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?

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)

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.