Pill In Pocket For A-Fib

I do pill in a pocket with diltiazem. I have afib about once a year. I take it while I wait for the ambulance. Then they do a drip of diltiazem because I already have low blood pressure and they are careful not to lower it too far.

What does your cardiologist suggest?

I have in the last year discovered that in my case, eating too late is a trigger as is gas in my GI system. I take Gas X (simethicone) and that has helped prevent afib but that's me. I also drink low sodium V8 which has potassium, and take magnesium. None of this probably applies to you!

My husband just had a pacemaker to help with AF - it was an easy fix and so far hasn’t had symptoms again. Now he is on a diuretic that helps his lungs so they don’t fill up with liquid. Now having shortness of breath and tired and back to our cardiologist. I’m asking doctor if maybe oxygen would help, although I’m not certain how my husband will react.

My cardiologist prescribed metoprolol tartrate 25mg. I tried diltiazem previously to this, but it didn't work for me. I would take the metoprolol at the onset of afib and it would immediately bring my rate down to 80-100. I would stay in afib for no longer than 24 hours at a lower rate and then it would end. I have never had to have a cardio aversion. I had an ablation about 1 year ago because my episodes were becoming more frequent. I have had a few break through episodes since my ablation and still take metoprolol tartrate to control the rate when it happens. I doesn't last as long now as it did before though. I am also taking Eliquis daily.

Hi Windy,
Thank you for your response.
You are lucky you only have an episode once a year.
However sounds like when you do its very severe.
I have it a few times a week however my heart rate is generally low. I too take magnesium does it help not sure.
Hope you are feeling well.

Hi Janet,
Thanks for your reply.
Hope everything works out for your husband.

Hi Caco,
Thanks for your feedback.
I generally have a low resting HR usually in the 50’s.
Always told I have an athletic heart.
Beta blockers would not work for me.
I can be in A-Fib with 70’s and 80’s BPM.
I’m basically asymptomatic.
I am hoping to find something pill in pocket that I can take that will stop the A-Fib episode or at least cut down on the time it lasts.
I too take Eliquis 5 mg 2 times a day.
And I hate taking it.
Good luck to you.

Thank you. He hasn’t been feeling well the last few days. He has had in the recent past shortness of breath and tiredness due to fluid in his lungs and he started taking a diuretic a few weeks ago. Could be the same issue, but we don’t know until he goes to his cardiologist and he will not go yet. We might end up in the ER again.
After some minimal walking last Thursday, he started having shortness of breath and was very tired. It scared him so he stayed home a few days. Today, Sunday, the symptoms started again and he has been napping on and off.
I told him one more time and we are going to the doctor or to the ER. I will ask about oxygen for him if that might help. In the meantime, I am so scared, even though family is nearby. He also has Dementia and doesn’t want to stop driving. So I have two problems going on.
Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder.

I get AF from my sinuses and when I take an over the counter sinus pill, it stops. I haven’t had a spell for quite awhile, but I always keep sinus meds handy.

I take 25 daily. Do you? If an episode woukd come up I am to take another. My resting heart rate is around 52 . Heart rate in 60’s normally My only Episode I have had in The last three years, since my ablation, during the use of an electronic 10’a unit for my back pain. . A additional 1/2 of my 25 mg Metropolo brought me back in rythym in 2 hours. So thankful!

I have Diltiazem for this purpose. This is a calcium channel blocker. Since my a-fib rate isn't that high and is pretty manageable, I will usually wait about an hour to see if it corrects on its own. If not, I take a 30mg dose, which often seems to encourage sinus rhythm. I have been authorized to take up to 120mg, but would never do this, since I have a low heart rate in general and Diltiazem depresses the rate further when I take it. My episodes occur about once a week.