Guest guest Posted May 9, 2004 Report Share Posted May 9, 2004 Hi all, I've been reading the posts on amiodarone here and elsewhere with great interest and thought I would weigh in. I had my 3rd AF episode about 2 weeks ago - while attending a conference in Disneyland of all places - and the facility I was sent to started me on sotalol. I had been on toprol xl then. I began to have problems a week later, lots of PVCs, insomnia, coughing spasms, dyspnea.. On Wed. my cardio took me off sotalol. On Thur, in addition to renewed PVCs, I also had brief SVTs. Now she wants me to start on amiodarone. She claims the toxicity problems can be monitored and that it has worked well for her patients. I have strongly resisted. The other option is rhythmol. Does anyone have any experience with this drug? Does it require inpatient loading? What problems might occur? How effective is it? What beta-blockers work well with it? I am also considering Maze or ablation, having read all the wonderful things about Dr. Gillinov, Dr. Natale & Dr. McCarthy at CC. However, my cardio claims because I have scar tissue that it would not be an option. Is that necessarily so? My LA is enlarged as well - a result of childhood RHD & MS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2004 Report Share Posted May 9, 2004 In a message dated 5/9/2004 2:54:31 PM Central Daylight Time, ohsobooko-afib3135@... writes: The other option is rhythmol. Does anyone have any experience with this drug? Does it require inpatient loading? What problems might occur? How effective is it? What beta-blockers work well with it? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rythmol, also called propafenone, is of the same type antiarythmic as flecanide. Neither is given to patients with heart disease. I was on rythmol for about a year. I think it may have made matters worse for me but different drugs work differently for different people. Sorry for all the different's. I was extremely dizzy for a couple of days when I stood up but got over it. Did your Dr discuss dofetilide? It seems to work very well for some of us. I take 150mg of amiodarone and have fair success with it . I have been taking it since April, 2002 with no problems yet. I have a liver test every 6 mo's and thyroid and lung tests once every year. How do you feel when in afib? If you feel OK many Dr's prefer to go the rate control route. If you don't tolerate afib well they normaly try the rate control drugs before recomending an ablation. I hope this helps Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2004 Report Share Posted May 10, 2004 You're right about Toprol being a timed release long acting version. I mean't to say that they are both the same compound, both metoprolol. I have been wondering about dofetilide and if I should go on it. My cardio has not mentioned it. She seems very sold on amiodarone. > >Lopressor & Toprol are the same thing, metoprolol, just > different brands. > > Toprol XL is a time release version of metoprolol, I am not sure about > Lopressor. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2004 Report Share Posted May 10, 2004 Neither is given to patients with heart disease. I was on rythmol How do you mean? Did you mean coronory heart disease? > Did your Dr discuss dofetilide? It seems to work very well for Yes, I hAVE BEEN reading up on it - will suggest it as an option and see what she says. I have paroxysmal afib and each time have gone to the ER since my heart rate tends to soar with it. I would like to consider maze or ablation at some point but I think they want you to try at least 2 antirrhythmic drugs before considering that. Also, I was told I would not be a candidate... will have to get other opinions from EPs on that one. I think they wouuld like to prevent recurrences of afib given my underlying structural problems (enlarged atrium, scarring, etc.) and they figured toprol xl was not doing a great job (recurrence within 3 months). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2004 Report Share Posted May 10, 2004 In a message dated 5/10/2004 9:10:26 AM Central Daylight Time, ohsobooko-afib3135@... writes: Neither is given to patients with heart disease. I was on rythmol How do you mean? Did you mean coronory heart disease? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I guess I meant coronary heart disease. According to my Cardiologist people with heart disease have a risk of severe fibrilation if they are taking rythmol or flecanide. I think he meant ventricular fibrilation. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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