Tikosyn and Verapamil

[sickora]

Does anyone take Tikosyn and Verapamil together? I'm going back into the hospital tomorrow to start Tikosyn. Currently I'm on Verapamil and Betapace, but the Betapace isn't working to control my a-fib. I've been through every beta blocker there is, and all give me some side effects. Same with Norpace. So I'm on to Tikosyn.

In reading up on Tikosyn, I noticed that Verapamil is contraindicated. So I was wondering if anyone else was using these two together. If this doesn't work, Amio is next, which I don't really want since I'm only 31...

[Sarah]

Hi,

I'm 37 and have chronic afib. I've taken all the betablockers, verapamil, and Tikosyn.

Frankly, all betablockers will have some side effects, nor will they prevent afib. Betapace is a betablocker hybrid that does prevent afib in some people, but it isn't the "big guns" of Tikosyn and Cordarone (dofetilide and amiodarone). The last two are both potassium-channel blockers (verapmil is a calcium channel blocker).

Personally, I took a beta blocker and Tikosyn together. I can't imagine that they will keep you on anything that is contraindicated for Tikosyn as this could have very serious and dangerous side effects. Please make sure to discuss this with your doctor.

Tikosyn requires 100% compliance --no missing a dose, taking doses too close together or god forbid double dosing. I used pill boxes and a log to make sure I was on track since the betablocker wrecks my short term memory.

That being said, it worked very well for about two years and should clear u p your afib just fine.

Feel free to PM me with more questions if you like. Good luck,

Sarah

[Largehearted]

Sarah.

Thanks for the expose on Tikosyn. I am on a 320 mgs of Betapace a day and the cardiologist kinda wonders why it has worked as well as it has. Anyway Tikosyn is one of the drugs they mentioned when they "informed" me that Betapace usually does not work as well as it has in my case.

I guess when the a-fib breaks through, they'll switch me to something else. It is helpful to hear from someone who has worked with a drug that seems to be in my future.

Thanks,

Leon

[Sarah]

You are very welcome. I forgot to mention that Tikosyn and Cipro (and a couple other antibiotics) CANNOT be taken together. There are also some anti-fungals, anti-malarials, and a bunch of other stuff that will interfere with it. They give you a list when you start it. It is imperative to give a copy of this list to ALL of your doctors of any kind (dermatologist, primary care, allergist, etc etc) as raising the plasma level of Tikosyn is very serious matter.

You can use the board's search function to find my other posts on Tikosyn (dofetilide) over the years. I was the 3rd person the Mayo put on it when it was first approved in 2000.

S

[cynthia]

I'm on Tikosyn and Cardizem (another calcium channel blocker)..and I KNOW from my doctor that you cannot take Tikosyn and Verapamil together

[sickora]

I went to the hospital last Friday and the Verpamil question was the 1st thing out of my mouth. The nurse asked the Pharmacist who said the two could not be taken together. Since I had taken my Verpamil that morning, I couldn't start the Tikosyn until Saturday. Everything went well, I was released Monday evening. I feel better now then I have in quite some time. Tikosyn is now the only drug I'm on (beside Coumadin).

When my doctor came in, he briefy mentioned that you couldn't take the two together, but nothing else. I guess I did not expect him to admit a mistake, but still... In the literature for Tikosyn the fact that you can't take Verapamil with it is all over the place...