Treatment & Management of Atrial Fibrillation (Rate Control , Anticoagulants and Antiplatelets Medications)

· Rate Control Medications

· Control the heart rate particularly the ventricular beats

· The goal of the medication is to slow the heart rate between 60-100 beats a minute

a) Beta Blockers

· They slow down the conduction rate by:

I. Decreasing the rate of SA node

II. By slowing down conduction through AV node

III. By making the AV node less sensitive to A-Fib impulse

· Eg of beta blockers propranolol and metaprolol

b) Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB)

· CCB prevents or slow the flow of calcium ions into smooth muscle such as the heart

· Verapamil and diltiazem are eg of CCB

C) Digoxin

· Helps slow the heart rate by blocking the number of electrical impulses that pass through the AV node into ventricles

· Lanoxin and Digitek are eg of digoxin

· Anticoagulants Drugs

· Anticoagulants inhibit the ability of blood to clot or coagulate

· Warfarin and Heparin are some eg of anticoagulants

· Antiplatelet Drugs

· Prevent formation of clots

· Aspirin is the most common antiplatlet drugs

· Others include Plavix and Ticlid