Question: Are there natural ways to control atrial fibrillation outside of prescription medications including blood thinners? Is Lanoxin the primary medication for controlling AF?

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

Lanoxin often is used to control atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat, also called an arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation may accelerate the ventricular rate (the main pumping chambers of the heart) to very rapid rates. Drugs such as Lanoxin and Cardizem usually control it.

Ineffective muscular contractions of the atria place some victims at increased risk for embolism and stroke. Patients older than 50 to 60 usually are placed on lifetime Coumadin if the atrial fibrillation doesn't revert to regular rhythm (called sinus rhythm) to reduce the incidence of stroke. In younger patients, we avoid Coumadin if possible. Coumadin requires very close monitoring to prevent uncontrolled bleeding, and tests are usually performed monthly.

In the past, sometimes multiple cardiac drugs (anti-arrhythmic) were used to convert AF to normal sinus rhythm. Although initial attempts to convert often are reasonable, taking multiple drugs beyond those that control rate (such as Lanoxin) once the rhythm has returned to normal, has been shown to be more harmful than helpful because of side effects