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Heart Disease  (Expert Forum)
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Re: Atrial Fibrillation
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

by louis__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By louis on May 04, 1999 at 20:41:50PI am 52 y/o male in excellent health with solo paroxysmalbrfib for approx 6 yrs. I have had all dx testing including echos (esophageal), stress testing(thallium),r and l heart cath w/swan ganz pressures....all very normal.brI have been on various meds to control rate and rhythm, none of which worked for more that 9 mo, including procanamide, quinidine, flecanide (had adverse reaction w/ventricular tach), and cordorone. I am currently only taking verapamil for rate control and coumadin...no rhythm control med. In the past I have been in atrial fib almost continuously when not controlled w/med. However, in the last 6 mo since I have dc'd the latest drug Cordarone, I have  been in atrial fib approx 8-10% of the time. I have episodes about every 1-2 wks of 8-12hrs up to 36 hrs of atrial fib, then convert on my own. The atrial fib almost always starts when I am asleep and goes away when awake and active.brI have the following questions:br1) Is it possible that the cause of my atrial fib is lessening...or have you known of patients who had atrial fib and experience a complete recovery? Or, should I be more pessimistic and expect it to get worse as I get older?br2) Is there any other medication that I could try to control the atrial fib that has few adverse reactions.?br3) Is there more likelihood that I will continue to have atrial fib at the current frequency, that it will get better or worse (considering that it has lessened from 100% of the time to only 10% in the last 6 yrs).brThank you very much for your support and advice.PPHR WIDTH=75% SIZE=4 COLOR=#000090
Member Comments

by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on May 05, 1999 at 15:19:29PDear Louis,pQ:  Is it possible that the cause of my atrial fib is lessening...or have you known of patients who had atrial fib and experience a complete recovery? Or, should I be more pessimistic and expect it to get worse as I get older?brA: In general afib does not lessen unless treated with medication.  pQ:  Is there an

by louis__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By louis on May 12, 1999 at 20:20:44

What is the scientific name for Rhythmol and has it been
effective in controlling atrial fib ?  Are the side effects
as bad as the others,eg flecanide, cordorone.
Thank you for being so helpful !!




by Cleveland Clinic, MD, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - CRC on May 18, 1999 at 09:04:01
The generic name is propafenone. This drug is effective in controling arrhythmias but like all anti-arrhythmic medications has potential side-effects.  Some possible side-effects are: bronchospasm, proarrhythmic effects, slowing of conduction, unusual taste, possible dizziness.
I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician
can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
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.










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