Hello . I have been on flecainide, and bisoprolol for a few years. Do any of you that are on flecainide gain weight with this med? I feel if I didn,t eat at all I would still gain weight.. frustrating. I feel it also gives me phlegm and a cough that disturbed people around me. I eat healthy and like a bird. Any insite into this problem would be helpfull ....thank you.
Marney
If you look to the right of the screen you'll see another post heading 'Weight gain and Flecainide'. I've just had a quick look through the replies to that post and it seems as if weight gain is by no means an uncommon problem for people taking this medication.
I know other medications prescribed for AF (eg bisoprolol and diltiazem) also cause weight gain - at least for some of us.
I wish I knew what the solution to the problem might be. I have put on 1.5 stones over the last couple of years and (for me) it seems to be a combination of the medication - firstly bisoprolol and then diltiazem - coupled with a lack of stamina and energy compared with pre-AF days so that I can no longer do the sort of exercise that I used to do (various cardio keep fit classes, power-walking, lane swimming) Advancing age probably has something to do with it too! In the past I always used to think loosing weight wasn't rocket science - just eat less/more healthily and exercise more, but now …….
I know the AF 'experts' say that getting your weight down to the 'recommended' BMI reduces the AF burden, but I have yet to hear any of them actually get to grips with the problem of medication and weight gain.
Hi I have been taking a medium dose of Flec for 4+ years with no weight gain, I would look for the cause of the issue elsewhere.
I am on flecainide and my weight crept up but I had been this heavy before on no meds. Joined Slimming World and have lost a stone over 6 months but hard work staying there. I eat from boredom.
Bisoprolol is the culprit for me. One of the reasons I was trying to change it for another BB
Thank all of you for your insite on flecanide weight gain. It is a columdrum. Marney
I think bisoprolol is more likely to be the culprit. I believe it is on a list of medication that does encourage weight gain. I am on flecanide and bisoprolol and have not gained weight but have to be more careful than I used to be. On the otherhand it could be because I am getting older and dontdo as much carxiovascular exercise as I used to for fear of setting off AF.
I was travelling on the tube to meet The Gang at the Ev cafe meet up last weekend. I was horrified that a 40ish year old lady offered me her seat.......maybe it was because she saw my medialert bracelet, it couldnt possibly be because I looked my age....could it? Careful with comments ease. X
Both Bisoprolol and Flecainide were responsible for my 2 stone weight gain over 1 year.I am a dog walker so always on the go but could not shift the weight. I was swapped from Bisoprolol to Atenolol due to side effects and lost 5 pounds in 4 months. I then had an ablation in April and I came of Flecainide at end of May and have now lost over a stone. So both seem to blame. I am due to stop the Atenolol so will be interesting to see if I can shift any more weight.
I gained weight when I added Flecainide to my med regimen of beta blocker & anticoagulent. It also had the effect of lowering my HR from around 60 to 45, and I always felt tired.
I had an ablation 2 months ago that so far is appearing successful - no afib activity, and my HR increased to 55-60, as is typical post ablation, to be a bit faster. I was walking 2 miles daily but still not losing weight, so I finally joined weight watchers and have lost 8 lbs over 5 weeks so far. It was just what I needed to make a shift.
I'm eager for October to come as I can discontinue the Flec at that time (12 weeks post ablation), and will come off the beta blocker at 6 months. Interested to see how that will feel - and hopeful I'll have more energy.
Good luck! I know some of us have more difficulty with meds than others. I decided to go ahead and have the ablation because I felt so slowed down with the meds. Truly it's a quality of life issue - finding the way that works best for us.
Weight Gain
Flecainide queries 
weight gain.
