Q: I am 32 year old. I had undergone a mitral valve replacement 15 years ago. Since then I don't have any problem. Since my heart was so large before operation I was a chronic patient of Atrial Fibrillation. After discharge I was on Acitrom 2 mg / Lanoxin / Penidure once in 3 week / Persantine 150 mg / Isoptine 80 three times a day. In 1995 when I shifted to Mumbai due to AF the doctor there stopped Isoptin and Persantine and suggested Dilguard XL 180 and Aten 50 mg twice a day. But when I miss even a single dose of Aten/Dilguard, my heart beat goes upto 120/minute. Please guide me.

A:As you have already understood that your heart was enlarged before surgery and you are suffering from chronic atrial fibrillation. This has to be controlled. The present drugs that is Aten and Dilguard are quite efficient in controlling your AF. The aim of the treatment is to keep the heart rate within normal range which is done well by the above two drugs and since you have a what I believe is a mechanical prosthetic valve, anticoagulation, that is with Tab. Acitrom should be life long. So just relax and take regular medication and be under your cardiologists follow up regularly.