constrictive pericarditis

My 46 year old husband suffers from heart failure, following a partial pericardectomy for constrictive pericarditis. His heartbeat is irregular & too rapid all the time. The local cardiologist wants to put him into the hospital & try a new drug to slow his heart down. 1/2 of a Lopressor nearly killed him, but currently he is on Lanoxin which is not slowing his heart enough.
I have read articles on the internet stating that trying to slow the constricted heart down is not recommended because this heart NEEDS to beat faster to compensate for not being able to beat strongly. Having read this, & considering our experience with Lopressor, we are afraid to experiment with other drugs.
What is your opinion?

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear debbie,
If the rapid and irregular heartbeat is due to atrial fibrillation then I think that it is important to try to get him back into sinus rhythm.  This will add the atrial "kick" to his filling pressures and should help him feel much better.  I suspect the drug his doctor want to try is Tikosyn.  This is a new antitachycardia drug that can be very effective in controling atrial fibrillation.   Discuss your concerns with his doctor and then make a decision as to what the next best step would be.

[flowerysuec]

i have just returned home from hospital after 5 days where i was diagnosed as suffering from pericarditis. i am still very breathless and walking upstairs is almost impossible. i have been given paracetomol and voltorol for the pain. any suggestions to improve or quicken my recovery please.