a-fib
I have a-fib and I take 5 mg of Coumadin daily and 100 mg of Lopressor each day. My a-fib usually comes and goes but I have been in a-fib for the past 2 days. I feel my heartbeat in my throat which makes me cough and I am extremely tired and short of breath. I went to bed last night at 7PM and slept until 645AM this morning but I don't feel rested. I could sleep now. Also I have a metallic/bloody taste in my mouth most of the time, I'm sure from the Coumadin. Does anyone else have these same problems and if so, any words of wisdom?
5 Comments
A-Fib
by Roys - 2011-02-28 06:02:48
Hi
I had A-Fib for 8 years and was on Plavix then Coumadin. I told my Dr I was not going to take any more Coumadin and wanted Clexane pre-filled syringes, which I used only when I got A-Fib. I am now free of A-Fib after a PVI and a PM.
Cheers Roy
Getting off Coumadin and Lopressor
by ElectricFrank - 2011-03-01 01:03:13
I agree with your approach JB.
I don't need either of these, but I decided 6 years ago to stay off statins for chloresterol. Doc didn't like that either and said he gave me a 50% chance (whatever that means) of having a heart attack in the next 6 months. It's now been 6 yrs.
From some of the data I have studied, the increased chance of stroke isn't much more than the risk of taking a blood thinner for years. Sooner or later someone will mix up the dose with a good chance of bleeding out.
frank
thanks for your thoughts
by SMH - 2011-03-01 02:03:36
thanks to all who answered my questions about a-fib and coumadin. I see my cardiologist on 3/16 and will definitely talk to him about the meds. This is no fun is it? Thanks again, SMH
My A-fib story
by Bill T - 2011-03-01 10:03:46
I have been a long time a-fib victim. In 2007 I had, HIFU, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound surgery for A-Fib. It was only partially successful. With the surgery and beat blockers I was only experiencing occasional episodes until June 2010. When the a-fib came romping stomping back. My cardiologist increased the beta blockers, Acebutolol, but that didnt slow it down. He put me in the hospital to monitor switching to a stronger beta blocker, Rythmol (PROPAFENONE (proe pa FEEN one). I was already on 800 mg of Acebutolol per day. He started me at 175 mg Propafenone 3 times a day but that wasnt enough to control the A-fib. He increased the dosage to 225 mg three time a day which has controlled the a-fib since July last year. But the high dosage of beta blockers caused Bradycardia so I got a PM. In August my primary care doctor monitoring my anticoagulant drug switched me from Warfarin to the new Pradaxa which is a lot more convent. If I didnt have super drug coverage with Tricare I would still be on Warfarin. (I had just got the meter for home INR/Protime testing when I switched to Pradaxa. Medicare covers home INR testing.
I must have a high tolerance for prescription drugs because I have never had any side affects that other seem to experience.
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by J.B. - 2011-02-28 03:02:07
Based on my experience you may have yourself a doubleheader going just like I did.. Yes Coumadin can cause severe fatigue and the crappy taste you are experiencing. The Lopressor, which is a beta blocker, can also cause fatigue. Beta blockers can also cause arrhythmia like the heart beat in your throat you describe. I never found any amount of sleep that would result in my not feeling tired.
I suggest you talk to your Dr and see if there aren't some other medications that you can take for your problems. One I know of is Pradaxa in place of the Coumadin. I'm told it is just as good to prevent strokes that may be caused by a-fib and doesn't bring with it the side effects. Doesn't require frequent testing either. The catch is it is worse than buying gold and so far there aren't many insurance companies that cover it.
In case you wonder what I did, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE ELSE. I quit both the Coumadin and the Lopressor. Not at once, but I tapered off over a two month period. Yes the Dr didn't like and said I was crazy in so many words, but I had decided, what the hell, I would live until I die and at least I wouldn't feel like death warmed over each day. So far (2 years) I have gotten away with it.