What other treatments are available for controlling atrial fib?
I am on 120 mg. of Diltiazem to slow my heart rate with Atrial fib. It is causing a lot of leg swelling which interferes with my walking. Is there any other drug with fewer side effects that you can suggest? I would appreciate your answer on this. Thanks.
Submitted by Dorothy from Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 08/24/2014
Beta blockers and Digoxin can be used to control heart rate individually or together. Alternatively, cardioversion can be considered. In this situation, the patient can be induced into a normal rhythm with an electrical shock and kept in a normal rhythm with medications, e.g., amiodarone, flecainide, etc. Additionally, an invasive catheter-based ablation procedure could be considered to “cure” the problem. It is best to go over the options with your cardiologist.
