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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sandyabbey | @sandyabbey | Jan 22, 2019
In reply to @sandyabbey "I’m not so good at the moment. I got a bad case of Cdiff after taking..." + (show)
@sandyabbey

I’m not so good at the moment. I got a bad case of Cdiff after taking clindamycin. I e relapsed 3 times. Right now I’m better I think. I failed Flagyl & vancomycin. They have me Dificid & I’m 16 days off of it. I’m hoping I’m ok. If not I’ll ha d to have the FMT. That has had an impact on my emotional health. Mo far my heart & meds have been mostly ok I’m just happy to have good DRs.

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@ethanethanmcconkey When you moved my post I can never find it unless I move to lots of different places. If I can’t find it then I can’t get any use of it.

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1 reply
Ethan McConkey, Moderator | @ethanmcconkey | Jan 22, 2019
In reply to @sandyabbey "@ethanethanmcconkey When you moved my post I can never find it unless I move to lots..." + (show)
@sandyabbey

@ethanethanmcconkey When you moved my post I can never find it unless I move to lots of different places. If I can’t find it then I can’t get any use of it.

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Hi @sandyabbey if you click VIEW&REPLY in the email notification for this message you will be able to find your original post. The post is now located in a conversation titled "Atrial Fibrillation and medication side effects" in the "Heart Rhythm Conditions" group.

You can also find your original post at this link: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/side-efects/?pg=3#comment-258959

I hope this is helpful.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 22, 2019

Hi @sandyabbey

Once a post gets moved and is hard to find you can always go to your picture at the top of the screen. Click on the down arrow and then click on My Profile and then scroll down. It will show all of the posts you have made and the title (or the category) where they are located. I hope this helps. If not, ask more questions!

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poth1969 | @poth1969 | Jan 28, 2019
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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Yes I have. But I thought maybe it was because I felt so terrible from it. My head feels almost like a numb feeling. I cant focus. Hands shake. Fatigued... awful.. I'm only 49

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dyannne | @dyannne | Feb 4, 2019

Has anyone noticed coughing as a side effect of Metoprolol, generic for Troprol? I took Valsarton for years and had a cough all that time, thinking it was an allergy not connected with the drug. But I went off Valsarton and my cough was almost non-existent. Now I'm taking Metoprolol and noticing a dry cough the past few days.

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1 reply
healthytoday | @healthytoday | Feb 4, 2019
In reply to @dyannne "Has anyone noticed coughing as a side effect of Metoprolol, generic for Troprol? I took Valsarton..." + (show)
@dyannne

Has anyone noticed coughing as a side effect of Metoprolol, generic for Troprol? I took Valsarton for years and had a cough all that time, thinking it was an allergy not connected with the drug. But I went off Valsarton and my cough was almost non-existent. Now I'm taking Metoprolol and noticing a dry cough the past few days.

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Maybe a little bit.

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catmom777 | @catmom777 | Sep 3, 2019

It might be too early to tell, but there is a possibility that my afib was caused by levothyroxine. I was on a low dose, but still. Both my GP and my cardiologist thought that might be the culprit so they took me off and one month later my afib quit. Granted I have been on Eliquis and Diltiazem since March, when my afib started like a house afire, but it's interesting that the afib quit so suddenly also, a month, even less, after I quit my thyroid meds. My thyroid level has remained steady since going off it so my GP says not to take it--hope that remains. Eventually I'd like to be able to go off blood thinners and Diltiazem also.
I have a perfect heart otherwise--never any heart problems before this, low BP, etc. The afib started out of the blue in early March with visit to ER and very high heart rate, etc.

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starfirey2k | @starfirey2k | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @warpedtrekker "Short history: 47yo Male, 6'1" 220lbs. Recent EKG's and Echocardiogram = Normal. Two DVT's/PE's (2015, 2018)..." + (show)
@warpedtrekker

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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I have had the same problem with multaq!! i hate it and cannot deal with it. I have been on 4 different Anti-arrhythmic drugs now....trying to find one that i and tolerate...next week to see about pace maker...get well soon.

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sally630 | @sally630 | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @warpedtrekker "Short history: 47yo Male, 6'1" 220lbs. Recent EKG's and Echocardiogram = Normal. Two DVT's/PE's (2015, 2018)..." + (show)
@warpedtrekker

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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Check out the side effects on the Mayo Clinc website. What you’re experiencing is listed.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Chest pain or discomfort
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
shortness of breath
slow or irregular heartbeat
unusual tiredness

REPLY
1 reply
warpedtrekker | @warpedtrekker | Dec 16, 2019
In reply to @sally630 "Check out the side effects on the Mayo Clinc website. What you’re experiencing is listed. Check..." + (show)
@sally630

Check out the side effects on the Mayo Clinc website. What you’re experiencing is listed.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

Chest pain or discomfort
lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
shortness of breath
slow or irregular heartbeat
unusual tiredness

Jump to this post

@sally630 My doctor has me on Holter monitor the past two weeks. Will see what that shows. Probably nothing. I think this medicine is Pro-arrythmic sometimes in me. I also had a weird multiple anxiety attacks in a grocery store two weeks ago. I took out my Kardia Mobile and it showed some inverted waves. Those peaks that are usually pointed up, I had a couple it caught pointed down. Sent that to my doctor. He said he would talk to me about it this week. I've seen those inverted QRS peaks before in some of my Kardia EKG when I have these bad feelings.

For now though my psychiatrist started me on some anxiety medicine to see if that will help me feel better. Then this week going to see about stopping Multaq. But I'm concerned the AFIB may return.

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