At different times I have taken flecainide in 100mg and 200mg slow acting capsules (CR) as well 100mg tablets 2x daily. I am now on 100mg CR (slow acting).
Out of the above three, I get the strangest side effects from the 100mg CR, which is surprising as its the lowest dose. I struggle to explain the side effects, but its sort of a physical anxiety that makes my heart feel like it is pounding all over my body. Its not restrictive, just not particularly nice.
I started taking magensium citrate daily a few days ago and the side effects are almost not noticeable any more. I hope this lasts!
So I hope this can help someone else on this forum.
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Jonathan_C
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Jonathan, I read your post with interest -- thank you for sharing your experience! Since starting 3 heart meds just over a year ago (Flecainide 25mg x 2 daily, 20 mg Xarelto every evening, and Metoprolol 25mg daily) , the very occasional anxiety I already had (after being my husband's caregiver in his final years) has become worse. In addition, I experience what I assume are side effects from one or all three of these meds, since they started around the same time I was put on the heart meds. Bad dream-like episodes that are impossible to describe and lave me shattered and my short-term memory affected for about an hour, which make me wonder if I'm losing my mind. After several brain scans and EEGs I have been assured by neurologist and primary care dr, plus Emergency Room doctor that I'm "not going crazy" and neurologist has ruled out seizures and is assuming the weird and alarming episodes are connected in some way to the anxiety attacks. But no-one seems to really know. The problem with consulting with several specialists is that each of them seems to concentrate on his own field of expertise without seeing the wider picture of the possible combined effect of several symptoms which may or may not be rooted in several conditions.
Anyway, if you feel you are able to describe more of your side effects, I would so appreciate it. However, if you'd rather not, I fully understand.
Hi Franz, i am quite happy to describe my side effects...if i could find the words to describe them! Just a bit more about me so you get some context - I am 43, reasonably fit (I exercise about 5 times a week), healthy, but I have congenital aortic stenosis which is probably the cause of my afib.
My side effects include palpitations which can feel like they are happening in my chest - but outside my heart - and the palpitations can feel like they are happening elsewhere. In a way they are comforting because I can feel my heart is in rhythm, even though i would prefer not to be feeling it!
The other feelings I get are just weird. I don't know how to describe them!
It probably will last, I noticed a considerable improvement when I started taking Mg and CoQ10 after 3 months of feeling weird on just 200mgs/day flecainide. Also the body needs to adjust to any drug or supplement.
My experienced Naturopath said the Mg and CoQ10 work together for the heart one relaxing, the other strengthening and that you should be in the Upper Quartile of the Normal Range for both.
I am just doing my six monthly check on my levels, as I am in the UK I use BioLab in London nb the Mg test is not your GP regular test which is almost always fine but the Red Cell test.
Thank you for responding to this thread. I am taking a magnesium supplement and CoQ10 and feeling much better now. Long may this last.
FWIW. I asked my cardioliogist about CoQ10 and he didn't see any problem taking it, but couldn't see any reason why it would help - yet the pharmacist was quick to recommend a few options and not at all surprised that it would help.
And just so that its on record: these supplements pretty much eliminate the side effects that flecainide has on me. They are not a replacement for flecainide.
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