Afib After beta blocker

[rknight46]

I have never had afib before i was put on a beta blocker.  The doctor i see now put me on a calcuium channle blocker and prilosec otc and so far no afib.  When i would get afib it would only be at night and at 4-5am every time i got an episode.  i have beeb to a cardio docotor and he said i have lone afib,  no heart diesase except high blood pressure, and it is under control now.  When i would have these episodes just prior to going to bed the night before i remember haveing acid reflux.  i have had acid reflux prior to the beta blocker. and after beta blocker i started the afib episodes.  could it have been the beta blocker, acid reflux with beta blocker that caused my afib.  I have been afib free for three months now.    but that does not mean any thing becuase my last episode was three months ago before switching to the channel meds, prior to that it have been a month, prior to that a year ago last christmas eve.  

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Beta blockers may increase the incidence of atria fib with vagally mediated atrial fib. Otherwise, it is used to decrease heart rates with atrial fibrillation.  Beta blockers do not decrease the incidence of atrial fibrillation.  If you notice a strong correlation with beta blockers and atrial fib, calcium channel blockers might be a better choice.

Hope this helps.

[rknight46]

i should also put on here that i have had an echo after my episode last year on christmas eve and i have also had an holter monitor and all came back normal

[tickertock]

As far as I know beta blockers can aggravate what is known as vagally mediated a-fib.

[rknight46]

so the beta blocker might have caused the afib after all is that what you are saying?  Since prior to the beta blocker i never had this problem?

Thank you

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I would say is it is very hard to tell.  I have read anecdotes of vagal atrial fib increased with beta blockers. I have never read it in a text book.  It would be difficult to prove.

[BlueEgg]

I had the most serious case of atrial fibrillation that my cardiologist has ever seen. He put me on 320 mg of sotalol which is a beta blocker and it stopped it. I did not want at age 46 to be on medications and I discovered a cure. What really settled my heart into a normal rhythm finally, and for good now the past 11 years, is strenuous EXERCISE. I joined a gym and a certified trainer gave me a program. After one month, slowly, bit by bit, with my cardiologist's okay, I was able to get off the beta blockers completely.  And that was 11 years ago...and I am still walking on the treadmill several times per week.