythmic properties.

Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker that can function like a beta blocker and Veraprimil is usually used simply to treat high blood pressure and sometimes angina.

I'm assuming the switch away from Sotalol is because either it didn't keep your afib in check and/or from side effects including undesirable ekg changes.

But this is only a guess. So best to ask your cardiologist why off Sotalol and why Diltiazem and Veraprimil? And most important, what is your treatment goal. Is it to get you out of afib, or simply to maintain the status quo.

Always important for your treatment goal to align with your doctor's treatment goal.

Jim

[Rainy111 in reply to mjames1]

Thank you Jim. Trying to sort short of breath out

[FraserB]

With my first episode of high rate flutter in emerg a standard bolus IV of Diltiazem brought heart back to sinus rhythm. I was given that day a blood thinner Apixaban for stroke and that was it until my appt with the cardiologist weeks later. During those weeks I was short of breath so bad I had to go to bed at 6 pm every night and I remember bending over when standing trying to get a breath even though heart was regular pace of 65 bpm. I told the cardiologist and he placed me on Diltiazem ER and of course the Apixaban. It took almost a month on Diltiazem before it "kicked in" and not be short of breath.

Everyone of course is different. Diltiazem brings more oxygen to the heart via opening blood vessels and slightly lowering blood pressure (even though I did not have high blood pressure). I am aware that as time goes on the flutter/afib can present again but I will deal with that when it comes.

That memory of being extremely short of breath was the worst, almost felt like I was "drowning".

[Spiritji]

Been taking Diltiazen for over 10 years with the blood thinner Pradaxa and seems to be ok........have what's known as permanent AFIb

[KelliEAnniE]

hi I was on bisperol and apixoban got really bad with my asthma consultant changed meds to verapamil and apixon and I am so much better my shortness of breath has gone hope that helped but it worked for me

[babs1234]

I couldn’t tolerate the Diltiazem. Only took two and thought I was going to have a heart attack

[Ducky2003]

I couldn't tolerate a beta blocker as it caused major breathlessness. Put onto Diltiazem 8 years ago and it's been fine. Puffy ankles for a while as I was on a higher dose but now no problem.

[Ppiman]

I asked the specialist I see and he shook his head and said that bisoprolol was, by far, the best choice. I have read that Ca++ antagonists like diltiazem might theoretically be better for AF, but he disagreed. I do have some bradycardia, though, for which they are contraindicated. They seem altogether more potentially troublesome than betablockers.

Steve

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

It should be an OR. They are both CCB Calcium Channel Blockers.

Diltiazem is not risky like Veraprimil.

I have been on Diltiazem over 2 years and it evened out rapid h/rate within 2 hours. I take 120mg. 180mg too much.

Veraprimil is an OR also a CCB.

I don't get any side effects.

You can eliminate them too if you get any.

Veraprimil says constipation. It points more to reducing BP.

I remember it was your H/rate spiking. Which wold give breathless.

cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)

[MarkS]

I was on sotalol and got very puffed out on bike rides. I was switched to diltiazem and got on much better, the AF was not noticeable.

[Snowgirl65]

In answer to your question, I've taken Verapamil in the past and can't tolerate it. Still in my working days, it made me very zombie-like and I nearly lost my job because of being in such a daze. However, many on the forum have had no problem with the medication.

[CarerEdi]

My mum has diastolic hf, but was put on verapamil and then dilitiazem for AF. The verapamil needed better timing management, it clearly wore off quicker and this was a problem if mum would get up late (or stay up late) and have too long between tablets. Whereas now on the dilitiazem slow release 120 instead, that's not an issue. The spironalactone she's on for the hf is what seems to reduce her breathlessness though.