Connect
← Return to Metoprolol and Flecainide for A-fib causing anxiety
Discussion
Metoprolol and Flecainide for A-fib causing anxiety
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Feb 2, 2023 | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
I have been on these meds for about 2 years. I have SVT’s and atrial fib. I started with just the metoprolol but it wasn’t enough so he added Flecainide. I am also on Eliquis. I haven’t felt like myself since I started the meds. I can’t put a finger on it. I was on Venlafaxine before the heart issues for many years. I had no problems with it. My cardiologist did not want me on that particular drug while on a blood thinner. So I had to taper the meds and get off of it. It was horrible getting off. I never want to do it again. Pharmacist told me my withdrawal was common with that drug. So I did well off of it. Then, a few months ago , the anxiety came back but it’s weird. I am the worst when I wake up and get very hot. After I am up for awhile, I feel better but am still anxious. I have seen on this site where others have mentioned hating the side effects for Metoprolol and specifically mentioned anxiety, especially when getting off of the drug. It was a while back and I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it. Now, I am very curious about the anxiety and wonder if others have experienced it and how it was handled.
Replies to "I have been on these meds for about 2 years. I have SVT’s and atrial fib...."
Hello @justkiddingkim6,
I took Metoprolol for only a couple of weeks and called my cardiologist after having a lot of sleepless nights, vivid dreams and dizziness. My doctor switched me to a similar med, Atenolol, and the side-effects disappeared. I have never taken the other drug you mentioned, Flecainide, so I cannot comment on that.
Regarding the removal of the Venlafaxine, have you asked about a replacement med for that? Venlafaxine can be very helpful for anxiety. If you had been taking that med for a long time you might check in with a doctor who specializes in anxiety meds and see if there is a replacement drug to help you.
Perhaps a call or email your doctor (through the patient portal) might be helpful in sorting out the different reasons for your increased anxiety.
Always remember how important it is for each of us to advocate for ourselves regarding our health care. Will you post again and let me know how you are doing?
Connect
@justkiddingkim6, I am not surprised to hear more about anxiety as a side effect of Metoprolol, because over the past five years, quite a number of its users have mentioned such problems. Neither my wife nor I have met that dark path, since we haven't used the drug. But both of us have used other beta blockers with no similar experiences. We also have heard repeated complaints about Metoprolol side effects when patients using it have dropped it abruptly or too fast or without coordinating with their whole medical team, not just their cardiologist or other doctor who prescribed it. Incidentally, a range of other beta blockers produce the same side effects with quick termination of the drug or failure to coordinate withdrawal effectively. You have me thinking about another factor -- exercise -- as a therapy for anxiety and even depression -- not exceedingly active exercise, but balanced programs that build confidence in both body and soul without excessive strain. My wife is a great example of this, as well as an apostle of exercise that she preaches I should follow. As you can tell, we have only swum the surface of this complex pool of symptoms. We haven't dived into them and felt the pressure of being deep among them, so maybe we just don't comprehend problems others experience. On the other hand, it may be that we have been helped to develop confidence and reassurance with the help of a multi-faceted medical team who are easy to talk with, who consult widely among peers in other branches of medicine, and who encourage us to pursue second opinions whenever we seem to need them. Does any of this sound familiar? Martin