I am scheduled for a 3-day Hospital stay in a few weeks to be started on this AFib med, Tikosyn (dofetilide). A 3-day Hospital stay is the norm required so they can monitor your heart rhythm to the drug. I have been on Amiodarone for years with no good lasting results. So now the plumber and electrician recommend this Tikosyn.

Doctors are telling me it is safe and just normal(?) routine to be monitored in Hospital in case there are any issues. (any other drug I have ever been on it's the prescription, fill it and take it)

Have any members been through this procedure? What can I expect? A crash cart kept at my bedside? 3-days of reading and watching TV? Hallucinations? Violent fits of pain and discomfort while they adjust the dosage?

I asked the Doctor if I could leave the Hospital to go to lunch. He laughed and said no, but I could do what I wanted as long as I didn't leave the Hospital.

If any members have been through this adventure I would love to hear your experiences as to maybe what I could expect. The wife is calling this her vacation but I don't know if it will be one for me

UPDATE: Heading off to the Hospital this AM to start the 3-day vacation. Will of course take notes and update on my hopeful return

This message has been edited. Last edited by: urbanwarrior238,

3 days watching tv. They will draw blood and do labs several times a day. No biggie.

You're not going anywhere because of the potential of developing fatal arrhythmia during those 3 days, while you're given the med. If it happens in hospital, you're likely to survive, because available treatments are at bedside. If it happens while you're at McD, well...

My visit lasted 5 days....took blood every 4 hours. I think they were checking for kidney function if I remember right. Anyway I was on it for 5 years, had A-fib on and off during that time and the had my first ablation that didn't work very well. Had my second ablation in May 2017 and haven't had an A-fib episode since.

I knew about Tikosyn but never used it. Monitoring is just as Q said.
Sounds like you’re in good hands.

quote:

Originally posted by Genorogers:
My visit lasted 5 days....took blood every 4 hours. I think they were checking for kidney function if I remember right. Anyway I was on it for 5 years, had A-fib on and off during that time and the had my first ablation that didn't work very well. Had my second ablation in May 2017 and haven't had an A-fib episode since.

6-Cardioversions and 2-ablations so far. The good news is the Doc calls it AFlutter, no AFib or PVC's anymore but my Kardia shows it as AFib but last two checks I am in NSR. Don't get old!

I don't remember how many cardioversions they did on and off but I don't have a Kardia that I check but for the last 7 years and 14 or so cardiologist visits they say I'm in NS Rhythm, not trying to get old but still 76 !

Check the box for Sponge Bath.

I just had my 11th cardioversion a couple weeks ago. I’ve had a couple ablations. If (when) I go back into flutter I expect I will get the latest tech (only introduced at OSU Werner 2 months ago) and that is pulsed field ablation. The nurse’s analogy was a normal ablation is a bullet. The pulsed field is a shotgun. We shall see. I was on dofetilide a couple years probably and am currently no longer taking it. IIRC not good on the kidneys.

Amiodarone for years…I was on it for 2.5 months last fall, that and they increased my metoprolol from 25 mg to 50 mg. I felt terrible.

When I woke up in the mornings, my heart rate was 40-43, light headed and weak.

I was prescribed this until my cryoablation in November. The cryoablation went well. I started chemo in January, on my 61st b-day.

No AFib since the cryoablation.

I still take 25 mg of metoprolol a day for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which I have had for 5 years, but I feel much better.

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
I just had my 11th cardioversion a couple weeks ago. I’ve had a couple ablations. If (when) I go back into flutter I expect I will get the latest tech (only introduced at OSU Werner 2 months ago) and that is pulsed field ablation. The nurse’s analogy was a normal ablation is a bullet. The pulsed field is a shotgun. We shall see. I was on dofetilide a couple years probably and am currently no longer taking it. IIRC not good on the kidneys.

I go to OSU Ross at the Wexner Medical Center too. You're in good hands Krazeehorse.

After 4 ablasions I had them put a pacemaker in me.

No more AFib but then the flutter started. 3 cardioversions, the last one he did thru the pacemaker.

Then went to the hospital for 4 days to get on the Tikosyn. Was fine for a while, then the flutter started up. Was put on Ranolazine to supplement the Tikosyn.


Before one of my ablaisions another patient said it is "the indiscretions of our youth that were catching up". Couldn't argue that.

Yes it's been a journey,
Bob

I got persistent Afib 4 years ago. they put me on Metoprolol, and it just never went away. So a week later I had a Cardioversion. And it went completely away. like 100% away for 3 + years.

The last Christmas I had 4 drinks in a 24 hour period and it came back, just as persistently as before. Cardioversion and Metoprolol and it's been 100% gone for 8 months.

Seems like i am done drinking.

Anyone else had this kind of Afib experience ?

My paroxymal afib is under control with 20 mgs of Xarelto daily. Have you investigated this drug?

xarelto thins the blood so you do not form a clot and have a stroke. It does nothing to regulate your hearts rhythm. Your doc should explain things better Good luck.

In addition to 25 mg Metoprolol once daily, I am on 5 mg Eliquis twice daily to reduce the risk of stroke.

quote:

Originally posted by urbanwarrior238:
I am scheduled for a 3-day Hospital stay in a few weeks to be started on this AFib med, Tikosyn (dofetilide). A 3-day Hospital stay is the norm required so they can monitor your heart rhythm to the drug. I have been on Amiodarone for years with no good lasting results. So now the plumber and electrician recommend this Tikosyn.

Doctors are telling me it is safe and just normal(?) routine to be monitored in Hospital in case there are any issues. (any other drug I have ever been on it's the prescription, fill it and take it)

Have any members been through this procedure? What can I expect? A crash cart kept at my bedside? 3-days of reading and watching TV? Hallucinations? Violent fits of pain and discomfort while they adjust the dosage?

I asked the Doctor if I could leave the Hospital to go to lunch. He laughed and said no, but I could do what I wanted as long as I didn't leave the Hospital.

If any members have been through this adventure I would love to hear your experiences as to maybe what I could expect. The wife is calling this her vacation but I don't know if it will be one for me

Tikosyn can prolong your QT interval. They will monitor you to see if you QTc stays below their threshold because if it gets too long, you can get a potentially fatal arrhythmia called Torsades de Pointes.

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
I just had my 11th cardioversion a couple weeks ago. I’ve had a couple ablations. If (when) I go back into flutter I expect I will get the latest tech (only introduced at OSU Werner 2 months ago) and that is pulsed field ablation. The nurse’s analogy was a normal ablation is a bullet. The pulsed field is a shotgun. We shall see. I was on dofetilide a couple years probably and am currently no longer taking it. IIRC not good on the kidneys.

I got the Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) a couple of weeks ago. My first go around with this so I have no personal point of reference. First day after was lay on my ass and rest. Deb one day I climbed the stairs without having to rest at the top, first time in months. I was thrilled, medical miracle! After that things close to the way they were pre PFA. I got all pissed because like the cardioversion I had which failed, this appears to have as well. While bitching to my wife about it she reminded me that post procedure the Dr. said it would be three months before they could take inventory of its effectiveness. She’d recorder Ed the conversation thankfully. Though I felt I was 100% lucid clearly I could hear in the recording I was not thanks to the fentanyl. I’m hopeful but I guess I won’t be taking that fall solo canoe trip in the Boundary Waters this year.

I’ve not heard of Tikosyn. It was not brought up when discussing the options if the PFA does not take hold. I was told if this doesn’t work the they would try cardioversion which I have zero faith in. They did it twice consecutively to me and each lasted less then 30 seconds. All I see and hear about is how it didn’t work until I read from one person in this thread that it helped.

I’m on 20 mg of Xarelto X 1 and 50 mg X 2 daily. Heart rate still consistently at 120+, rarely under 100 and always in AFIB per my Kardia and Apple Watch.

Pulse field ablation appears to have the advantage of less chance of damage to structures surrounding the heart. As far as I can tell from brief reading, it has about the same success rate as other forms of ablation, which is about 70% each time.

BTT for Update, Heading to Hospital today. Will update with results.