When and why you need drugs for atrial fibrillation

Many people with atrial fibrillation (afib) — a rapid, irregular heart rhythm — need to control symptoms, such as the feeling that the heart is racing or fluttering. Medication options include drugs that slow down the heart or help restore its rhythm. Because afib can also increase the risk of blood clots that can lead to a stroke, many of these people also need to take clot-preventing medications.