What is Atrial Fibrillation AFib
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begi...
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Doctor stopped Beta Blocker for Tambocor
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Hi,
A fib here. Converted with drugs twice, shocked once. I am not in A Fib all the time but have occasional flutters etc... Doctor put me on 40 mg. of Sotalol 2xday after shock. This stuff helps with the flutters but I am totally out of it most of the time. Cannot think clearly, slur words etc... I told the Dr. and he recommended Tambocor. I had been on Metropolol (25mg) for 5 years prior which did not do much but did help with anxieties. My concern is that without a Beta Blocker I may have a return of anxiety. The B.B. really did help with that. I am an anxious person anyway. I told the Dr. this and he didn't seem to care much and laughed and said thats one for my G.P. and to take the Tambocor or stay on the Sotalol. Does anyone know if I can reduce my Sotalol during the day so I can function? Also if I do reduce it will it work if I have an episode and take an extra to stop the episode. Will I not be taking the therapeutic dosage? Also does anyone who has anxieties have any experience with Tambocor? So many questions but I can't get all the answers from my Cardiologist, he acts as though he has to rush away. I feel he just wants me out of his way so he can see the next patient. I hate this. Yvonne Posted on 08/21/09, 02:08 am |
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I just had an ablasion last week. I was on fecanaide (tambocor) before the ablasion and also had been on propafanone and they both had really not been helping. I am still on flecanaide right now and it does seem to help. I talk it morning and evening to keep the a-fib away. It seems to be working.
As far as your cardiologist, can you get a second opinion. My cardiologist takes the time to listen and talk to me. He should really listen to you as you know your body. As far as changing any meds I would really consult with another cardiologist. Wish I could help your more. 
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I'm surprised you are having that much trouble on the low of a dose. I was on 180mg twice a day. I agree with the cardio. I think you should talk to you primary care doctor and ask about anxiety drugs. Good Luck! Wishing you well, and wishing you enough...
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Cardiac drugs do not help or relieve anxiety. It is mind over matter. If you believed a BB was helping your anxiety than it would have worked purely because you thought it does.
I have anxiety all the time. I have taken Tambocor and it helps some people who are healthy, but it is a dangerous drug non the less. It has a lot of interractions and a potential to cause cardiac arrest. Try to address your anxiety with PMD and you may not need additional drugs at all. Good luck!
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Thanks for the info. The beta blockers do help with anxiety and they are often used for such. I don't want to get on 'anxiety' drugs at this point. I just may contact another cardiologist. The thing is when I am admitted to the hospital for shock etc... the Cardiologist I am seeing now always shows up. It may be awkward if I go to someone else. He was the one who approached me in the hosp. he said that he had a plan for my a fib and that I should never have to be converted in the hosp. again. Its pretty much the therapeutic pills and then take one when your in a fib. I had such a hard time with the Sotalol even at low dose. It took me 4 weeks just to tolerate it. Then to have to try another drug I am scared. When I called the Dr. and told him I had a bad time at 2 weeks in he would not take my call and just told his people to tell me to stick with it. I thought they were supposed to listen to you when you had a bad reaction and act accordingly. I do not have much faith in this guy to be there when the next drug causes a bad reaction. Anyway thanks for your responses.
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I am taking 25 mg. of Metoprolol and 480 mg. of beta blockers (Diltiazem). Since starting this regime my anxiety has gone way down. About every 3 weeks I have to take 1/4 mg. Xanax 4 times a day for 2 days and then it goes away for another 2 or 3 weeks. I also told my cardiologist about anxiety and he said to go to my GP for anxiety. My GP has advised me to start on a very low dose of Prozac (20 mg.) and see how I do. I also found that if a pill bothers you during the day -- switch to taking it at night. It works much better. Good luck. I've had panic attacks all of my life but now they just manifest in a different way with all of the beta blockers and the Metoprolol. I finally figured that out after months of intermittant bouts with nerves. I hope the Prozac works. My husband takes it but after about 3 years he wants to up the dose because it looses its ooomph after a while.
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Diltiazem ( also known as Cardizem, Cartia, etc.) is a calcium channel blocker, and not a beta blocker. Diltiazem works by slowing the electrical conduction in the heart, slowing heart rate, and/or normalizing heart rhythm. It usually doesn't stop the afib, but it does slow the heart rate. Normalizing the heart rate certainly can decrease anxiety levels. I was always very anxious while in afib, especially if my heart rate was 180+.
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I have always had anxieties. When I had my first Afib episode the cardiologist put me on metropolol. It was great for curbing the the anxious feeling because it slowed down all those impulses. It helped tremendously during the 5 yrs. I took it. I'm scared not to have a BB in my system because I don't want to go back to the feeling I had before them. Thats why I don't want to just take the Tambocor. Some days are so hard on the Sotalol. I know the dose is very low but something is causing a crashing fatigue. Could it be the menopause?
Thanks for all the responses.
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