What medicine should the elderly take for irregular heartbeat?
As the aging of the population intensifies, the health issues of the elderly have attracted much attention. Irregular heartbeat is one of the common cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, and rational use of medication is crucial to controlling the condition. This article will combine hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide scientific medication guidelines for irregular heartbeats for the elderly and their families.
1. Common types and symptoms of arrhythmia

| Type | Main symptoms | degree of danger |
|---|---|---|
| premature atrial contractions | Palpitations, chest tightness | Average |
| premature ventricular contractions | Flustered, dizzy | medium |
| atrial fibrillation | Absolutely irregular heartbeat and fatigue | high risk |
| ventricular tachycardia | Fainting, shock | Very high risk |
2. Antiarrhythmic drugs commonly used in the elderly
| Drug name | Applicable type | Usage and dosage | Things to note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metoprolol | Premature atrial/ventricular contractions | 25-50mg/time, 2 times/day | Monitor heart rate, blood pressure |
| Amiodarone | Atrial fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia | 200mg/time, 3 times/day | Check thyroid function regularly |
| propafenone | supraventricular tachycardia | 150mg/time, 3 times/day | Use with caution in patients with heart failure |
| Digoxin | Atrial fibrillation with heart failure | 0.125-0.25mg/day | Be wary of poisoning reactions |
3. Special precautions for medication use in the elderly
1.Principles of personalized medicine: The elderly have reduced liver and kidney function and slowed drug metabolism. The dose needs to be adjusted according to the creatinine clearance rate.
2.drug interactions: Many elderly people take multiple drugs at the same time. Special attention should be paid to the interaction between antiarrhythmic drugs, warfarin, diuretics, etc.
3.Regular monitoring: During medication, electrocardiogram, electrolytes, liver and kidney function should be checked regularly. Amiodarone users also need to monitor thyroid function and lung conditions.
4. Non-drug treatment methods
| method | Applicable people | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| radiofrequency ablation | People with poor drug control | radical treatment |
| Pacemaker implantation | patients with bradycardia | Improve symptoms |
| lifestyle intervention | all patients | adjuvant treatment |
5. Dietary conditioning suggestions
1.Supplement trace elements: Appropriately increase foods rich in potassium and magnesium such as bananas, nuts, dark vegetables, etc.
2.Control stimulating foods: Avoid strong tea, coffee, alcohol and other substances that may induce arrhythmia.
3.Maintain moisture balance: Dehydration can easily induce arrhythmia, but patients with heart failure need to control their fluid intake.
6. Latest research progress
A recent study published in the journal Circulation showed that new anticoagulants are safer and more effective than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. In addition, artificial intelligence-assisted heart rhythm monitoring equipment has also become a hot topic recently. These new technologies are expected to provide more accurate treatment options for the elderly.
Warm reminder:This article is for reference only, and specific medication plans must be formulated after evaluation by a cardiologist. If symptoms such as severe palpitations and syncope occur, seek medical attention immediately.
check the details
check the details