I have afib for 2-7 hours about once a year. I have consistently declined anticoagulants and do not take any other meds for afib other than the "pill in a pocket" approach meaning I taked diltiazem only when I have an episode. My pulse goes up to 180 so I end up on a drip of diltiazem in the ER anyway, due to low bp.

Anyway, each time this happens, I ask about short term anticoagulation. To me, this makes sense more than continual anticoagulation which carries risk of bleeding i brain and elsewhere.

So I just read a study that supports exactly that: for episodes longer than 5.5 hours, short term anticoagulation.

Doctors overprescribe. My cardiologist finally, after 6 years, told me I was probably right and they are overmedicating. Think about it. It is safer legally for MD's to follow a protocol strictly. Then, if a bleed happens, they were following established guidelines. On the other hand, if they do not prescribe and a stroke happens, they are liable. Liability drives decisions and pushed medication over no treatment.

I have one cardiologist who is brave enough to say "Go home and forget this happened."