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Great question. Thanks for pointing out the incomplete narrative.
My rhr was too low under metoprolol - high 40’s, low 50’s. Losartran doesn’t slow hr as much as metoprolol while still controlling bp, I’m told by the NP. That’s why they switched me - bp management without the too-low rhr.
Do these beta blocker/bp management actually prevent afib or only treat associated hr and bp conditions?
Thank you for your response.
Replies to "Great question. Thanks for pointing out the incomplete narrative. My rhr was too low under metoprolol..."
I’m not a pharmacist or EP, so my answer is only from my own experience with calcium channel and beta blockers.
Having said that, for me personally, neither metoprolol or Losartan did anything to prevent me from going into full blown afib or atrial flutter. What finally helped is a dedicated anti arrhythmic.
The one I am currently on is also used as “pill in the pocket,” and when prescribed in that manner, you take it only when you feel yourself go into tachycardia or afib. However, many people don’t even feel their out of rhythm heart until other more serious symptoms occur—dizziness, exhaustion, nausea, sweating, etc. And with my individual case, it was decided between my EP and I to take Flecainide daily.
It was a good decision as far as I’m concerned. But I still worry about the medication not doing its job well enough after a while. I’ve already had to have a dosage increase as it quit managing things on the lowest dose. I started in February after my last ER visit with Afib where they performed electrocardioversion. (And that didn’t work either.)
As one very kind ER nurse told me, Afib is hard to get a grip on.
The way I look at it now is these drugs are all going to affect each one of our genetic makeups differently. And unfortunately, experimentation on dosing and types are all we can do at this point if ablation hasn’t worked or you are not a candidate for surgical intervention.
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Hello Zacklucy, I have had A-fib for probably 20 years and have been on Verapamil for almost the whole time. I'm also on Losartan + HCTZ (100 MG + 25 mg). I've been on the highest dosage of Verapamil for the last few years (240 MG, 2 pills q evening). About a year ago I finally agreed to take Xarelto 15 MG (due to a family history). Overall, my A-fib rarely acts up. If it does, I can take a half a pill plus .5 of Ativan and it calms down.
I've had no problems with the Losartan. And I have an Echo done once a year.
So, sometimes it just takes some experimenting a bit with the meds (your doctor, that is) to find the right med or combination of meds to get it right.