Just had a pacemaker

[Cassag]

After a few years trying various medications that were not helpful I was finally put on sotolol . I have tachy brady syndrome and sotolol dropped my heart rate and gave me long pauses. I had a pacemaker inserted yesterday . Does anyone have experience with using soltolol with pacemaker .?

[ForensicFairy]

Gday from Aus. I can’t advise but I’ll be keen to see the answers. I also will need a pacemaker soon and was wondering how my meds will affect it. I assume they’d possibly reduce or drop some of them - but maybe not?

[Cassag in reply to ForensicFairy]

There are different reasons for having a pacemaker. We are all different, your cardiologist will advise medication. Procedure for me uneventful, sedation interesting experience , but very comfortable during insertion if you are worried about that .

[ForensicFairy in reply to Cassag]

Thanks for your advice. I’m more interested about the drug regime changes, if any.

[AFCyclist]

I am on Sotalol and have a pacemaker. The Sotalol calms things down and normaly stops AF episodes. The pacemaker is there because I have left bundle branch block and is an insurance against a very low rate and possible blackouts. It kicks in below 50bpm. In reality it is not in use most of the time but seems to activate when at rest overnight.Sotalol has slightly depressed my resting heart rate to around 50bpm which is where the pacemaker kicks in. It also reduces max heart rate to about 120bpm. I am an active bloke and keen cyclist and aim to keep heart rate to 100bpm max.

I am on the list for an ablation to address the AF.

[Tapanac in reply to AFCyclist]

Do you have a three lead then. Mine is two lead and doesn’t let my heart go below 60 (it kept going below 30 and causing fainting). However it doesn’t do anything for stopping really high rates so I’m told. Thankfully I’m not having those really high rates any more (once was 240 now never goes over 100)

[AFCyclist in reply to Tapanac]

They could not get the third lead to attach so I ended up with 2 leads and hence presumably do not benefit from synchronisation. Functioning reasonably well though.

[Tapanac in reply to AFCyclist]

Glad you are ok. Or as ok as we all can be

Pat x

[Cassag in reply to Tapanac]

Thanks for reply. I was getting up to 5 seconds pauses as well as low pulse when I took only 20 mg sotolol to convert back to sinus. I only have a 2 lead pacemaker.

[Tapanac in reply to Cassag]

Are you ok now with your pacemaker. Hope so

[Cassag in reply to AFCyclist]

I am told another ablation not advised. Pacemaker for same reason as you, Inwas getting long pauses when i converted back to sinus .

[Whataperformance]

That's fine, you had a Pacemaker inserted under a Cardiologist, sure they would take meds into account.The Sotolol will keep your Heart beat regular the Pacemaker will stop it going too slow.

As a NHS Pacing Cardiac Physiologist I can confidently tell you at least 80 % of patients , take a Beta blocker.

I too have a Pacemaker take BB, Anti cog and 3 months ago had an Ablation.

Take care

[Cassag in reply to Whataperformance]

Thank you for reply.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

How are you feeling? Our Patient Services Team are here to help with advice. We would really like to get in touch with you to offer you some advice about living with a pacemaker. Would you kindly get in touch by completing the following contact form: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[pickleball1]

I am 72 and have had a pacemaker for 2 years now. At 24 I started having palpitations and over the years it went from that to aflutter and now afib. The meds they started me on dropped my naturally low BP to me going to the hospital and coding. (My heart paused way too long) Anyway after inserting a pacemaker my HR stays at 60 and I take meds for the Afib. Took about 1 1/2 years to get my meds correct. I am on flecainide , metoprolol and eliquis. I was also told that I was tachy-brady. The last 6 months I've had no episodes of Afib or low heart rate. Good luck and it was an adjustment for me.

[Cassag in reply to pickleball1]

ThNk you for the post, I found it very encouraging. I recently had a pacemaker for tachy brady and have not settled medication yet. I also have low blood pressure when I use beta blocker. I hope i have the same long term outcome as you and find my level.