Diltiazem for atrial fibrillation?

[Warm-heart]

I am taking Bisoprolol for AF and it makes life not worth living due to complete insomnia and blocked ear it causes. I am thinking of asking my cardiologist about Diltiazem (a calcium channel blocker) as an alternative, having seen on other threads that some get on well with it for a variety of heart issues in place of Bisoprolol. Does anyone find Diltiazem alone controls AF? I'd be grateful to hear also, if you do, what side effects this might have and the kind of dose needed. (I am very sensitive to meds and have to take low doses of things always.)

[DD13]

Hi i was put on 180 mgs of dialitzem. Had no side affects. Was given this as it did not affect my raynuards. Not on it now as my condition was not angina. But mske sure you get tailed off, of it when or if you have to show taking it.

Regards Dee.

[Warm-heart in reply to DD13]

Thanks Dee, do you get withdrawal symptoms if you don't tail off? - would you mind letting me know how you did the tailing off process? Thank you!

[DD13]

I had a call from hospital cardiac nurse who said the gp could take me off them. So I told him as I was due a new prescription i wouldn't bother and I would stop taking it in the morning. He told me I could not do that, I would be really ill and end up in hospital. But when I went to get the tablets the gp told chemist I could not have them as they had been stopped. So had to ring the cardiac nurse who told me to tell the chemist I must have them, regardless. Luckily they still had the prescription and did it for me. Got a phone call from the gp who apologised and then I was slowly tailed off them over a two week period. But was ok during this.

Regards Dee.

[Warm-heart in reply to DD13]

Thanks Dee, that is helpful to know before I embark on any change!