Medication

Hi everyone,

I talked to someone today that had Afib and he said they put him on(I don't know how you spell it) Afinanol. He hasn't had any more episodes he said.
Has anyone heard of it?..Nel

Nel,

I have compiled a list of drugs used to treat arrythmia and heart related problems, see below Generic Name (Brand Names)

Based on the phonetics of your mystery drug, I would say it probably belongs in the beta blocker category. I don't know of anything that quite sounds like that....

Useful to know:
Anti-Arrythmics usually end in an "ide"
Calcium Channel Blockers usually end in a "pine"
Beta-Blocker usually end in a "lol"
Anticoagulants usually end in an "in"
Ace Inhibitors usually end in "pril"


Joe

These are the Anti-Arrythmics":

Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
Bepridil Hydrochloride (Vascor)
Disopyramide (Norpace)
Dofetilide (Tikosyn)
Flecainide (Tambocor)
Ibutilide (Corvert)
Lidocaine (Xylocaine)
Procainamide (Procan, Procanbid)
Propafenone (Rythmol)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Quinidine (many trade names)
Sotalol (Betapace)
Tocainide (Tonocarid)

These are the so called "calcium channel blockers"

Amlodipine (Norvasc, Lotrel)
Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, Cartia, Dilacor, Diltia)
Felodipine (Plendil)
Isradipine (Dynacirc)
Nicardipine (Cardene)
Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
Nimodipine (Nimotop)
Nisoldipine (Sular)
Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan, Covera)

The "beta-blockers" :

Acebutolol (Sectral)
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Betaxolol (Kerlone)
Bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac, Zebeta)
Carteolol (Cartrol)
Esmolol (Brevibloc)
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol)
Nadolol (Corgard)
Penbutolol (Levatol)
Pindolol (Visken)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Timolol (Blocadren)

The anticoagulants:
Heparin
Warfarin (Coumadin)

The "Diuretics":

chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
furosemide (Lasix)
hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Microzide )
indapamide (Lozol )
metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn)

The "Potassium-sparing diuretics":
amiloride (hydrochloride Midamar )
spironolactone (Aldactone )
triamterene (Dyrenium )

The "Combination diuretics":

amiloride hydrochloride + hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic )
spironolactone + hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide )
triamterene + hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide )

The Ace Inhibitors:

benazepril hydrochloride (Lotensin)
captopril (Capoten)
enalapril maleate (Vasotec)
fosinopril sodium (Monopril)
lisinopril (Prinivel, Zestril)
moexipril (Univasc)
quinapril hydrochloride (Accupril)
ramipril (Altace)
trandolapril (Mavik)

Nel,

I think they were saying atenolol. It is a beta blocker, and if you are vagal, it may not be good.

Richard

Yes, as Richard says, it is Atenolol.

I have been on it for about 2.5 years along with Digitek and I have also been episode free (knock on wood). However, I do get a single skip or PAC every once in a while. Before the meds I suddenly started with continuous PACs for 3 days (nothing before that) which led into a full blown AFIB attack in the hospital. I was immediately medicated and felt better than I had in a long time. Before that I was always aware of my heartbeat even though it was regular. I only take 50mg of atenolol in the day and 25mg at night if needed. Sometimes my rate will start to go up (high 70s) if I eat late or overeat and I will take 25mg of Atenolol and it will stop that within 1 hour. Rate is usually 63-66 on meds.

I also take Slo-Mag (at the Cardiologist's suggestion) and B6. No caffeine whatsoever but maybe a piece of chocolate every now and then.

I have no idea whether I am vagal or not. My card the Cardiologist gave me to carry says Paroxymal AFIB as a diagnosis.

Karen

HI,
That's probably what he said on the phone and I misunderstood him.

That is a good list to have J.P. I'll have to print it up.
I take three of those. Amiodarone, Norvasc, and Hydrochorothiazide, plus I take cozaar.

I have no idea what type I have either. I ask one time but I believe it's mixed. I had gone a year and a half without an episode and then after I was taken off the Amiodarone, nine months later I had an episode. Stayed on one 200mg and had another episode in three months.
but I stayed home this time and took another amiodarone and that kicked it. Those hospitals will kill you.....

Thanks......Nel