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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Re: Afib and Bradycardia
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Re: Afib and Bradycardia
by Jackie-Mosburg, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Jackie Mossburg on June 10, 1999 at 11:37:27
Yesterday morning when I got out of bed, I lay down on the floor to do abdominal crunches. As soon as my head touched the floor, I felt my heart go into afib. I checked my BP and it was 150/100; my pulse was 70. I took my .125 daily dose of lanoxin and went for a four mile walk. (I normally take my lanoxin with my breakfast after I've finished my exercise. I believe that minimizes the drug's effect.) At the end of the walk, my heart had converted to normal sinus, my BP was 130/80 and my pulse was down to 50; I felt fine. Within an hour, my pulse was down to 39 and my BP was 90/60; I felt weak. No matter what I did all day (including a ten mile bike ride), I could not get my pulse to even reach 50. In your opinion should I be taking lanoxin? I have been taking it since I was diagnosed with afib two years ago. My Dr. has tried topral and cardizem C.D. I felt rotten most of the time when taking either of those, and my afib has gotten worse since I've been on medication. I take coumadin and have had no ill effects from that.
Yesterday morning when I got out of bed, I lay down on the floor to do abdominal crunches. As soon as my head touched the floor, I felt my heart go into afib. I checked my BP and it was 150/100; my pulse was 70. I took my .125 daily dose of lanoxin and went for a four mile walk. (I normally take my lanoxin with my breakfast after I've finished my exercise. I believe that minimizes the drug's effect.) At the end of the walk, my heart had converted to normal sinus, my BP was 130/80 and my pulse was down to 50; I felt fine. Within an hour, my pulse was down to 39 and my BP was 90/60; I felt weak. No matter what I did all day (including a ten mile bike ride), I could not get my pulse to even reach 50. In your opinion should I be taking lanoxin? I have been taking it since I was diagnosed with afib two years ago. My Dr. has tried topral and cardizem C.D. I felt rotten most of the time when taking either of those, and my afib has gotten worse since I've been on medication. I take coumadin and have had no ill effects from that.
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Dear Jackie
Digoxin does not actually prevent afib or cause the rhythm to revert to normal. It does keep the heart rate from getting too fast if afib does occur. Sometimes it can slow the pulse down too much. However, what you describe sounds like sick sinus syndrome - afib episodes alternating with periods of slow heart rate. A pacemaker is usually needed in this situation. You should see your cardiologist and be evaluated for the presence of this condition.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
Thank you for your response. I have made an appointment with Dr. Augostini at the Cleveland Clinic on July 6. I do believe the lanoxin has worsened my condition. I'm into fitness in a big way and have always had a slow pulse. In the mornings, when my heart is in rhythm, I run five miles, and later take my lanoxin with breakfast. When I'm running, my pulse easily accelerates to 120 and then comes down gradually to the 50's after my cool down. Is it possible that taking the lanoxin with breakfast (I eat a lot of fiber.) diminishes it's effect and the fact that I took it well before breakfast yesterday, gave me the full wallop and very slow pulse? Once you've started taking lanoxin, can you ever stop taking it? Jackie
Dear Jackie
Digoxin absorption can be affected by many different medications and diets. I do not think that what happened to you should just be attributed to variable levels of digoxin absorption, though that is a possibility.
I have discontinued digoxin in many patients safely - it is pretty easy to do.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
I am so grateful for this forum. When I meet with Dr. Augostini on July 6, I will be bringing my medical records that include a stress test, echocardiogram, catherization, Holter monitor reports, EKG's when I've been in afib, and recent blood work. What other tests might I expect to have at Cleveland Clinic?
Follow Ups:
Re: Afib and Bradycardia CCF CARDIO MD - DLB 6/11/1999
(2)
Afib and Bradycardia Jackie Mossburg 6/13/1999
(1)
Re: Afib and Bradycardia CCF CARDIO MD - DLB 6/14/1999
(0)