Propafenone
My Afib returned and my doctor wants me to go off of propafenone.
I have been taking it for many years.
.. AND my afib was GONE! 3 tablets a day.
Now he says I don't need it anymore because the afib returned.
I am afraid to stop it. The propafenone puts your heart in a different rhythm
and the pharmacist says it is dangerous to stop itl.
I got a second opinion and this doc also said it is ok to stop it.
Has anyone ever stopped it? Had any problems doing it?
Both doctors told me there is no cure for afib but they treat
it only to make the patient comfortable. Ughhhhh
He also said when you get older you don't feel it as much when it
happens and said you can go 20 years in afib with nothing happening.
I asked about CHF and he said that is always a possibility and staying
on the warfarin will prevent a stroke but when you turn 75 better
chance of a stroke. Any comments?
I have been taking it for many years.
.. AND my afib was GONE! 3 tablets a day.
Now he says I don't need it anymore because the afib returned.
I am afraid to stop it. The propafenone puts your heart in a different rhythm
and the pharmacist says it is dangerous to stop itl.
I got a second opinion and this doc also said it is ok to stop it.
Has anyone ever stopped it? Had any problems doing it?
Both doctors told me there is no cure for afib but they treat
it only to make the patient comfortable. Ughhhhh
He also said when you get older you don't feel it as much when it
happens and said you can go 20 years in afib with nothing happening.
I asked about CHF and he said that is always a possibility and staying
on the warfarin will prevent a stroke but when you turn 75 better
chance of a stroke. Any comments?
Replies
Hi Maymitut
It doesnt sound like you got the kind of answers you were looking for at the doctors. If you trust them, do as they suggest (after all, you did get two opinions!!).
Im sorry, but I cant help you with propafenone at all, I dont take that. Is sort of sounds like it has become your security blanket but if it isnt working anymore why take it? Who knows, maybe you wont get constipated or have gas or be tired or have problems with your coordination anymore or any other side effect that might have crept in when you stop!
I googled stopping propafenone and saw that one site said it isnt recommended stopping cold turkey (your heartbeat may become irregular if you suddenly stop taking propafenone.) and another said can be stopped cold turkey. Either way it goes back to trust your doctor, he knows you and your medical history and he probably deals with this drug daily and they are only a telephone away. Ask him!
I hope you get this cleared up, let me know how it goes!
Thinking of you. Take care.
Hi Acroos the pond... Thank you for your input.
I spent Easter Sunday in ER. Heart rate went to 41 and I felt faint.
In ER it went to 135 and then back down ... so upset and scared.
The ER doctor said that he was shocked my doc wanted me to
go off of propafenone (Rhythmol) Not so sure he will do that
now. Prior to this Low heart rate I felt I had days when my heart
was slowing down to 60 for the first time in a month or so and other
times it was back up there.
I see my cardiologist on Thursday for a game plan. My doc says
there is no cure for AFIB and ER doc said so also. They try to make
people comfortable he said and that is the best they can do They
also said ablation works best on peoplle with LONE atrial fib
and someone who has not been in it a long time and then it only
works for 40% of the people and that also is temporary. I got
4 opinions on that .. although my doc has not suggested it.
he said that cardioversion is fraught with dangers of blood clots
when you convert ... for someone like me who has been in AFIB
so many years.
I have no clue what will happen Thurs. but heart has slowed down
from 135 all day yesterday. I was embarassed to go but I called
the excellus nurse line and she said 41 was too low. I told
the ER doctor I felt like a GOMER and he said not at all lots of
people are frightened when it happens ... so best you get checked
out. I am so discouraged. I don\'t know how Ed can stand me and
all these problems ... yesterday I went to a podiatrist for a sore foot
and he said there was practically no bone left on my foot and no
help for that. Gave me a brace that hurts like hell.... Not sure what
to do there... In spite of all this I am happy to wake up to blue sunny
skies and maybe here in the frozen tundra of upstate NY there
will be a Spring (rare) up here... even Niagara Falls froze over this
year plus all the finger lakes. Thanks for listening ... oh my God.
The ablation surgery sounded awful and don\'t think I could ever
go through with that .. might be so scared I would have a heart
attack before they did it. BIG CHICKEN. what a brave guy!!!!!!