Asthma and A Fib

[Jances13]

Hi everyone, Currenty having a lot of issues trying to control my BP , A Fib and asthma issues . Am currently on a beta blocker and there is suspicion that it is stirring up my asthma. Am wondering how many of you are on a beta blocker and have had to change to a calcium channel blocker because of your asthma. The Dr. recommend Cardizem or verapimil not sure if anyone has tried these calcium channel blockers and if you have noticed a difference in your asthma. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Patk1]

I don't have AFib,but cpl other arrhythmia.im on bisoprolol which doesn't seem to cause as many probs as some.im oknon it.prior to ablation I was on verapamil with it,too.it did help

[Jances13 in reply to Patk1]

Glad tohear that it helped. I was ok until they bumped it up to 50 mg.

[Patk1 in reply to Jances13]

I'd let thm know x

[Jances13 in reply to Patk1]

Yes that’s my plan . Thank you !

[Homely2 Administrator]

I came off bisoporol. I am on felodopine, a calcium channel blocker, as well as ramipril for my high blood pressure. They have got my blood pressure down a lot so I am now borderline high blood pressure.

Coming off bisopirol was part of a package of measures to help my asthma, which worked, however I do not know which part of the package caused the improvement.

Getting my asthma under control helps my blood pressure and my heath rhythm.

It is a balancing issue, bisoporol may or may not effect your asthma, it may or may not be replaceable in helping with your other issues. The important thing is to have a GP that will guide you in getting the balance right for you.

[Jances13 in reply to Homely2]

Thank you , you are absolutely correct. I need someone that can take the time and care to guide me correctly. My Drs. Are very busy and when everything is going good everything is fine. But when you need answers you can’t get a hold of anybody. I have an appt with the pulmonologist and then the cardiologist in Dec. so hopefully I can get some answers.

[Homely2 Administrator in reply to Jances13]

On the asthma side, you can always talk to the asthma UK helpline, the nurses there are very knowledgeable.

I can never talk to my GP asthma nurse from Oct to December, as she has to take the flu jab clinic, and the hospital asthma nurses no longer offer a ring back service if you contact them. So getting help when in trouble is difficult.

[Jances13 in reply to Homely2]

Absolutely , you are correct . I talked to my pulmonologist last week and he told me the only way to find out is to change it but he also said he thinks it will help. I see my cardiologist on Tuesday who sometimes doesn’t listen and that’s my problem . But am ready to ask him directly and get an answer. When I was originally diagnosed with a fib occasionally I would have chest tightness and cough but never used a maintenance daily and after I was put on it my asthma has gotten worse and the whole month of Nov. I was struggling and put on prednisone etc. and again last week but this time was a bug got me and just coming off of prednisone today.My BP gets high when am on prednisone. Today I was suppose to be 10 mg for two days but I had to go to 5 because of my BP. So am praying that they will change it . Thank you for your input.

[Alith2]

I have had asthma since childhood and was diagnosed with high blood pressure many years ago. I have always been told that asthmatics can’t take beta blockers. I don’t get on too well with calcium channel blockers (Ramipril makes me cough) so am on Losartan.

[Jances13 in reply to Alith2]

Originally I was on a calcium channel blocker Amlodipine before the a fib and I don’t recall really any problems. Then when I got a fib they switched it. Since then I’ve noticed my asthma getting worse as time goes on.

[petmice]

I had an ER doctor put me on a beta blocker and it never dawned on me that that's why my asthma suddenly got so much worse (not sure it really did anything for my afib anyway). My GP put me on Advair to treat the asthma, which has helped - as has being able to stop the beta blocker after my successful heart ablation. I'm still irritated that the ER doc didn't check my medical record because asthma is my oldest medical diagnosis; maybe the list is too long 😂. I have to learn to ask more questions and push for a referral to a pulmonologist.

[Jances13 in reply to petmice]

I had almost the same thing happen to me. After a bout of really high blood pressure that sent me to the hospital when I had a follow up the ARNP changed my BP med to Carvedilol which is a beta blocker but worse than metoprolol. So when I went to pharmacy they told me not to take it because it interferes with my asthma meds. I don’t think that it is written in my cardiologist office in my chart that I have asthma. So that’s were all this craziness began. So today I called to do a telenealth and you barely can talk to someone . I have an appt on the 10 so I am going to talk to them . I too have to speak up more because if you don’t you get left behind. Am glad the Advair is helping u. Am also in the process of finding an inhaler that won’t trigger my a fib. They just added Spiriva so will see how that goes.Thank you, wish you well ! Happy Holidays !

[Patk1 in reply to Jances13]

Yes we really HAVE to be proactive to get the care we need these days.i find having a list of bullet points helps direct appointment to cover things important to you

[Poobah]

I was originally on amlodopine and then ramipril for high BP, but my asthma consultant swapped me to losartan as the former 2 meds were affecting my asthma. He said that the common side affect is an asthma cough. Losartan isn't as effective, but with lifestyle changes, things have improved. Obviously, lifestyle isn't always the cause of hypertension, in my case it was Spiriva that had triggered the hypertension, but I was fortunate in being able to make sufficient adjustments alongside the Losartan to bring things more under control.

[LDloveslattecoffe]

As far as I know don’t have Afib but have asthma and bp issues I’m on Candesartan and Lercanidipine for BP and Fostair Nexhaler and Ventolin and Monteleukast for Asthma no issues where meds interfere so far

[Ern007]

I was not able to have a Beta Blocker, I did have Propananol but my pulse rate hit the Floor. I found Calcium Channel Blockers suited me best.

I took Veramamil a CCB which did not affect my breathing,.

[Truckerclark]

I’m like you got AF and asthma along with other things , I’ve changed onto verapamil about 2 years ago but it did take a long time to get right dose and does make me tired ,,, changed from ramapril as it was making me cough more to apixaban , and also a 3 way inhaler that’s used for COPD, Trimbow ,,, these all take time to get used too ,

[Jances13 in reply to Truckerclark]

Hi , thank you for sharing your info. I do believe they want to change it to Verapimil . Since I’ve been on metoprolol for 8 years on 25 mg and the past 6 weeks on 50mg am a little scared of the side effects of coming off the metoprolol and if it is going to control my a fib like the metoprolol. Did you find that the verapimil has controlled your a fib better than ramapril ? Also I was just added Spiriva respimat to the Flovent so so far so good. Am coming off prednisone because some bug got me but I do find it’s taking me longer to wean down since I’ve been on the 50mg. Its Like fighting a concrete wall. I never had an issue before usually after 7 days am good to go and now am at 9 days and still having a problem.

[Truckerclark in reply to Jances13]

I’m on apixaban now instead of ramapril ,,but I did find taking verapamil slow release tablets morning & night was better for my AF issues ,just takes a bit of getting used too ,as I was tired at first a lot on them , but that does get better ,

[alvariam]

According to my consultant whilst in hospital being diagnosed with Asthma, Bisoprolol, which I was taking for Af could bring on Asthma. He then changed to Digoxin, but the asthma has not been reversed.

[Droopy1]

I'm on Verapamil. Do have tight tubes on exercise but maybe because Fostair gave me thrush which went on my chest. Watch out for that.

[Jances13 in reply to Droopy1]

Thank you . Am sorry Fostair gave you trush. Have you had any issues with verapimil affecting your asthma ?