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.

760 Members

3,682 Posts

0 Online

KevM 08/17/2015

Hi Everyone!

For those that remember me I am still around, I had an additional diagnoses that screwed with my meds. I am moving from Atenolol to Diltiazem be my rate control agent. Has anyone ad to go through this before? I have been on Atenolol for close to twenty years and am newly diagnosed with Chronic Asthmatic Bronchitis and one of the first things they did was change my beta blocker.
I am now also introduced to Q-var and Atrovent two inhalers that cause, ready for it? A-fib as a side effect.... How does anyone manage all of these at once? Boo Hiss! I AM ANNOYED AGAIN. Hope everyone is well in their personal tribulation.

Kevin

juniebe 08/17/2015

Hi, Kevin, I take asthma inhalers too. I've been on Coreg a beta blocker for my blood pressure for 8 years. Beta blockers & many asthma inhalers are contraindicated, but you have to breathe. I feel your pain.

TonyTree 08/19/2015

KevM

Prior to my Afib diagnosis I took the beta blocker Atenlol for high blood pressure. Once my doctor and I identified the appropriate medications for AFIB rate control, I ended up on Metoprolol and Diltiazem. Metoprolol is a beta blocker that I take twice daily and Diltiazem is a Calcium Channel blocker that I take once a day in a timed release capsule.

The move to Diltiazem interacted with the Lipitor I was taking so I had to switch to Crestor. I was doing well on Lipitor, but the move to Crestor improved my cholesterol even more. Mu current medication regimen seems to be working well for me.

I don't have to deal with your other diagnosis so I know nothing about your other medications. Good luck with you new medication regimen.

Tony

KevM 08/28/2015

Update - Diltiazem does not work for me - hauled out of house two nights ago after several days of clustered afibs pulse of 150-200 fluctuating, BP 198/117 to 190/110 on multiple vitals. IV Diltiazem 10 mg - no response, wait ten IV 20mg Diltiazem ...ditto no response. Thank god some of my body feedback responses work... ANP kicked in from atrial stress and I passed a bit over a liter of urine in 50 mins at the ER and started to return to acceptable pulse of about 80-100 and only mildly high BP at release. Two days later I feel like I have been kicked in the chest but I think I have NSR going again...what is next in the game of med roulette?

yogacat 08/28/2015

Oh so sorry this is happening....boo hiss for sure! Have you tried Metoprolol? It seems to be an old reliable Beta Blocker for rate control.

I hope things will be better for you soon!!!!!

sgmorr 09/05/2015

Tony,

I'm on diltiazem, metoprolol and eliquis for permanent a fib. I a about to have to start a statin. My internist prescribed Zocor, then my cardiologist changed it to Lipitor but then switched to Crestor! I have not taken any of them yet. I waited for the dust to settle with all the switching. From my reading, possible interactions of diltiazem with Zocor can happen, less so with Lipitor but none likely with Crestor.

Did you actually have a problem with diltiazem and lipitor or was the switch to Crestor prophylactic?

Steve

Join the Conversation