Atrial fibrillation medications side effects

I am sorry, if anybody gives me a choice, sex or life I know which way I would go. I was always an anti drugs and anti meds, but in the last 2 years I have succumbed to AFIB, atrial fibrallation. The initial problem started with swollen feet and swollen legs, that led to blood tests and an electrocardiogram which alerted my Dr that I had A-Fib. The specialist put me on: ELIQUIS, TELMISARTAN and FLECANIDE. From that day on, my routine changed, every night I get up 4 times to pee. By the morning my body is dehydrated, My kidneys which were good until I started taking the pills have deteriorated (and I am not happy), but, I thought I give the pills the boot for a weekend and my blood went significantly high, I am talking about 190 - 95- 98 For anybody who is used to the 120-80-75 the figures from that weekend were enough for me to go back onto the pills. The funny thing is that as soon as I took the tablets my body went back to 125- 85- 80, phew that a relief. Then I was told that I had to do a catheter ablation next. No worries, I went to the hospital put to sleep, the Specialist placed a fat needle on my right groin, and went all the way inside the vain straight into my heart with a burning prone while a camera was showing him my heart. He in theory burnt some areas which will heal and create scars which will help to tame down the electrical pulses that are now giving me A Fib. At the moment I am recovering from this exercise. I am still on the tablets, and although we may not like it, what is the option? 1=life 2= sex and a possible stroke, take your pick sorry mate, wish you luck ESON

I highly recommend ablation for the a-fib. I had my first ablation 9 months after diagnosis and taking numerous anti-arrhythmia drugs all of which made me so tired and some had miserable side effects. Every drug change worked for few weeks but then the a-fib would put me back in the hospital. My choices were deal with the myriad side effects, get a pace-maker, or have the ablation. I had the ablation as recommended by my cardiac electrophysiologist who sent me to Houston to a doctor who had done thousands and had a great success rate. The a-fib returned 8 years later. I opted for a second ablation but COVID delayed it a little over a year. Fortunately, it has been 2 years since the ablation. I was told that at my age I needed to continue the Eliquis. After about a year after taking Eliquis twice a day, I had muscle, joint and bone pain that woke me in the morning, made my legs weak at times, and I believed was caused by the Eliquis. I wore a monitor for two weeks, had no a-fib so I was allowed to stop the Eliquis and take a baby aspirin twice a day. I no longer have the random morning pain. Both my ablations have been successful but I do recommend a cardiac electrophysiologist who has done many ablations and has a high success rate. I’m hoping this ablation lasts at least as long as the first one.

Have been on Eliquis for about 7 months, and have noticed a fair amount of additional muscle cramping in my hands and legs. Drinking quinine tonic water to alleviate, which seems to help.

Speaking of AFib and meds, are my meds causing dizziness that is getting worse? After taking many different meds, which ultimately did not slow my tachycardia, my cardiologist put me on 25mg metoprolol 2x/day, along with 5mg Eliquis 2x/day and 20mg atorvastatin per day. I had mild dizziness before the change in meds, but it's getting so much worse. My heart rate is generally in the 70s or 80s, but I have no energy, walk carefully and slowly so as not to fall--and dizziness is awful. BP is more or less normal, but it varies, too, diastolic higher than normal. Cardiologist/electrophysiologist does not think an ablation will succeed (I've had several cardioversions that got less and less effective). Does anyone in Connect have this awful dizziness with AFib and meds? I'm 84 and have enjoyed good health until AFib began following knee replacement 5 years ago.

See if your cardiologist can look at the meds you are taking and either change some or lower dosage.

Metopropal might cause severe dizziness and exhaustion.

In 2000 I had the mitral valve repaired. I had an ablation in 2004 and a pacemaker, I am now 97% paced. I had a watchman emplaced last January. Dr stopped warfarin in April. I am not taking Eliquis.
I was taking metoprolol once a day, but I was always dizzy, fatigued and at risk of falling. I now take 25 mg metoprolol two days a week only M & Th.
I take 80 mg of furosemide once a day and limit my salt intake (Stage 3 chronic kidney disease). I’ve lost 50 pounds in 2 years.
I have osteoarthritis in both knees. I’m not going to have surgery so need to find ways to manage pain that is not drastic.
Because I was on warfarin for almost 20 years I never took nsaids. Tylenol works, but doesn’t last all night.
Some of the comments here have been helpful. Thank you

Been taking Coumadin for 40 years . Manage it properly as suggested and you will not have these issues.

I self test at home and eat everything in moderation with Vitamin K. You will learn how your body reacts to different food and adjust accordingly.

After into atrial fibrulation after coming out of surgery several times in the past, the docs put me on Flecinide pills twice a day and I have not had any problems. I've been on it for years now with no side affects.

Do u take bisprolol with flecanide? What is the dosage for flecanide?
I also take 50 mg. Of flecanide twice a day with 2.5 mg of bisprolol. Been on it for a year. So far no side effects that are bothersome.

I take 100 mg of flecanide twice a day but no bisprolol. I do take 2 daily pills for high blood pressure Amlodapine and Benzapril. Are you on other heart meds too?