atrial flutter and fibrillation.

What’s the difference are the meds the same?

[Buzby62]

I’m sure you will get replies from members on this but in the meantime, here’s an AFA website link, from this link you can choose either of the two conditions and see the Resources for them both.

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Hope this helps

[Ppiman]

I've had both and a friend now has both. I gather that AFl is much less common than AF. Both are caused by misfiring of the electrical pathways in the atrial muscle but AFl occurs mostly in the right chamber and gives rise to a regular fixed atrial beat of 300bpm, while AF occurs in the left chamber, around the pulmonary veins, and gives rise to random irregular twitching in the order of 600bpm. In both cases, the AV node prevents these atrial disturbances being transmitted to the ventricles which remain reasonably but variably much less affected, mostly reacting by producing an overly fast (and thus variably less efficient) heartbeat.

Treatment is aimed in both at calming and slowing the ventricular beat, typically with a beta blocker, to prevent those and the valves from being overly affected or weakened.

Steve

[wilsond]

I had both. Flutter is much more resistant to medication ,but far more successful to treat by ablation (95%+) especially fir typical right-sided Flutter.Flutter medication is aimed at reducing the very fast regular rate.( bisoprolol etc)Fib can be treated quite successfully with different medicationscsuch as Flecanide aimed at restoring the normal rhythm of the heart. Ablation is another option not as consistently successful ( especially after 1 procedure) usually a cryo ablation ( treating with freezing) is first option,followed by Radio Frequency ( heat) if buts have been missed first time round.

I was quite steady on just meds for considerable time but then AFib and AFl got the upper hand. I have never had a conversion.

I had a double ablation June 2022. No flutter since. A few episodes of AFib,known cause. So on flecanide with a review in Spring 24.

Xx

[Speed]

Yes they are different and show up very different on an ECG, but meds can overlap. What are your circumstances? I’ve had AFl sorted by ablation and now have AF and happy to share experiences.

[Hidden]

I have been diagnosed as having both and also had a double stent last month, I’m on Bisop Apix Clopi and aspirin. My resting heart rate is often in the 40’s and the only symptoms I observe via palpitations are the occasional missed beat I’m not aware of any rapid occurrences

[2learn]

Hi, I've been told different things by different cardiologists, sometimes flutter other times AF, not consistent, but meds have always stayed same, bisoprolol. Don't know if you can have both at once, so it seems its just one medics interpretation of ECG.