Coumadinization vs Plavix/Aspirin for Paroxysmal AF

[LDB4189]

My daughter, age 49, has been diagnosed with Paroxysmal AF after heart tests and wearing an event monitor, for symptoms of palpatations and minor chest tightness that would come and go at any time of day. She has been under particular stress in the past six months while back in college, but is active and involved in life! Her cardiologist prescribed coumadin therapy. As an RN, I am aware of the distressing dangers and constant monitoring of patients on this drug. She has no previous problems with clots, although she is on medication for genetic hypertriglyceridemia which is fairly controlled by exercise and medication.

Wouldn't Plavix combined with aspirin therapy not work just as well? Coumadin just seems like the old-fashioned way and more dangerous way to do things these days!


This discussion is related to Re: Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

[LDB4189]

Thank you so much for your response! It's great to know that your regimen is working for you, and you sound like a person who is very much on top of things!

Best wishes to you...

[lulama]

I can't answer your question.........but I can relate my recent experience.........I've had lone A Fib for many years........my former cardiologist mentioned coumadin years ago, and I talked him out of it.........recently my newer cardiologist strongly recommended it.....but...I'm  a person in my eighties, which I =m sure puts me at a higher risk for stroke......I just didn't want to have the bother of the frequent blood work, etc,......so I talked him out of it too......but he insisted on giving me Plavix, in addition to the 365 mg aspirin I've been taking  Maybe your daugher's episodes are more frequent than mine, and maybe the triglyceride problem creates another problem..............

He also put me on Diltiazem ER, with instructions to take three 30mg diltiazem fast acting, 30 minutes apart for an episode  (which I just had  this evening).........I add a 7.5 mg Tranxene, and that seems to help end it.......I'm nort an anxious person, but it's my opinion that  my brain just automatically goes into that state when my heart is beating that fast and erratic.........incedentally, a relative has had quite frequent bouts of A fib for some years,  and we both started fish oil and coQ10  couple years ago..........it reduced the amount of episodes for both of us.........oo maybe it was the placebo effect....don't know for sure...........also, she has changed jobs to one which has eliminated the acute stress she was under, and now has not had an Afib since .........so, if your daughter could reduce the stress, surely it would help........best wishes to you and her......