Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Irregular Heart Beats While Suffering From Atrial Fibrillation?

My 68 year old wife has A-fib, has had a pacemaker for 2 years, and recently had a new bout with very irregular heartbeat. She saw her cardiologist on 3/20/17. He decided to temporarily up her dosage of Amiodarone from 1 per day to 4 per day. As a side note: she smoked for 40+ years from 1/2 pack to full pack per day. She totally quit 25 months ago! It seems that since the upped dosage was started, she started cough throughout the day and night, irregularly but never-the-less coughing, and often coughing up thick, dark brown phlegm. Could the 2 be related...the increased dosage and the dark brown phlegm? She has a previously scheduled appt. to see her lung doc on 4/20 after her annual CT scan of her lungs on 4/12. @nd question: should we be concerned about this that I try to move the CT & appt. up closer? Thank you. Bob Mermell
posted on Thu, 30 Mar 2017
Twitter Sat, 27 Oct 2018 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 29 Oct 2018 Last reviewed on
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

I recommend you to first lower the Amiodarone dosage to 1 per day and to take the CT as soon as you can. After taking the CT and see what the problem is the doctor should make a choice to stop Amiodarone or not and to give another medication instead of.

These problem may be due to Amiodarone, and if this is so the Amiodarone need to be stopped.These may be a primary lung problem that has not to do with Amiodarone and will need another treatment strategy.

Hope I have answered your query.
Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Anila Skenderi,
General & Family Physician
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Irregular Heart Beats While Suffering From Atrial Fibrillation?

Hello, I recommend you to first lower the Amiodarone dosage to 1 per day and to take the CT as soon as you can. After taking the CT and see what the problem is the doctor should make a choice to stop Amiodarone or not and to give another medication instead of. These problem may be due to Amiodarone, and if this is so the Amiodarone need to be stopped.These may be a primary lung problem that has not to do with Amiodarone and will need another treatment strategy. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Anila Skenderi, General & Family Physician