Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
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 begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
So after spending a pretty miserable month getting up to a normal clinical dose of diltiazem to no avail, my cardio just put me on propafenone. I know a few folks here have taken it, I was wondering if they'd share their experiences here, so I have an idea of what to expect. This is the first time I've taken an anti-arrhythmic, and after reading the potential side effects, I'm a little nervous.
Then they put me on propafenone and it kept me out of afib for 8 months with manageable diarrhea and occasional palps as the only known side effects - then it just suddenly stopped working.
They started talking ablation, which I'm not ready for, so they had me try flecainide. It's wonderful. I feel totally back to normal with no side effects (that I'm aware of) and just a couple very short afib episodes in 13 months now.
For me the drugs have been worth a try. They keep improving ablations, and so far I've been given 2 extra years toward getting the procedure better. Everyone is different....you just need to keep working at it until you find what is best for you.
Best wishes to you.
Yr and half ago, I had weeks of afib as a result of epinephrine. I'd be in it for days, then out for a day or 2 and back in. My Cardio Dr. gave me Rhythmol 300 mg. to use as PIP to convert me.
I took my first 300mg. one morning, and it was pretty bad for me. I felt much worse than I did in afib. I wasn't stable and just stayed in bed for the day...awful. But, I did convert in about 2 hrs. And my episodes started to get further apart. It gave me a taste of metal in mouth...strange taste!
I tried taking 150mg. and I didn't convert, but I didn't feel awful either. I am still experimenting with how to take it, that will work for me. Usually, I take Metoprolol when I get an episode, but when there is something I really want to do, I will take the Rythmol.. As time has passed, I can take 300 mgs. and not feel as bad as the first time but, I don't like the way I feel.
This yr. I have converted by taking a Metoprolol, and then mowing my yard, or doing my version of a jog around the block. Until my last episode, and nothing worked.
I would like to try Flecainide as PIP. I think most folks here like it better.