flecanide and shortness of breath

[loou]

Has anyone else experienced increased shortness of breath on exertion while on flecanide? 100mg twice a day/

[Rubymurray25]

Three weeks ago I was changed from 80mg x 2 to Flecainide 100mg twice daily after an ablation and initially I could actually notice a difference with shortness of breathe and a slight heaviness on the chest during fairly slower than normal walking, but that is seeming to ease. I guess it could have been the ablation but my instinct is telling me i'm just needing to adjust, well I hope so anyway. Hope yours does the same if you are new to the drug!

[Rubymurray25 in reply to Rubymurray25]

SORRY I MISSED SOTALOL after the 80mg

[Bagrat in reply to Rubymurray25]

If you click "more" at end of your post you can edit

[dmac4646 in reply to Rubymurray25]

I am on 2 X 50 mg and have no shortness of breath but if the does was increased to sat 2X100 I would

indeed have that problem

[secondtry]

Hi Loou, I have been on the same dose for 5+ years, initially I had to limit my exercise considerably but now I don't feel restricted at all but think it prudent not to push myself. There could be some anxiety in there as well. The 3 P's have served me well over a difficult period- Positiveness, Patience & Perseverance!

[Packit]

I am on 50mg twice a day, changed from bisoprolol as blood pressure getting too low, I have swollen ankles and legs if I don't take diuretics daily, not very convenient, my bmp is all over the place, 30 to 145 in a few minutes and breathless just walking to the kitchen so if any thoughts on flecainide I too am interested

[ShimmeringLillyMae]

I had my first bout of afib 2 months ago and at the hospital they put me on 50 mg 2x a day of flecainid, 180 mg diltiazem and 5 mg 2x a day eliquis... I have horrible shortness of breath and I'm constantly trying to catch my breath just sitting on the couch, I dont know which drug is doing it but I'm going to an EP tomorrow and hoping to get answers, I've been told it's the diltiazem but I dont know that for sure, it's a horrible feeling and I know its got to be one of these medications since I didnt have it before the afib and I'm in NSR..

[maria68 in reply to ShimmeringLillyMae]

Hi- I started my Afib episodes 3 months ago and take bisoprolol, Flecainide and Rivaroxaban . I have had breathlessness like you and the cardiologist put it down to the bisoprolol I was taking. I stopped the bisoprolol but the breathlessness continued. Today I have seen my cardiologist again and he doubted the symptoms were due to Flecainide but has suggested I start to take a lower dose (I’m on 2x50gm) and see if it helps. I’ll keep you posted. It’s very uncomfortable to keep trying to get your breath back isn’t it? Do let me know the results of your meeting with your EP.

[ShimmeringLillyMae in reply to maria68]

Hi Maria, yes it's awful trying to breath, scary because it feels like each breath is a struggle, I'm on flenicain 50mg 2x a day now and not sure if it's that. I changed my time of day that I take diltiazem by a few hours and I notice it's not as bad so I'm wondering if it's that drug doing it. I will post on here tomorrow evening with what the EP thinks it is. I hope you feel better cutting your medication down, let me know if it helps you, it very well may be that medication

[ShimmeringLillyMae in reply to maria68]

Maria68 I went to the EP today and he feels that it is the flecainide causing the shortness of breath for sure, he said this happens often and is a bad side effect but since i thought it was the diltiazem he said let's try changing that first to rule it out

[maria68 in reply to ShimmeringLillyMae]

Thanks for replying so promptly. Let me know how you get on. Are you on anxiety medication? My GP says that sort of medication is not suitable for me as I’m on so many other meds. I’m diabetic type 2 as well.

I’m going to start to cut down on Flecainide at the weekend when I’m not busy just in case of a reaction.