What are the types of medication available for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

So, a wide range of medications can be used for atrial fibrillation. The first step is to use medication that is good at controlling the heart rate. When the heart is beating irregularly, it beats too fast and that can make you feel worse and bring on all the symptoms. So the first type of medication is to control the heart rate. There are different categories, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, your doctor will go through these with you and they are generally used to keep your heart rate under control. Then there are the stronger anti-rhythm medication. These medications are used to try and keep you in normal rhythm. Atrial fibrillation has different types. Some atrial fibrillation comes and goes. You get a period where your heart's beating irregularly and then it goes back to normal. And some atrial fibrillation is persistent. It comes and it stays. Your heart's always beating irregularly. Now, anti-rhythm medication is used to try and keep your heart in normal rhythm as much as possible. So for people where it comes and goes, anti-rhythm medication may be useful to keep them in normal rhythm for longer periods. And for people where it's there persistent in irregular rhythm, anti-rhythm medication can be used and keep them in normal rhythm and out of atrial fibrillation. So there's a wide range of medications and your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of each. The stronger the medication the more potential risks and side effects and so that discussion will take place depending on which medication is best for you as an individual.