1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and medication side effects

Posted by Karenatmayo @karenatmayo, May 22, 2017

I have atrial fibrillation with very bothersome symptoms and started flecainide 3 weeks ago and sine then have had terrible side effects including dizziness, some nausea, unable to stand for more than a couple of minutes, extreme fatigue. I am now trying a different drug which has worse nausea side effects, some fatigue, etc. I am suffering with these side effects and there cannot return to work yet. Both, however, do relieve afib. Not sure whether to stick it out or explore other options (ablation) I am 68, female.

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warpedtrekker | @warpedtrekker | Dec 16, 2019

Short history:
47yo Male, 6'1" 220lbs. Recent EKG's and Echocardiogram = Normal.
Two DVT's/PE's (2015, 2018) due to Factor V Leiden clotting issue.
History of Palpitations and "inappropriate tachycardia".
Gallbladder removed 2018.

I'm on Multaq for a little over a year now. I take Xarelto 20mg, and Bystolic 2.5mg. Ever since I had my AFIB incident and started on Multaq, I have not felt the same. I tire easily. Usually in the evenings, about 1hr30min after I take my evening Multaq dose, I start feeling unwell. It's hard to describe. I have this slight heavy feeling in my chest, sometimes slight burning on my left side of chest. I've told my cardiologist and EP about it, and they don't believe it is the medicine. Although my EP has said I could try stopping Multaq, but my AFIB may return.

I am not sure what is causing this unwell feeling, but it was worse before I had my gallbladder removed. I would get extremely fatigued. I am at the point of going to Mayo Clinic to see if they can figure this out. Is it normal to not feel good when on anti-arrhythmic drugs for AFIB? Or could it be something else going on?

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2 replies
johnpny | @johnpny | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @justkiddingkim6 "What have you experienced with flecainide? I just started it and don’t like it." + (show)
@justkiddingkim6

What have you experienced with flecainide? I just started it and don’t like it.

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I’ve been on it close to a decade now. I would have to say very effective in my condition. I take it with a beta blocker. It is hard to opine on just this medication without considering the beta blocker. I would also have to qualify any assessment based on dosage. All that said this type of medication does slow me down. I also have to be careful of taking meds with some food. But it does result in far fewer PVCs and I don’t have any non sustained VT anymore. There may be other Meds that do the same that you could tolerate better.

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1 reply
justkiddingkim6 | @justkiddingkim6 | Dec 16, 2019

What have you experienced with flecainide? I just started it and don’t like it.

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1 reply
mannism | @mannism | Jul 16 3:45pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome to Connect, @braves04 I'm going to invite @predictable @lawsonsa @thankful and others participating in this..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect, @braves04
I'm going to invite @predictable @lawsonsa @thankful and others participating in this thread to help answer your question about drugs for aFib and hair loss.

Here are some related articles:

> Drug-induced Hair Loss https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/drug-induced-hair-loss-2#1
> Rivaroxaban, dabigatran and apixaban and possible risk of hair loss (alopecia) http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/safety/EWS/2016/RivaroxabanDabigatranAndApixabanRiskofHairLoss.asp

Braves04, how long have you been taking the medications? Did you change anything else in the last 4 months?

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Eliquis can cause hair loss. I have been off the drug for five months and still am losing hair.

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1 reply
mannism | @mannism | Jul 16 3:47pm
In reply to @lawsonsa "I take flecainide for afib. I started on 1 tablet morning and evening and found that..." + (show)
@lawsonsa

I take flecainide for afib. I started on 1 tablet morning and evening and found that the afib was controlled but my mood was moe grumpy. My doctor suggested I lower the dose which I have been doing. I have had an afib episode about every 3 months, but my mood improved. Has anyone else experienced this mood effect with flecainide?

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No, but that drug is contraindicated for persistent AFib. Flecainide almost killed me.

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bigoaktree | @bigoaktree | Jul 16 4:33pm
In reply to @karenatmayo "My apologies for the misspelling of side "effects." Cannot seem to correct it. I have stopped..." + (show)
@karenatmayo

My apologies for the misspelling of side "effects." Cannot seem to correct it. I have stopped the propafenone for a-fib because of its devastating side effects, the most debilitating of which was nausea. (The first drug I tried was flecainide which I did not tolerate well.) I am also suffering from anemia and think I need to determine the cause of that before I go any further. I do have a new prescription for Multaq for the afib but am not optimistic. I am supposed to start it tomorrow but think I will have to wait until I find more out about my anemia and until my body recovers from the previous drug because I am still suffering. I don't think my small body of 100 pounds can tolerate these drugs. Will be discussing ablation next week with cardiologist.

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My cardiologist put me on metoprolol for A-fib, 1/2 of a 25 mg tab in the morning and 1/2 at night. I've had NO side effects at all in two years.

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1 reply
lenmayo | @lenmayo | Jul 17 8:28am
In reply to @bigoaktree "My cardiologist put me on metoprolol for A-fib, 1/2 of a 25 mg tab in the..." + (show)
@bigoaktree

My cardiologist put me on metoprolol for A-fib, 1/2 of a 25 mg tab in the morning and 1/2 at night. I've had NO side effects at all in two years.

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Did it get rid of your A-FIB? It is mostly used for high blood pressure.
Anti-coagulants, like Eliquis, are mostly used to prevent strokes with people who have A-FIB.

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csjmjj97 | @csjmjj97 | Jul 17 10:44am
In reply to @mannism "Eliquis can cause hair loss. I have been off the drug for five months and still..." + (show)
@mannism

Eliquis can cause hair loss. I have been off the drug for five months and still am losing hair.

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My scalp hurt, and loss hair all over my head, couldn’t sleep with the itching and hair everywear.
Have to go back on it doing the watchman for 45 days, then if I have any hair left will never take it again.Not listed as a side effect, doctors don’t acknowledge it. When I stopped hair loss stopped but no new hair growth .

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csjmjj97 | @csjmjj97 | Jul 17 10:46am
In reply to @johnpny "I’ve been on it close to a decade now. I would have to say very effective..." + (show)
@johnpny

I’ve been on it close to a decade now. I would have to say very effective in my condition. I take it with a beta blocker. It is hard to opine on just this medication without considering the beta blocker. I would also have to qualify any assessment based on dosage. All that said this type of medication does slow me down. I also have to be careful of taking meds with some food. But it does result in far fewer PVCs and I don’t have any non sustained VT anymore. There may be other Meds that do the same that you could tolerate better.

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Killed my stomache, went to sotolol, but more dangerous, but doable, then ablation.

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jeniliz | @jeniliz | Jul 17 10:05pm
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@karenatmayo, Welcome to Mayo Connect, we are pleased that you have joined our online patient support..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@karenatmayo, Welcome to Mayo Connect, we are pleased that you have joined our online patient support group. I am sorry to hear of the side effects you mentioned in your post. While I've never been diagnosed with A-Fib, I do have a problem with rapid heartbeat. I started off with one med that left me with the same side-effects you mentioned and also a problem with excessive, busy dreaming at night (not nightmares, just very vivid dreams). I contacted my cardiologist and he switched me to a new med and it is working quite nicely without the side effects. Do you take the med with meals? Sometimes that can help. If you are still having problems, keep working with your doctor or look for a second opinion. There are lots of options out there.
I would also like to introduce you to one of our moderators @kanaazpereira who will be able to invite some of our other members into your conversation about treatments for A-Fib.
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Teresa

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Is anyone having issues with Eliquis? I am about to start that medication and just wondered what to expect.

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