Changing meds

[Harrisd2]

Hi, my EP has suggested I swap Bisoprolol to Diltiazem as I'm so exhausted all of the time. I am a bit worried that Diltiazem wont control my rate as well as Bisoprolol and wanted to ask if anyone else on here has swapped and how did it go for you?

[Buzby62]

I’m sure you’ll get some positive responses from members that have switched from beta blockers to calcium channel blockers but in the meantime here’s a link to drug information sheet

api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Best wishes

[Buffafly]

I can’t take beta blockers at all because of lung problems and I take diltiazem. It works fine for me but I have PAF. Are you in permanent AF and what was your bisoprolol dose? Be aware that if you make a sudden change you may have withdrawal effects from stopping bisoprolol which seem to vary from person to person, so don’t blame them on the diltiazem, which also takes time to ‘settle in’. Best wishes

[Harrisd2 in reply to Buffafly]

I have PAF and take 5mgs Bisoprolol. Arrythmia nurse told me to stop Bisoprolol one day and start Diltiazem the next. She said it will take 2 weeks for Diltiazem to get to a steady state. You get to know your own symptoms and then changes throw you into the unknown which is scary

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Harrisd2]

Hi

Diltiazem reacted within 2 hours to control my rapid AF from 186 with pauses at night with Metoprolol and 156 on Bisprolol.

cheri JOY

[Madscientist16]

Diltiazem has always worked good for me and allowed me to have more energy and be more active.

[SweetMelody2]

When I was first diagnosed with afib in an ER, I was given diltiazem. I took it as directed. 24 hours later I stood up from bed, blacked out, fell and broke my arm. My brain didn’t have enough blood. No one had bothered to ask me about my blood pressure, which is tends to be low. It got too low.

Syncope (fainting) is one of the “side effects” of diltiazem. Just a caveat as you begin a new drug. Stand up from a lying position slowly at first if you have any tendency toward low blood pressure.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to SweetMelody2]

Hi

What was your dose of Diltiazem?

I was light headed on 180mg and Biso.. but fine on 120mg CD until BP too lw.

Cardiologist instructed that I drop the Biso..

cheri JOY

[SweetMelody2 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

240mg once a day. It appears that was too much. That’s all behind me now. I’m fortunate to have normal blood pressure, but with a tendency to get low if I’m inactive, such as when in bed with the flu.

I never found BB’s or CCB’s helpful in controlling my afib. I don’t know why. Others report success.

Good luck in finding the right drugs and right dosages. One size doesn’t fit all.

[KelliEAnniE]

hi I had my bisoperol changed to verapamil as bisoperol made my asthma much worse I now take apixoban and verapamil I have permanant AF well controlled and have no problems

[BrotherThomas]

I was switched a few years ago and after taking it for about a week, I finished up in hospital with a severe arrhythmia. I will say that I was taking amlodipiene as well and it may have been the combination. I was immediately put back on bisoprolol instead of the diltiazem and Ramipril instead of the amlodipiene. I had a further attack a week later with diminished symptoms that required an ambulance but not a trip to hospital. I continued to have further attacks with gradually diminishing severity over the next few months but, eventually they stopped altogether.

I was asymptomatic before the change and returned to being asymptomatic when the attacks stopped. Things have been that way for several years now.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

On BBs Metoprolol and then Bisoprolol - 186 and then 156 H/Rate NNs could not contro my H.R 100 or under.

Since Diltiazem when I was controlled under 100 , BB Bisoprolol was only used for BP.

Now BP low I have slowly brought the 2.5mg to 1/2 to no Bisoprolol.

Energy has improved and I am no longer dizzy.

Have a trial of the change.

He/she is prepared to work it through with you. Great.

I should have been trialled on CCB at Stroke with Rapid & Persistent AF. 4th Day Thyroid Papillary Cancer was diagnosed. Shadow on Thyroid during a Carotid Arteries Scan.

So I have two diagnosis.

But it was the cancer that caused the AF which caused the stroke.

CCB Diltiazem 120 CD has saved me from damage of my heart. I have had 3 ops since Stroke the thyroidectomy plus 12 lymphs taken and dissection of the bottom bed when in uncontrolled H/R. I got 2 Drs and 2 anaesthetists.

I was so relieved to get into controlled H/R.

Diliazem acts like an arrythmic safe med as well as keeping BP and H/R controlled.

Start low dose .. 360mg is full dose but my H/R drops at night avge to 48bpm. Stable over 3 24hr Heart monitors. After change make sure you have ECG and 24hr Heart Monitor.

But Diltiazem is not suitable is you have bottom ventricle problems or in the valves.

Take care, 180mg CD was too much with Biso...

Cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)

[Harrisd2 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Wow, you've certainly had your crosses to bear, I'm glad everything is stable now. The arrythmia nurse did say it works as an anti arrythmic too, you might wonder why it's usually considered as an alternative to beta blockers instead of a 1st line treatment. I do understand some people cant take it though. My heart is in good condition thankfully. I also am aware I need to monitor my BP closely, I wont be having the Bisoprolol but I do take Ramipril. I have read that Diltiazam action is quick and steady state is reached quickly which is reassuring when you just dont know when AF is going to strike. Thank you for all the replies, I will definately try it.

Happy New Year

[CarerEdi]

Hope it's going well. My mum swapped from verapamil to Diltiazem (Angitil SR90) which suited her well. She has diastolic heart failure and AF. The Angitil works similar to the verapamil - the move was bcos of a third condition Raynaud's which Diltiazem is a bit helpful for. No side effects for mum, slightly better than verapamil as it's one a day and easier for mum to remember