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Managing and Living With PACs and PVCs

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (187)

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@janets

For all of you who have experienced difficulty with PVCs and PACs, I have been able to relate to your experiences. I have had PVCs, and PACs, off and on since I was 20 yrs old. Sometimes the episodes would be very bad. About 3 years ago I developed Afib. Tried a couple of meds which work for a while, also had an ablation that failed. Ended up going on dofetilide, which controlled the Afib, but my PVCs and PACs were out of control and I could barely function (I think that previously the flecainide had helped to control them). I found that deep breathing and meditation helped my anxiety and worked a little with the PVCs and PACs. The doctors had me try three different beta blockers and I reacted terribly to all of them. Then they had me try Acebutolol (a beta blocker that works in a different way than most of them). It is time released, so I reluctantly took the chance and tried 200 mg a day (very low dose). It has worked really well to keep the number and intensity of PVCs and PACs under control and with very few side effects compared to the other beta blockers. For any of you who have not tried Acebutolol, you may want to talk to your cardiologist about it. Good luck. I understand your misery!!!

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Replies to "For all of you who have experienced difficulty with PVCs and PACs, I have been able..."

Hello
Thank you for your post. My cardio has stated that I do not have Afib and that my PACs will not lead to Afib or anything else. According to my Cardio and EP, they really cannot do much else more besides try new meds. I am retrying Diltiazem and I guess it takes some time to work..even if it does. A former cardiologist of mine stated to never try Flecianide especially if you do not have Afib as it can cause even more problem.
I can ask about the Acebutolol and see if that works, but I cannot have it reduce my heart rate.

I know my PACs will never go away...I get it. I just want them to reduce in number and impact. If I could do that, my life and daily outlook would be brighter and I would not feel so hopeless.
Thank you!