Re: Rythmol Again, Kathy in CT

June 5, 2004

> Hello,

> That was me asking about the rythmol on demand, presently I am

only on

> atenelol, but I think that I would feel more comfortable having

something that could

> convert me at home. > Kathy in CT.

Hi Kathy,

Is there a particular reason that you would not take rythmol on a

daily basis? I personally have found it to be a benign drug. It may

not prevent me from getting episodes of AFIB but it has not caused

me any ill effects either. In fact I can't imagine what my life

would have been like without it over the last two and a half years.

I think my AFIB may have been chronic without it. As I stated in my

last e-mail my EP thinks it is all about getting the Rythmol to a

therapeutic safe level in the blood and keeping it there. I don't

think the magic bullet oral drug, that you can take at home on an as

needed basis and zaps you out of AFIB, exists at the moment. So good

luck in your choices, I know they can be very difficult to make.

Regards,

Germaine

Canada

rythmol, atenolol, warfarin

June 8, 2004

> Kathy:

> I just started on rythmol SR (extended release version) twice a day

> at 225 mg a month ago. The EPs at UCSF confirmed that it takes 5

> days for the drug to reach " steady state " - a point I believe it

> takes effect. It seems rather unlikely that it can work on demand.

>

> Do you know what is the underlying cause of your afib? I too have

> only had 3 episodes in 6 years. My 2nd was in Jan. this year. I was

> told that more would follow shortly and frequency wld increase.

Sure

> enough, 2nd one was a few months later.

Hi, ,

A lot of things take awhile to build up in the blood, including the

beta blocker I'm on, but also have an effect while they're in the

process of doing that. When my doc talked to me about going on

flecainide possibly, I asked about the pill in the pocket approach of

only taking it when an attack came on, and he said in that case he'd

recommend a different med. I am 95% sure he said rhythmol for that.

I am not happy that your docs predicted more and more frequent afib

attacks. That would guarantee more attacks for me :-) There is no

way they can accurately predict that unless you have an underlying

heart problem other than afib, and it is contrary to the experiences

of many of us here.

June 8, 2004

Trudy:

Thanks for your comments. I neglected to mention I do have structural

problems as a result of rheumatic heart disease. Also, not all

cardios agree on prognosis, treatment options etc. So while one said

I can expect more episodes, my regular one said there is no way to

predict that. However, they do agree at some point my paf would

progress (what a word!) to chronic or persistent AF. The good news,

it appears is that it will then be easier to treat. I am still

mulling over that. Hence I totally understand how frustrating it is

for Kathy with her infrequent episodes. I decided that I just can't

focus on when the next one is. If it comes, it comes.

I have done quite a lot of reading on the various meds and none of

them indicated that rythmol could be used to forestall an episode,

assuming of course that you have a way of knowing that an attack is

imminent. Another frustration for me is all the research, clinical

trials, etc. involves subjects who do not have RHD.

> > Kathy:

> > I just started on rythmol SR (extended release version) twice a

day

> > at 225 mg a month ago. The EPs at UCSF confirmed that it takes 5

> > days for the drug to reach " steady state " - a point I believe it

> > takes effect. It seems rather unlikely that it can work on demand.

> >

> > Do you know what is the underlying cause of your afib? I too have

> > only had 3 episodes in 6 years. My 2nd was in Jan. this year. I

was

> > told that more would follow shortly and frequency wld increase.

> Sure

> > enough, 2nd one was a few months later.

>

> Hi, ,

>

> A lot of things take awhile to build up in the blood, including the

> beta blocker I'm on, but also have an effect while they're in the

> process of doing that. When my doc talked to me about going on

> flecainide possibly, I asked about the pill in the pocket approach

of

> only taking it when an attack came on, and he said in that case

he'd

> recommend a different med. I am 95% sure he said rhythmol for that.

>

> I am not happy that your docs predicted more and more frequent afib

> attacks. That would guarantee more attacks for me :-) There is no

> way they can accurately predict that unless you have an underlying

> heart problem other than afib, and it is contrary to the

experiences

> of many of us here.

June 8, 2004