Atrial Flutter with Metoprolol, Eliquis and Amiodarone

I am using 100mg amiodarone and 2.5 Bisoprolol fumarate daily.
I am feeling ok :BP 10.00-12.50 HR between 53 and 60 .
Some times it drops to 48 but not very often

I had an ablation around 12 years ago. I went in on a Monday and was released on a Wednesday. I had my ablation performed at the university of Kentucky medical center. It was the best thing I ever did so far from a medical standpoint. The afib was gone. I have not had an issue since. The afib was so bad I could not walk more than 50 or so feet. I made sure that the doctor that performed the ablation had been well versed in the procedure. He had performed three to four ablations a week for a number of years. Good luck to you

I echo the onus on the patient to check out the best local EPs. It's a must. You want those who can do even complex cases. If necessary, see some outside your area. It's worth the cost generally.
I had two ablations within seven months, same gentleman physician. I am now 31 months free of AF (atrial fibrillation). Ablations have a high success rate, especially a second one for the same problem.
I was on amiodarone for eight weeks just after the first ablation failed. Worked well for me, no discernible side-effects. I knew about the drug when it was suggested to me, and was reluctant. Still, worth a try for a short term, and I don't regret the 8 week trial or remedy. It can calm an irritable heart. Worked for me.

@gloaming Prior to my ablation I was seeing a "cardiologist. Started off with a couple of drugs. They stopped working after awhile, and I would get another one. Went to his office one day and was shocked to see all these people with literally tackle boxes full of different meds. Walked out. Called the Cleveland Clinic and made an appointment. The doctor I met with does over a 100 ablations a year. As I said earlier he performed the ablation on a Monday and was out on Wednesday. And never had another issue. Who you have performing the ablation is critical. Find the best doctor who has performed the ablations successfully. You have one heart, again find the best doctor that you can. Do not give it a second thought about traveling to a place where the expertise is well documented. Like the Mayo Clinic or the Cleveland clinic

@steve6094 who did you see at Cleveland Clinic?

I suggest you investigate by googling - side effects of the meds one by one that you are taking. The docs are sold meds and told by the salespeople how effective they are. And you decide. I suggest not putting life threatening decisions in the hands of any one person, even if called an expert. They are usually in a hurry, having a stressful day, or have problems of their own which diverts their concentration.

You live inside your body and can feel things that no doctor has the time to listen to. You can be the investigator and read what others have experienced, understanding that not everyone will report it.

God gave you a mind as well as your body. Pray for wisdom and use the insight and information you receive to decipher what you believe is truth, taking in consideration where it comes from.

If you see an ad for a drug, read the fine print on the bottom. Usually it names side effects which are the same as the problem you are trying to get rid of, including the ones you are taking. For example the ads for depression drugs that say on the bottom to call your doctor if you feel like committing suicide!!!

@drherm Some information: I do not remember his name, I am sorry. It was 12 years ago. According to the 2024-2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings, Cleveland Clinic is ranked as the #1 hospital for cardiology and heart surgery in the United States. This marks the 30th consecutive year that Cleveland Clinic has held this top ranking. Here is a link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/heart/about/outcomes-stats/cardiac-surgery-outcomes#specific-cardiac-surgery-outcomes-tab

The two top EPs in the USA, with some quibbling and argument, are Dr. Andrea Natale at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute in Austin and Dr. Pasquale Santangeli at Cleveland. I don't know much about Santangeli's training, but Natale was trained by the world famous Dr. Pierre Jais in Bordeaux, France.

UPDATE: I was taken off amiodarone on Oct 1 in preparation for catheter ablation, which occurred this past Wednesday, Oct 8. The procedure went well I was told, and I have had no issues at home except that the puncture areas are bruised and a bit sore. "Take it easy" for a few days was prescribed, of which I am fully on board 🙂 Immediately after the procedure my dosage of metoprolol was cut in half to 12.5mg twice a day, along with the same Eliquis dosage of 5mg twice a day. ***SIDE NOTE: Sep 2024 I had a saddle pulmonary embolism; my hematologist says I will be on an anticoagulant (probably Eliquis) the rest of my life, perhaps ultimately with a lower 2.5mg x2 dosage.*** My EP (with Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Charlotte NC) said that after ablating the atrial flutter area, he tried to induce Afib several times (which he would have then ablated) but was unsuccessful. He seemed pleased with this result. Lastly, I note that my heart rate has risen into the low 50's, from the 40's, yet my sleeping heart rate "line" as measured by my smart watch, looks very similar to how it did while taking amiodarone, except the line is just a little higher, numerically. I guess this get back to the long half-life of amiodarone. I told my EP right after the ablation, when I was semi-coherent, that I greatly hoped amiodarone was NOT reinstated because the side-effects were "awful" (my medical-based term).

I post this just for information, and for anyone that is contemplating an ablation. Yes, it was a little scary; in my case it had to be done because the flutter was out of control when in the hospital over the Labor Day weekend, with systolic, diastolic and HR all in the triple digits and remaining there, until I had the cardio version on Sep 2. Would I do the ablation again? Absolutely.

@vaughandodd Super, and I hope it continues to work well for you. Thanks for coming back and giving us an update.