furosemide - 60 mg a day
- Diltiazem ER 180 mg - 3 times a day
- Potassium (Potass CH*K) 30 MEQ Daily - for cramps
- Warfarin - 5 mg - 1 time a day
- Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc - combo tab (Calcium 1000, Mag 400mg, zinc
15mg) - 1 time a day.
Lasix at 60mg. Is a pretty high dose that robs the body of potassium which will cause cramps and could be having adverse effects on his heart. Which could contribute to his A-fib? Supplementing doses help but is probably going down the toilet as fast as he takes it in. He really needs to talk to his doc about this. RED FLAG!!!
Diltiazem is a Calcium channel blocker and is very effective in controlling arrhythmias. However the way he is dosing has me concerned. The ER stands for EXTENDED RELEASE. This means that it is designed to release its contents over an extended period, Targeted at 24 hours, making it a Once A Day Pill. Since this is not an exact science which depends on eating habit and other intakes it may release higher doses at certain times and lower at others. Taking an ER pill 3 times a day will give one extreme high’s and lows will be a long way down. Doing this I’m sure he’s had periods where everything is fine and other’s where he feels the floor dropped out from under him. If he eats then he’ll get tired or dizzy a short time after he’s done.
This is the periods of overload and drop which will be eliminated if they dose him 1 time a day as it’s designed for. Diltiazem is available in immediate release if he prefers the 3 times a day. His doc needs to clarify this ASAP!
Warfarin (Coumadin) Their probably shooting for a 2.0 - 2.5 INR if he’s been hitting the mark at this dose once he start’s on the higher doses of V-C he will probably need a adjustment. V-C will lower your INR which is not a bad thing but his lab tech will get all excited and start asking all kinds of questions. Contrary to what you will hear V-C and Warfarin don’t interact.
It’s Simple: the rat poison is trying to kill you and the V-C is trying to save you from it. But in his case till they find the cause for the A-fib in can prevent bad things from happening. Take a steady dose of V-C and they can adjust for the change.
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