Meds to stop Afib

The meds she means are called 'anti-arrhythmic' drugs. An arrhythmia is what she is wanting to control. Metoprolol and other calcium channel blockers are not anti-arrhythmic drugs; they only slow the rate of the arrhythmia. This can become a problem in some whose hearts, when in normal sinus rhythm (NSR), slow too much and enter the range of bradycardia (slow heart rate) which is generally seen to be less than 50 BPM. Happened to me.
The drugs one is prescribed for arrhythmias are numerous, but the most often prescribed are: Flecainide, propafenone, diltiazem, Multaq, Sotolol, and Amiodarone.

I highly recommend reading the book AFib Cure written by two highly esteemed Cardiac Electrophysiologists. The book is available on Amazon. It packed with information on AFib, including a thorough discussion on medications, supplements, tips, treatments, and overall lifestyle changes. I am now off the daily anti-arrhythmic drug Flecainide, and Eliquis. I use "pill in the pocket" approach discussed in the book with instructions from my EP on which med to take and how much if I go into AFib.

For the past 1-1/2 years since my big Afib episode, I have carefully used health monitoring equipment: Apple Watch, Lookee Tech ECG - 2 lead ( I don't like the Apple Watch ECG), Omron Connect blood pressure (it also displays a heart icon if it detects an abnormal rhythm), and oximeter to measure blood oxygen level. All data goes to the apps on my phone, where I can see historical data, print or display reports for my Cardiologist, EP, and Primary Care doctors.

I still have PACs and PVCs at times, but I am learning what my triggers are (stress, not enough rest, exercising at a heart rate over 110, traveling to an elevation over 4500, plane rides without extra oxygen).

If I start seeing more PACs or PVCs on my Lookee Tech ECG, I stay calm, take a nap on home on oxygen, and they usually go away on their own. If not, I take Flecainide and Eliquis.

I have also made many lifestyle changes that the book recommends.

Hope this helps.

I've been on dofetilide (Tikosyn) for at least 8 years with no Afib other than 2 episodes I blame on the COVID vaccines. No episodes in last 2 years. Works greAt for me.

@phillipdobrien Although my afib started due to a cancer med I'm taking, I've noticed triggers for an episode for me are chocolate especially dark chocolate (probably the caffeine in it), too many carbs in one day especially sugar (quite the sweet tooth) and sleep apnea. It helps to determine your own triggers. My episodes tend to start late at night or while sleeping.

I did try Multaq years ago for 3 days and thought I was going to have a heart attack on it, but I tend to have a lot of weird and severe adverse reactions to meds. Missing some enzymes needed to metabolize a lot of meds. That scared me away from trying any others especially since I have bradycardia from cancer meds too.

@janet23 I'm going to check out the Afib Cure book to check for other home remedies/lifestyle changes. Thanks for that suggestion!

I was diagnosed with Afib in 2002. I had an ablation in 2011 that didn't stick. My EP put me on sotalol, which mostly handled it. I had a stroke in 2020, and was put on 25 mg of metoprolol and taken off sotalol. Last year, I had a type two MI (not caused by a clot), which was brought on by extended high pulse and very high BP. While in ICU, I was upped to 100 mg of metoprolol daily, This was in April now, and I can barely tell if I am in Afib or not, as my pulse will rarely rise over 70. I use my Apple Watch to monitor my pulse. I don't need yet another gadget that I will lose.

Hi Zebra. I've been taking Propafenone HCL SR (Rhythmol) 325 mg twice a day since Nov. 2016. History - I had multiple episodes of A-fib and had to get a TEE and cardioversion twice. I had ablation and no episodes for a year. I wore a monitor for a month and did not have any episodes so I asked if I could come off the medication. They agreed and in three months I had Afib again. I had to have another TEE to make sure I had not had any strokes. They did another cardioversion and started the meds again. I'm happy to stay on them forever--no further episodes.
Good luck in your search for what works for you. Faye

I saw your comment about your triggers and thought this might add further value or insight. I am still a patient of Mayo and have been for years but go to Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN for "routine" cardio care) because of proximity to the city where I live now per my job. Initially within 4 appointments, they did the correct tests (which Mayo had always done and local MDs had not) , identified that I had Afib, discovered that I had had a heart attack in the past (which was and still is a shock) and recommended a cardioversion which I did. Per your message the fist thing following the cardioversion was to immediately give up alcohol, anything with caffeine and all chocolate for 30 days. Then there's a re-test. Bingo per your comments above ! I was advised to do that permanently and did so immediately. It was extremely difficult and still is. Giving up wine having lived in California for years and someone who enjoyed wine in cooking with meals and the like was in the "yikes" category. Add to that chocolate and all these drinks with caffeine (and decaf) ... I admittedly was a diet coke addict. Decaffeinated drinks are tough to find. I hope this adds value ... glad I just discovered Mayo Connect recently to see experiences of others.

To your wonderful book suggestion, I would add that of now-deceased (in 2022 after a long bout with pancreatic cancer) cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra's "The Sinatra Solution: New Hope for Preventing & Treating Heart Disease" (see: https://www.rejuvenation-science.com/sinatra-solution).

The Sinatra Metabolic Heart Protocol forms the basis of my extensive lifestyle & supplementation regimen that has contributed to a substantial reduction in my measured Atrial Fibrillation Burden (which now consistently measures below the clinically significant 11% threshold).

Note: I take no synthetic or pharmaceutical compounds...to address any of my post-acute autoimmune myocarditis (including the heart arrhythmias) & other Long Vax symptoms, which include a debilitating suite of G.I. symptoms, dysautonomia, abnormal blood clotting, & mast cell activation syndrome--among others.

Although deceased, Dr. Sinatra's Web site is still up & running & I periodically visit it to read & re-read his wonderful Blog posts, including one he wrote just before he died...on the subject of the escalating rates of acute myocarditis following vaccination with the Covid-19 mRNA 'vaccines.' These are readable, non-technical Blog posts that often provide information & insight...that can be further pursued--or even referenced through a literature search using PubMed.

@joaf37 @fdixon63 thank you for your thoughtful replies.

Faye: I had to look up TEE as I wasn't familiar with that. Good education. I'm glad you've found what works for you!

Joaf37: Sorry about the heart attack finding. I completely understand about having to give up the stuff you love. It's soooo hard. You've given up a lot, but I'm glad it's working for your Afib! Luckily I gave up drinking alcohol, caffeinated beverages and sodas when I was pregnant 41 years ago! Can you believe water was my weird pregnancy craving? How lucky and the craving never stopped. I've only been drinking water ever since. It drives my friends and servers at restaurants crazy.

I do have an incredible sweet tooth though and since I lost my sense of taste and smell 6 years ago after taking very strong antibiotics, I can now only detect the basics -- sweet, salty, spicy and sour -- no flavor at all. What a loss. Hard to eat tasteless food. The only one of those that sensations that brings joy without flavor is sweetness so it's very hard to give up my only joy in eating. Can't tolerate 'sugar free' products and yuk. I have cut out all sweets except one See's lollipop each evening -- 20 minutes of sweet joy to look forward to each day for only 90 calories. I went into Afib the other day when I had 2 lollipops in the same day, but not at the same time. I'm hoping my body can handle just 1!

I frustrate my cardiologist turning down Afib treatments, but I've just had so many scary reactions to meds in my life and being in advanced cancer treatment I'm trying to avoid invasive procedures or more side effects related to other ailments.

My best to all with Afib and I hope none of us has another episode! 🙂

Decaf is also bad??