Can these drugs influence my afib?

[NewOne2023]

Hi guys.

After more than 15 days of abdomen pains and nausea, I made few tests and I've been diagnosed with helicobacter pylori. From yesterday I'm on metronidazol, amoxicillin and rabeprazol. Two of them are antibiotics and the last one is a proton pump inhibitor.

I need to take this for the next 2 weeks to resolve the bacteria.

My question is, does anyone have some experience with taking these meds while also been diagnosed with afib? Could there be some interaction?

I'm currently afib free from Dec'23. I had cryoablation on March'24. Since my ablation (3months post) I take no meds whatsover.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Good Morning, thank you for your post, are you currently taking any antiarrhythmic medication for your atrial fibrillation? are you currently taking anticoagulants? Everyone is different and responds to AF in their own way, this is particularly so when another underlying health condition is diagnosed. I would advise speaking to your own doctor regarding the medication and highlighting your concerns, they will be able to answer your questions and reassure you. For further information about AF, medications etc, please visit: afa-international.org

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[NewOne2023 in reply to TracyAdmin]

Not taking any medication for afib since May. I'm 41 so not even Eliquis anymore.

[TracyAdmin Partner in reply to NewOne2023]

Thank you for confirming you are not currently taking any medication for your AF, perhaps just check again with your doctor for reassurance.

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[BobD Volunteer]

The one big thing to remember is that you must NOT have ANY alcohol if taking metronidazole or you will be violently ill. I never had any reaction regarding AF when I took it.

[NewOne2023 in reply to BobD]

Yeah, I saw that on instructions online. Well since my afib diagnose I stopped alcohol completely for 8 months and in the last 3-4 months after the ablation I had like one beer every 20 days or so. So it's not gonna be a problem to stay away from alcohol during the therapy.

[Auriculaire in reply to NewOne2023]

Even without alcohol Flagyl can have nasty side effects and in some people can cause tachycardia. It can provoke intense nausea. I do not tolerate it . The nausea is worse if taken on an empty stomach. I have no problem with amoxicillin and took 3 gms a day for a fortnight for Lyme disease which is a hefty dose. Just a bit of diarrhoea at the end. There is a benificial yeast called Saccharomyces boulardii that you can take to help prevent this.

[jeanjeannie50]

I had h-pylori many years ago, way before being diagnosed with AF. Towards the end of taking drugs like you are to eradicate it the metronidazol would make me feel ill. I had two separate courses of drugs but still the h-pylori persisted. My sister in the US sent me some empty capsules and garlic and think it was oregano oil to put into them. This worked for a while, but h-pylori soon came back. Next time she said Mastic Gum was the thing to use (comes from a tree in the med). I bought some capsules and they eventually cured it .

See how you get on and if antibiotics don't clear it for you, then try the mastic gum capsules. Think mine were called Mastika.

Jean

[NewOne2023 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for the advice. Will look into it.

[NewOne2023 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Did those capsules like officially cleared you from pylori or were they just doing a great job at controlling your symptoms? Did you have any symptoms from pylori from the get go?

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to NewOne2023]

I had a sore reflux type pain from officially confirmed h-pylori. I was never officially cured i.e. I had no test after using mastic gum capsules but the pain has gone forever (was about 20 years ago). The medication your doctor has prescribed may work for you.

[kkatz]

Hi been on Ppi for years no probs.I believe certain antibiotics can affect anticoagulants & I had to stop statins when taking them.

Don't think these apply to you.

Hope you get it sorted.

[Tapanac]

I can say about the amoxicillin as I have taken that many times and all fine. The other two I can’t say.

All I do know is that a couple of friends took these and were absolutely fine and one had permanent afib (still does) and the good part he has never had any more trouble with his stomach and the consultant doctor said his chances of ever getting stomach cancer would now be low. Don’t know how true that is, but in my opinion only I would go for it and not worry. The pain you are going through could possibly give you more trouble with your afib alone .

[sunlovah]

I finished a 7 day course (as in UK) of metronidazole and amoxicillin, my upper stomach/under ribs was ravaged so painful, it has never been the same since! (I had taken Amoxicillin years ago-no probs) A year on after H pylori and antibiotics I am still trying to heal my stomach, G.I's are no help of course no-one admits to the damage these can cause. There is a Facebook group dedicated to metronidazole and it's effects, this may help you and 'Yes' it can affect heart rate. Good luck.

[NewOne2023]

I just had a tachycardia episode out of nowhere. My heart started to race really fast for 3-4 minutes (120-130bpms) and now it came down to normal level. I've also been feeling a strange pain in my chest but I thought it was a muscle strain or something. I don't know what to do. I got really scared, dizzy and fast breathing.

[Ppiman]

I have had similar treatment and, no, it did not cause any issues with my AF, nor anything else. You must not drink alcohol while on metronidazole as the interaction can cause severe vomiting in a small number people, I recall being told.

Steve