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.

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ray2600 01/09/2012

Am i correct that this is the right definetion and if that is what do my friends keep in pocket .
i use to carry a spirin before , after being with a fib i dont know what to carry .

i am on warafin , so i would like to know if this is what other friends carry in thier pocket .

kindest regards

ray
los angeles

pacyetep 01/09/2012

Pill in the Pocket (PIP) refers only to anti arrythmic drugs (AADs), not anticoagulation or rate control drugs.

PIP is used for Paroxysmal (off and on) bouts of AFIB where symptoms occur. Drugs like Flecainide are used.

If you are asymptomatic, you wouldn't know when to take them

If you are on rate control drugs like a betablocker, your heart shouldn't race.

ray2600 01/09/2012

thanks as always for making it clear ,yes i am on betablockers and heart rate control meds .

thanks sir

yogacat 01/09/2012

My cardio dr. has me take metoperlol when I have episode. I don't think it does any good, but I asked him today about an anti arrythmic,and he said no.

marikay234 01/09/2012

You are right Petey, that antiarrythmics are often the drug used. However, I have used diltiazem as a PIP. Despite taking 200mg of toprol daily it wouldn't provide enough rate control for me if I went into a fib. I would pop a 30mg diltiazem (not the extended release) and it would help to control the rate better, and with a slower heart rate it seems like it is easier for the heart to get back into NSR.
Now I take flecainide and 100mg of toprol daily, and still carry the diltiazem just in case.

deleted_user 01/10/2012

The EP told me last week that PIP Is used most often in Europe and they carry a high dose anti arrhythmic. He suggested he might do that for me if I stay stable most of the time.
I would not try this without the OK from your physician however.

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