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Suggest Treatment For Low Heart Rate And High Thyroid Levels
Question: Husband is in afib. History of afib but previously has come out when cardioverted or medicated. In May he was in a fib and did not respond to meds. Heart rated lowered to below 100 so was discharged. Drs plan cardioversion in Sept. no response to thyroid drug yet. Thyroid levels out of wack, very high, and he has been on bromcryptine in the past for pituitary. Not now though. Any less invasive ways of dealing with this, any healthy thyroid suggestions, he's taking iodine and a thyroid supplement to make it healthy, and taking med to cause it to slow or die off.
Brief Answer:
Rate control
Detailed Answer:
Hello, madame. I am Dr. Meriton. Thank you for your question. I carefully read your concern.
If the atrial fibrillation is secondary to thyroid hormone levels, then there is a tendency that the cardioversion, both pharmacological or electrical, probably will be ineffective. Even though there may be moments of successful cardioversion, the rhythm gained later will be atrial fibrillation again. On the other hand, thyroid supplements can take a little while to give its highest effect, until reaching the plateau. My opinion is that you should measure thyroid hormones often, at this time, and constantly discuss the levels with your endocrinologist.
In this moment, I would recommend an cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram), to define if this arrhythmia is a primary heart problem, or secondary to thyroid function. Then, to carefully measure the diameter and volume of the atria. I would suggest that the best strategy is rate control, which means keeping the heart rate within normal range (60-90 beats per minute while on atrial fibrillation), and anticoagulation (blood thinning - since a fibrillating atrium can generate thrombi - little blood clots - then can be pumped elsewhere in the body, by the heart). To reach the rate control, various drugs and drug classes can be used, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin and/or antiarrhythmic agents, like amiodarone, propafenone etc. I recommend you to further discuss this option with your husband's cardiologist. With the proper rate control and blood thinning, atrial fibrillation is a potentially benign arrhythmia.
I hope I was of help. If you have further questions, I would be happy to help you.
Best regard,
Dr. Meriton
Rate control
Detailed Answer:
Hello, madame. I am Dr. Meriton. Thank you for your question. I carefully read your concern.
If the atrial fibrillation is secondary to thyroid hormone levels, then there is a tendency that the cardioversion, both pharmacological or electrical, probably will be ineffective. Even though there may be moments of successful cardioversion, the rhythm gained later will be atrial fibrillation again. On the other hand, thyroid supplements can take a little while to give its highest effect, until reaching the plateau. My opinion is that you should measure thyroid hormones often, at this time, and constantly discuss the levels with your endocrinologist.
In this moment, I would recommend an cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram), to define if this arrhythmia is a primary heart problem, or secondary to thyroid function. Then, to carefully measure the diameter and volume of the atria. I would suggest that the best strategy is rate control, which means keeping the heart rate within normal range (60-90 beats per minute while on atrial fibrillation), and anticoagulation (blood thinning - since a fibrillating atrium can generate thrombi - little blood clots - then can be pumped elsewhere in the body, by the heart). To reach the rate control, various drugs and drug classes can be used, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, digoxin and/or antiarrhythmic agents, like amiodarone, propafenone etc. I recommend you to further discuss this option with your husband's cardiologist. With the proper rate control and blood thinning, atrial fibrillation is a potentially benign arrhythmia.
I hope I was of help. If you have further questions, I would be happy to help you.
Best regard,
Dr. Meriton
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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