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Atrial Fibrillation and long-term management with medication
My Father was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, 5 years ago and recently had his medication (soluthol) switched to a newer synthetic medication, however after 3 months his blood pressure drop to the extent that he was blue and extremely fatigued.
After numerous tests they found that the new medication even though the dosage was the same the potency was double strength, the additional side effect was a drop in insulin production.
Therefore when they realised this they switched him back but I am curious as to the long term treatment of Atrial Fibrillation via medication.?
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What are you stating affects cognitive ability--medicine, aFib itself? Terrific doctor, amazing lack of empathy and tact.
Not to old to know that you are a jerk and you just lost a customer.
Well, if a person's brain is not being adequately perfused with blood and the nutrients it carries because the circulation is compromised with A-fib or any other cardiac issue, it could affect that person's brain functions, including cognitive ability. So your doctor could be right in that A-fib might do that over time. But his comment about your being too old so it doesn't matter is inexcusable, and I'd probably be looking for another doctor if my doc said that to me.
I remember those foggy days when I thought I was plunging down the rabbit hole into dementia some time before I received the pacemaker to treat my bradycardia ( and when I didn't have bradycardia, I had tachycardia, there didn't seem to be a happy medium). Besides being tired and light-headed much of the time, I felt as though I couldn't even complete a thought before it just disintigrated into...nothingness. And that brought about depression, it was an awful time.
I had reported some of the symptoms to my cardiologist before the pacemaker, but hadn't thought of the cognitive issues. When I saw him after I received my pacemaker, ( the EP he referred me to implanted the pacemaker but my continuing care was with this guy) he asked me to go into detail about the symptoms I had had before I got it. He asked me if I felt the symptoms at rest, and without thinking about the implications of what I was saying, I told him "no, in fact, it feels rather cozy, as you go into "nothingness", no thoughts, semi-aware of your surroundings" ( my heart rate would go into the mid-high 30's at rest). I wasn't anticipating his reaction, but he stopped, looked at me in what seemed like alarm, and said, "omigawd that's no good", shook his head and commented that it was a good thing I got the pacemaker. And I was 71 at the time, glad they didn't think I was too old to worry about cognitive issues.
A lifetime!
O was diagonsed in September 2019 within 3 days of Stroke, Raoid & Persistent AF an Thyroid Papillary Cancer. So the latter caused the AF which caused the Embolic Stroke.
After 2 years on BBs first Metoprolol 1 Year 5 months and Bisoprolol 10 months I was not H/R controlled. 186 and 165! Pauses of 2 secs at night with Metoprolol.
Encouraged to attend a good H/Specialist private. He introduced CCB Diltiazem. Within 2 hours on 1/2 dose 180 CD I dropped from 165 IStill on Biso.. reduced to 5mg) to 51 in 2 hours.
Reduced CCB to 120 CD early morning. Then dropped Bisoprolol completely in January.
Night rate my normal 47avg bpm.
Now 120-135 . 75 - 80. H/R 80
I'm happy with that.
Shop around for some specialist who is interested in your Dad. Ant change or introduction in meds should come with ECG and heart monitor.
I had x 3 in 2021.
Cheers JOY