EKG

Episodic Atrial Fibrillation Home Management

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Episodic Atrial Fibrillation Home Management, Intermittent Atrial Fibrillation Pill in the Pocket, Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Home Management

  • Indications
  1. Episodic Atrial Fibrillation
    1. Fewer than 12 Atrial Fibrillation episodes yearly
  • Contraindications
  1. Congestive Heart Failure or other structural heart disease
  2. Coronary Artery Disease
  • Protocol (Initiated by Cardiology)
  1. Cardiologists prescribe agent
    1. Flecainide (Tambicor) 200-300 mg
    2. Propafenone (Rhythmol) 600 mg
  2. Patient takes agent as needed at Atrial Fibrillation symptom onset
    1. Expect improvement within 2 hours of pill
    2. High rate of cardioversion within 8 hours
  3. ER indications
    1. No improvement in 2 hours
    2. Pulse increases after dose (Atrial Flutter)
  4. Safety
    1. Low Incidence of proarrhythmia
  • References
  1. (January 2005) Prescriber's Letter, p. 6