Also not only found correct dosage of Flecainide as PIP but also that Citalopram can have serious side effects when taken with Amiodarone.

Citalopram

evidence.nhs.uk/formulary/b...

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/c...

Contraindicated

means

Never use this combination of drugs because of high risk for dangerous interaction.

I was prescribed Citalopram for anxiety but I only have anxiety with certain people. In fact, I went to the GP, he is one of them, because I wanted to have Diazepam which helps me to relax when I can' get off to sleep. I don't use them every day. I just used an extra 2mg tablet when my half-brother died early in September. I was fond of him.

Now I have seen the EP, I am feeling a lot less anxious.

So yet again my GP seems to have put me in harms way. He told me that I could not have them because they are addictive and that was that.

Fortunately, another GP has prescribed them for me because she could see that I was not addictive but obviously if I took them for too long she would not want to prescribed them again. Diazepam did help me when I was in AFib which I always had at night. The symptoms became less severe which enabled me to go off to sleep. I know if one takes them too frequently they become less effective. I have only been taking the minimum dose of 2 mg but have taken an extra tablet if I was particularly restless. Even then that has been very occasionally. Some doctors treat people as if they are children. I am so pleased I could reason with a different GP.

The irony is that I was denied Diazepam which has not given me any side effects whatsoever but I can have anti-depressants which changes the levels of chemical transmitters, eg. Serotonin, in my brain and can have serious side effects. He told me that there were no side-affects. He repeated this twice because he could see that I did not believe him. I reluctantly agreed to him prescribing me this medication but I have not taken any of it. I did not believe him and hence I also checked up on his prescription of Flecainide. Hence, I also learned about the correct dosing of Flecainide according to weight.

Here endeth my long communication/diatribe about my experience with a particular GP. :- l

Best Wishes :- )

[Finvola]

You may find this site useful as a drug interaction checker for the future - I swear by it:

rxlist.com/drug-interaction...

Well done on following up and finding out so much - I always check drug interactions before I venture to take any medication as I've had a potential problem with my GP's partner prescribing pseudoephedrine.

We do need to be aware of so many things!

Best wishes

[Hidden in reply to Finvola]

You are so right! Yes, I did see the link you gave.

Best wishes

[PeterWh]

You are certainly doing some good researching and it's a very good job you are.

[Hidden in reply to PeterWh]

Thank you Peter.

Best wishes

[Goldfish_]

In defence of the GP I doubt many doctors would know of that interaction without checking. Usually the computer of doctor or pharmacist will highlight significant interactions. It may be worth pointing it out to the pharmacist.With increasing complexity of medicines and interactions it's important we read the patient leaflet and raise queries with the pharmacist.

You did well to sort it out yourself as its not even mentioned specifically in the patient leaflet. medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.25...

Similarly the flecainide dose.

Hopefully GP and patient can work together as partners in care rather than as parent and child!

[Hidden in reply to Goldfish_]

Sometimes that is wishful thinking. I won't be going to that doctor again.

Thank you for your comment.

[Jamila123]

Well done for checking

I was suffering from anxiety and was Prescribed Citalopram

When i looked up the side effects i was shocked i didnot take them

There was 30 side effets

i could not believe 😳

palpitations and irregular heart rate was a contraindication

The doctor was unaware when intold him he just shrugged

I am not surprised 🌺

[Hidden in reply to Jamila123]

I dare say the same would happen to me. They don't dare take responsibility.

Thank you for your support and sharing your experience.