Pros and cons for medication for rate control or Ablate and Pace

[Pippa80]

I am taking 10mg Bisoprolol a day plus 200mg Amiodorone for rate control for AF.

I get very tired and am always dropping asleep during the day. I am also more breathless than usual. I also have pulmonary hypertension as well as AF so wondering whether symptoms are caused by this or medication.?

The alternative to medication is to have an ablate and pace but not sure if it is better to put up with these symptoms or have the procedure. Afraid I may feel worse than I do now. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Ianc2]

Both drugs have distinct side effects. Ask you Doctor if you can have an alternative to Bisoprolol which may help while you consider the pro's and con's of Pace and ablate?

[PeterGabriel]

How long have you been on 10mg of Bisoprolol and how long on Amiodarone?

10mg is quite a high dosage, maybe your cardiologist can suggest reducing the Bisoprolol dosage which may help with your drowsiness? Ironically, it can also cause the symptoms it is supposed to be treating.

Amiodarone can have serious side effects if you take it for more than a few months.

[Cliff_G]

Pippa, you must report this to your doctor. Amiodarone has known pulmonary side effects. See him/her soon

[Fifimyangel]

By pace are you meaning pacemaker?. If so I would suggest having it done. Iv had mine for 8 yrs. I still have other problems but a pacemaker definitely helps in someway.

[Lovefrance]

Hi Pippa,

I also suffer with af and have had two ablations which didn’t work. I now have a pacemaker which is great. It won’t stop the af attacks but helps in other ways.I get very stressed with my condition and the pacemaker

helps to control This by keeping my heart rate on an even keel. I couldn’t

take Amiodarone. I do take Bisoprolol and also get very tired. All of these

drugs do seem to have side effects and I think of course it’s a case of trial

and error, trying to find out what suits us. As regards the ablations, I would

certainly try that. For some people they work.Its such a straightforward

procedure and nothing to worry about. Then if that doesn’t work, go for

the pacemaker, which again is a small operation. These surgeons are

fantastic and for them, as mine tells me are something they have been

doing for years. I know one still worries but hopefully you will find what’s

right for you. I wish you all the best and I am here if you want to chat.