Interesting article from Dr. John Mandola, MD (John M. Mandrola, MD is a Clinical Electrophysiologist, Baptist Medical Associates, Louisville, Kentucky who is also an EP). This is from Medscape.com but you have to be registered (free) with them to view it. The article is below for those who are not registered. Atrial Fibrillation Care: Put the Catheter (and Rx Pad) Down John Mandrby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
FYI-High or Low HDL levels do NOT affect a lower or higher risk of having a heart attack- The entire HDL supposition that a high HDL level protects people from having a heart attack is once again shown to be an incorrect medical belief that has no truth. Jerry Genetic Study Questions HDL Levels and the Risk of MI Michael O'Riordan Authors and Disclosures May 17, 2012 (Boston, Maby jerrynmn1 - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
FYI-Jerry Presentation Abstract Session: Late-Breaking Abstract Session Friday, May 11, 2012, 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Presentation: LB02-1 - Radiofrequency Ablation Vs Antiarrhythmic Drugs As First-lne Treatment Of Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation: (raaft 2): A Randomized Trial Pres. Time: Friday, May 11, 2012, 8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Location: Ballroom West Author(s): Carlos Morilby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
FYI-Jerry Has AF ablation reached first-line status? Posted May 13, 2012 at 12:09 PM, EDT by John Mandrola Rhythm-control drugs for atrial fibrillation leave a lot to be desired. In too many cases they fail to control the rhythm, cause undesirable side effects, or worse yet, create harm. Thankfully, AF patients have other options. For the past few years, the evidence base supports theby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
FYI-Jerry Turning the AF ablation world upside down--FIRM ablation Posted May 10, 2012 at 07:12 AM, EDT by John Mandrola On the atrial-fibrillation ablation front, the most striking news comes from Southern California. Dr Sanjiv Narayan has made himself famous with his paradigm-shifting work in the approach to AF ablation. To call his work "novel" understates it greatly. Aby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Clearly there are many different opinions among the medical profession and even those of us here about the "right" way to treat our affib. Medicine is a business, not a simple " help the patient Hippocratic oath event" for many Drs. and EP's. Yes, I feel that there are numerous questions that are raised by the the inordinately high success/cure rates spouted by certain EPby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
The purpose of my distributing this study is because each affiber has to be proactive, educate them selves, and not simply rely on what an EP claims. This study clearly indicates that there ARE people who appear to be cured by ablations. So it doesn't mean people with affib should not have an ablation. However, it does also show a very disturbing amount of people who are not cured vs. thby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
The article is fascinating because it is the first long term scientific research study of ablation results. My EP e-mailed me this study which was just published in the American Journal Of Cardiology. As you know there is so few followup literature on the actual outcomes of ablations as a "cure" for affib that it seems to me deliberate since EP's have a money maker in doing ablatioby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
While I certainly agree that the choice of what blood thinner medication to take, or any medication should be left to the final decision of the person and their Dr. it is essential that this be based on accurate facts. This is why it is so important for each of us to be proactive patients in terms of our medical care and also educate ourselves to learn as much as we can about the issues involvby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
FYI-Jerry Is Pradaxa a bad drug? May 4, 2012 It’s crazy out there in blood thinner land. The novel blood thinning drug for patients with atrial fibrillation, Dabigatran (Pradaxa) cannot get a break. It’s all over the TV: Pradaxa = Bad Drug. Today, on the prestigious heart news site, theHeart.org, an insignificant 116 patient study presented as a poster at a small symposium–byby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Results published in Stroke showed lower absolute ICH mortality rates for PRADAXA compared to warfarin RIDGEFIELD, Conn., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new retrospective sub-analysis of the 18,113 patient RE-LY® trial showed lower rates of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), including both fatal and traumatic ICH, for Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate mesylate) capsules 150mg taken twice dailyby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans- Thank You for the helpful information on your survey. I think your conclusions are fair for the population represented in your data. The new Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, Bordeaux-Pessac, France research study makes a point of noting that their study participants -"The authors pointed out that the population was not representative of patients with atrial fibrillation in the real wby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quality of Life issues with the affib monster are very important as with most other chronic medical conditions. Yes, avoid chronic affib if you can, yes chronic Affib appears to make it statistically more difficult currently for an ablation to work well, but those who have progressed to that point can still potentially benefit from an ablation. I do think some of the more important "nuggets&by jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have always been intrigued by the Natale "cure" rate of 90% plus. I have no doubt he is a highly skilled EP but it has been a constant question mark of why his and others have "cure" statistics so much higher than other EP's. The answers have always been that they have better skills, better equipment, they are cherry picking patients, etc. Let's see Natale and others provide long term study datby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I agree that it is good to finally see some long term studies being done by reliable medical sources. It is long overdue. I hesitated to post this because it will upset some. On the other hand, factual knowledge is power and desperately needed for those of us with affib. However, for too long there has been almost no creditable long term study data about Ablations, various other "cures"by jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Arrhythmia/EP "Sobering" long-term outcomes following ablation of atrial fibrillation" January 5, 2011 | Michael O'Riordan Bordeaux-Pessac, France - New data from one of the groups that pioneered the catheter-ablation approach for the treatment of atrial fibrillation provides a revealing look at the long-term results of the radiofrequency procedure. Arrhythmia-free survival rates after a singleby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Experts compare new oral anticoagulants preparing to battle for the warfarin market December 14, 2010 | Sue Hughes ©Steveheap/Dreamstime.com New York, NY - With the recent initial presentation of the ROCKET AF trial with the factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer/Johnson & Johnson), it appears that there will probably be two new oral anticoagulants available in the not-too-distant futuby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
What is the best home monitor in terms of accuracy for INR monitoring at home?by jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
New dabigatran safety data from RE-LY unveiled as watchdog group seeks answers December 8, 2010 | Steve Stiles Vancouver, BC - Last month, without fanfare, investigators for the RE-LY trial published a reanalysis of adverse-event data, conducted to answer lingering questions the FDA had about dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) before it would approve the drug. The letter to the editor puby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Save money and feel better. At Publix, we're always looking for ways to make your life easier. And helping you manage healthcare costs is no exception. That's why we're pleased to tell you that some commonly prescribed generic oral antibiotics are free at your neighborhood Publix Pharmacy. To take advantage of this great deal, all you have to do is bring in your prescription for any of the medby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I got the Pradaxa discount voucher card yesterday from my Dr. You take the card to your Pharmacy and pay only about $30-$50 for a 30 day supply of 110mg x2 per day=60 pills if you have any health plan (except medicare). Boehringer Ingelheim pays for the rest and it is good for 12 months. If you have Medicare the card will only give you 1 month at the discount. Since most Medicare plans have not yby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I got the Pradaxa discount voucher card yesterday from my Dr. You take the card to your Pharmacy and pay only about $30-$50 for a 30 day supply of 110mg x2 per day=60 pills if you have any health plan (except medicare). Boehringer Ingelheim pays for the rest and it is good for 12 months. If you have Medicare the card will only give you 1 month at the discount. Since most Medicare plans have not yby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
My Dr. told me that a Boehringer Ingelheim representative met with him yesterday and they gave him patient discount vouchers for one year so your out-of-pocket cost would not exceed $30-$50 per month. I will follow up on it but people who are interested, please ask your own doctor's office about this.by jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Will Medicare Part D Pay for Pradaxa, the New Coumadin Alternative? Posted Nov 08 2010 11:09am What To Do When You Have Heart Disease Blog has covered the topic of Pradaxa (dabigatran) extensively over the past month since the FDA voted to approve this history-changing alternative to Coumadin. Patients with atrial fibrillation can now take Pradaxa 150mg twice a day to significantly reduce tby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Is the cost you are giving for a 30 day (60 pills) or a 90 day supply (180 pills) of 150 mg-2x a day? -Jerryby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank You Ron- Sounds like a great deal with your Plan. Hope the other Medicare part D Plans get going on doing the same.Jerryby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Has anyone had their Drug Insurance Co. add Pradaxa to their covered formulary yet? I have seen 1 or 2 people say that their Medicare Part D drug plan is covering it. Can anyone confirm that it is true and what Plan you have? I also have a Medicare Part D Stand Alone Drug plan with AARP/United Health Care and they do not yet cover it. After speaking at great length tonight with their Pharmacyby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pricey New Blood Thinner Could Be A Deal Categories: Heart Disease & Stroke, Public Health & Prevention, Pharmaceuticals 12:31 pm November 8, 2010 by Richard Knox When is an $8-a-day drug a bargain compared with one that costs just a dollar? Could be when the cheaper drug requires lots of testing and fiddling with the dose to make sure there's enough of it in the bloodstream enough to prevenby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) will be available in both Canadian and US pharmacies as of today for its newly approved indication: to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, the manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, has announced. The company has also said the drug will be priced at a "wholesale-acquisition" cost of $6.75 per day, lower thanby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Aspirin does not protect against the type of strokes that are caused by affib related clots.So taking aspirin or aspirin related products for stroke prevention from affib is of no help in prevention. You are talking Coumadin, Warfarin, or some of the natural products that people on this Board use if they are concerned about strokes.That means reading up on the many different opinions voiced on tby jerrynmn1 - AFIBBERS FORUM