Medications for rhythm control can be prescribed or administered by a provider on your care team. Procedures are generally done by a heart rhythm doctor, called an electrophysiologist (EP for short), at specialized facilities.
Three of the main treatments used in rhythm control are described below. These treatments can be
done alone or in combination.
- Antiarrhythmic medication: drugs that can be used to return your heart to normal rhythm or be used on a daily basis to maintain normal rhythm. They can either be taken by mouth or given through an IV.
- Electrical cardioversion procedure: this consists of quick low-energy electrical shocks help reset
your heart to a normal rhythm. This procedure is done in the hospital or emergency room - Catheter ablation procedure: A catheter ablation is a procedure that typically uses small amounts of cold or heat energy to block the electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats. This procedure is usually done when antiarrhythmic drugs or cardioversion are not working but may be the first treatment for some patients.