Hi everyone,
Does anyone else get constipation on their tablets? I’m on apixaban, flecainade and bisoprol, all of them have constipation side effects it says in the notes......I’m just wondering if this happening so often is the tablets........??
Sue
The bisoprolol did it for me. When I mentioned it at the hospital the doctor just nodded and said yes.
I have found chia seeds with some berries helps, as does keeping up the fluid intake.
Occasional senna or dulcolax, but not 2 days running and vary things otherwise your gut gets dependent on them.
No, I'm not a doctor or nurse, but I feel your pain.
Yes. Metamucil & lots of water helos.
I used to get hideous constipation when taking propafenone and diltiazem together. No problems now I am on a low dose of diltiazem (except for AF!) Our doctor has recommended Movicol which is safe to take regularly and the dose can be adjusted according to need.
Magnesium helps if you take enough.
I thought back home I’d go buy milk of magnesia....I don’t think they sell it here in France...the pharmacy gave me a mild senakot type thing....doesn’t work
I think many of the people on this forum take Magnesium Citrate tablets, or something similar. I do myself, and have found that the 400mg tablets are not quite enough, and 800mg too much. So I take two one day and one the next. My wife needs two a day every day.
Definitely try magnesium. Prunes and ginger work quite well too!
I do have the problem but have no idea if is is caused by my medication.
Flecainide
Warfarin
Atorvastatin
Candesartan
Cinnerazine
I just put it down to getting old bit like my pesky tinnitus.
Pete
I’m in, take Flecainide and Atorvastatin plus Dabigatran and a lot of others. Dr just prescribed Movicol on repeat.
Yes well I’ve thought it may be age, but it’s so darn consistent I’ve now started looking at other things,,,,,......I start counting the days,,,,tried dates....tried those senacot.....
I forgot to add Movicol to my list of medications.
I eat a lot of fruit including prunes every day am pretty sure things would be s lot worse if I didn’t
I have also had to increase the dose of Movicol.
Pete
I take Bisolprolol, apixaban, candersatan and pravastatin. I stopped the pravastatin for a month and constipation eased quite a lot. I started the statin again last week and constipation has started again. I also think the apixaban has a lot to do with it
I've had blood tests, stool tests and colonoscopy all came back negative. Doctors won't blame the tablets said they have been well tested for side effects.
It’s hard isn’t it...I’m quite cool taking these tablets generally but.......
I’m fed up tried dates....senakot.......rhubarb next in list!
I was going to recommend Senna. £1 from Poundland.
Re rhubarb : try it this way which can be sugar-free.
Cut rhubarb into chunks. Microwave until soft. Add a pre- melted strawberry jelly made up to 3/4 of a pint rather than a full pint. ( I use sugar-free jelly ) Allow to set. Serve with a spray of cream or yoghurt.
Thanks!!
2 weetabix or porridge with a kiwi fruit or banana or couple of table spoons stewed apple or rhubarb for breakfast lots of water throughout day lots of fibre in diet. My partner takes movicol as he has IBS but didn't make much difference to me
Clearly your doctor has not read the full package inserts that also report after-market side effects. Drugs are not initally tested long enough to gather information on the full range of side effects. It is those after market reports that end up getting drugs pulled from the market.
A quick internet search finds constipation a side effect of every drug you are on. Just imagine the consequences of taking all of them at once.
I’m in France...perhaps I need to see doc for something
I'd agree on magnesium take more than you need it will do the trick.
Also high dose vitamin C and lots of fiber in your diet plus 8 glasses of water that would move anything
Been taking maagnesium supplement for years and never had a problem with constipation even when taking codeine for my arthritis. Three times a day man me. UNLESS ? When I was on morphine following my CPR and broken ribs they had to send in 617 Squadron with a couple of Upkeep mines.
I have never been constipated and have been taking for two years or more -
Apixaban Flecainide, Lansoprazole, Atorvastatin, Cyclizine, Amlodipine and Pregabalin for nerve pain but when they started me on Morphine
I couldn't go at all, The pain clinic put me on Moventig and that works together with laxodol and glycerin suppositories however the pain in your stomach feels like the devil himself is prowling inside........
So thanks for your enquiry I will try some of the suggestions given for you problem. 😉🤞
You have my sympathies. For me, constipation is a truly awful condition to have to endure. I think many tablets affect the digestive system but my time with bisoprolol last year didn't seem to make mine any worse. I've had the problem for many years as part of my IBS / DD and, in that time, have tried almost everything on the market.
Very luckily indeed and by fluke, some years ago now, I happened upon a post from an American in which he spoke really highly of their "Sunsweet" brand of prunes and prune juice, claiming it was the only thing that had ever worked consistently and comfortably for him. Well, it didn't seem likely but I gave it a try - and he was right. I've been using them ever since.
In fact, I couldn't get hold of the Sunsweet brand of prunes back then, but their juice proved easily available at Tesco and Morrison's. Oddly, Tesco's own (much cheaper) juice does absolutely nothing, which is weird. I did get the prunes from Amazon in the end, and they are good but rather over-cooked and soft to my taste. l now buy dried organic prunes from an excellent Bulgarian online health store called Zoya.bg which someone highly recommended. Well, they've been a revelation and are in a different league - easily the best prunes on the market being more like fresh plums once cooked. My wife stews them in half water / half prune juice till soft and, each morning, I take a large glass of juice and about 6 prunes, and my constipation is generally well sorted. On the rare occasions this fails and I do get bunged up, 30ml of Milk of Magnesia taken at night has never yet failed.
Steve
Yes I am in France I’m goung to ask if they do milk of magnesia, surely they must do
It did disappear from the market over here for a good time but for the past few years, I've found it generally available. It does vary a lot in price, I find, and Amazon isn't very good value.
If you can't get it, you could try any other form of magnesium sold as a laxative since there's nothing special about Milk of Magnesia per se, except that it also acts as an antacid and tastes reasonably pleasant. A quick look on Amazon showed that most other forms of magnesium that are sold aren't really suited as they are low dose and for use as a food supplement. You need to take 20-40ml Magnesia or 2-4 tablets of 500mg magnesium oxide equivalent before bedtime for them to work next morning. If you take too much, expect a good deal of gurgling and the runs! Also, take care if you have kidney problems or anything similar - in which case, ask your doctor before taking.
Steve
Thanks for the Bulgarian website tip. If you go to the Lot et Garonne area just west of Bordeaux, they sell plums, prunes and a half plum/prune on the roadside; the latter is delicious and I couldn't get enough of them!
My friend had spent many wonderful holidays in France and keeps egging me on to go there. I’ve only been on business in the past, but now I’ve retired, we really ought to go.
My wonderful daughter-in-law is from Romania and it was she who told me how much better the prunes were there, larger and juicier (once simmered in juice till soft!) - better even than the expensive Agen variety, to my taste. The Bulgarian ones are very similar. Zoya has run out of organic ones for now till the end of August with the new crop, so I’ve had to order normal ones this time round. Their service is excellent and delivery is quick and reasonably priced if you buy a few kilos.
For anyone with constipation, the Sunsweet juice and the organic prunes will be a godsend
Steve
Thanks pip man ......just been to pharmacy Just bought prunes.....France doesn’t do tinned prunes in juice sadly....and they don’t do milk of magnesia which I was hoping they did....
I don’t find the tinned prunes in juice work at all, and they are really small over-sweet things. The organic ones from Bulgaria are of a different order altogether. They’re large, dried and need simmering till soft in juice but are then very tasty and, yes - very effective!
Steve
Funny thing. It was after prune juice and honey I had hour before that I blame for my first AFIB attack. Both are loaded with sugar. And sugar is a problem for most with AFIB from the posts I have read on here. So use caution . I scare to even go near prunes and prune juice or any juices for that matter.
Bad luck! Honey is just pure loveliness in a jar and, you’re right, does contain fast-releasing sugars. However, I believe the sugars in fruits such as prunes are largely bound up inside cell walls and so are slow release and healthy. Also, one of the main sugars in prunes, I gather, is called sorbitol, which tastes sweet but isn’t absorbed and so helps prevent constipation. I understand that prunes - rather like dates - also contain a lot of fibre along with minerals and complex organic anti-oxidants and other good ingredients.
Yes you are right in all that you say. But, that was my experience. I worked it out every way possible and that is the only trigger that I and the doctor can come up with.
Your comment about sugar and AFib is so useful! I have no trouble with constipation, my guts have always tended the other way since a dreadful V &D bug going round when I was a student that became IBS.
For me not only sugar, all sorts of foods seem to make it worse, and a not-at-all hot curry tipped me over from intermittent AF ( each episode triggered I’m convinced by food) to permanent AF. I wonder when food intolerances will be accepted as a possible cause of heart conditions like AF - 50 years time?
It sure doesn't seem like doctors point this out . They should tell people with AFIB that foods and sugars are definitely triggers for many . They also never or hardly mention nutrition and supplements as possibilities for improvement. At least suggest a session with a nutritionist who knows vitamins and minerals like magnesium.
ALL TABLETS can cause constipation I solve it naturally increase water intake I eat every morning either or both two prunes or dried figs. Kiwi fruit works a dream and eat my five a day fruit and veg. Never take medication for constipation on a regular basis it makes the gut lazy to perform its proper function
Thanks
Plenty of fruit and veggies - with the occasional few squares of dark chocolate as a treat ,
I have the same tablets, and yes it seems to be one of the side effects. Usually strong pain killers do also
Hi Morzine I'm on both Apixaban and Bisoprolol and to be honest I'm quite the opposite.
hi morzine just a letting you know i found relief from have fybogel each morning one sachet in a glass of water and drink straight away, it is natural fibre can be given on prescription or can purchase from chemist, i found the orange flavour very good. like was suggested movicol is also good. just suggestion as i know as with movicol it wont effect other medications as is a natural substitute. Constipation makes you feel terrible but for me it helped loads. Hope you find something that helps soon take care.
I suspect Flecainide is partly to blame as I am only on that tablet and I get mild constipation despite eating prunes and plenty of other fruit etc. Recently as it was getting worse (although I have weaned myself off breakfast cereals) I bought a pack of Kellogs All Bran and that seemed to work very well. I need to test it over a longer period to make sure it was not something else in my diet.
I take 2 sachets of fybogel daily, which helps a lot, sometimes have to up it to 3. Haven't found anything else that works.
Hiya been a long time since we spoke , yes I used to have constipation with those tablets and was prescribed movicol I used to take one before bed and it seemed to do the trick good luck x
Hi there.....yes think I will get doc to prescribe me something....pharmacy has just given me some prune juice liquid....
Hi. I am now on highest dose of bisoprolol also take lisinoprol warfarin bumetanide and intermittent cinnazine. Constipation not a problem but do eat a lot of fruit and vegetables in my diet. In fact I am very regular. I do drink a couple, at least, of water a day.
If you take a nightly dose of magnesium as a supplement and/ or as a teaspoon of blackstrap molasses dissolved in hot water every morning, you really will solve the problem.
I take both and feel the benefit daily. I also have porridge with fruit every morning. After years of constipation, despite having a really good diet and good fluid intake, and having gone through having two stage two polyps removed, I rely on this regime to “keep me moving”.
I do if I don’t eat lots of fruit and veg to help know it’s down to tablets I’m on verapamil losartan edoxaban and 3 lots of water tablets never had a problem before I had af !
yes, had constipation with flecainide quite badly, pleased when I cam off it. No constipation with apaxiban or bisopral, it will no doubt be the flecainide.
No, I've taken all of them at the same time. But I drink loads of fluid and eat a ton of veg, fruit and wholegrain (and cake, I'm not perfect!) So perhaps that helped. I also exercise a lot which helps keep 'everything moving.
Xx
Unfortunately yes, most of the meds for AF I'm taking cause constipation. I'm also on Flecainide plus, plus. Had to see a dietician/ nutritionist and she advised me to increase the insoluble fiber and to have lots of blackberries and cherries. The most important thing she recommended me is pear juice (the SPC in a tin is good and cheaper (only at W/W) than the other...) So far I have improved but I have to keep up every day other ways...
I agree with the prunes suggestion. I get dried pitted prunes from Holland and Barrett and add them to my morning Granola
I began taking flecainide in March 2019 a day after I had a pacemaker installed in my chest. I never had a problem with constipation until I went on the flecainide. I struggle with constipation every week no matter what I take for relief. Taking 250 mg of magnesium every day helps a little but does not stop the problem. I take other drugs like Eliquis but I believe the flecainide is the problem.
Since I started verapamil I’ve been constipated. I’ve tried everything, stool softeners fibre powder. The best thing that has worked for me are prunes. I chop them up and have them in my porridge for breakfast every day
I make sure I have some muesli (gluten free) and a large unpeeled conference pear with oat milk for breakfast each day. Does the trick for me!
Lactulose too is excellent
I was constipated on Flecainade!
Magnesium CITRATE ... powder form ... take daily ... just a tiny bit ... tip of teaspoon ... adjust as needed. You will need nothing else.
I use Lepicol , works a treat half hour b4 meals , I tea spoon in glass water followed by another glass water , sometimes I mix it in fruit juice with water . tried mango's they work with prunes , or a small bowl of shreddies in milk about an hour b4 bed
Oh yes!! I have always had a tendency towards it anyway but worse now. Trying to sort by dietary means - some days I have more fruit than a greengrocers!!
I am on the same medication as you and my IBS has been worse since taking this combination. I also get extremely tired and my energy level drops by the afternoon.
Me too I’m nit the sane girl pre all this....I’m sure the medication outs ne in third gear....so I guess it figures it makes the irrigation system sluggish
I don’t have constipation. (rather the opposite) but feel so sluggish. It takes me 15 minutes of shuffling along slowly before I can work up to a gentle paced walk. I feel about 20 years older than I did before Christmas when everything went pear-shaped. Before I went on Bisoprolol I wasn’t like this! Am also on Eliquis, but that wasn’t added until I’d been on Bisoprolol for 6 weeks, and it didn’t change anything.
And the Bisoprolol hasn’t reduced my heart rate much or improved the irregular rhythm. Was told I needed a valve repair or replacement but still waiting for the echocardiogram cancelled because of Covid. I wonder how many of us will be collateral Covid damage victims. Or exactly how useful Bisoprolol is.
Make sure you are not dehydrated in any case. Plenty of warm water will help
I'm on Apixaban, Bisoprolol, and Losartan. I have IBS and have never had a good digestive system. I have porridge with 6 prunes and a banana in the morning and eat fruit and veg during the day. I take 2 sachets of Fybogel and 10ml of Lactulose every night ( Ok'd by doc) and that works very well. I know some people make light of constipation, but if they do they've obviously never suffered with it. Hope you feel better soon.
Gosh that’s a lot to take....I’m beginning to get a voiture here rhers a lot of us that suffer....I pout that question up thinking I’d be alone.....I think I need to up the things I do....as I’ve only dine figs and bits if fruit,,,,I’m really suffering right now......
Thanks fir ure advice
Sue
I've given up my heart pills having adjusted my diet to nuts berries fibre goats milk butter and yoghourt rather than cows, plenty of water ec etc. My heart flutter always seemed to appear when I had been constipated and then it was clearing. Now I dare not let myself get constipated, so take Laxido on prescription from my doctor. It never seems to disappoint. There are marvellous utube videos on how to stimulate the gut, pulling the tummy right in and also rotating the hips as shown.
Enthusiastic responses here! Fleccainide did it for me. Was taking a softener daily and now added Miralax as I just had 2nd ablation a couple days ago and they recommend "no straining!" Thanks for all the helpful ideas. I like and would love to use prunes, but they are kind of "pricey" in terms of points on Weight Watchers - a point each.
Like many others here, I have very bad constipation which I pretty much attribute to the Flecainide although I also do take atoravastatin and a very tiny dose (12.5 mg) of metoprolol. Nothing seems to work reliably, including stool softeners. My doctor suggested Senocot-S , a combination of Senna and stool softeners which comes the closest to some relief of anything I've tried. I eat very healthy: porridge and fruit for breakfast and lots of fruit and also dates along with figs.
Do you find u don’t go for days on end?
Yes, if I don’t take action, I can go for days without a BM. So I’ve been using Fleet Glycerin Suppositories which works to some extent but even then, I’ve had to literally dig out what would be impactions if I let them go. (Sorry for the graphic description but it’s true) Then I’d have to the hospital. The Senokot Senna has helped somewhat. Best of luck.
I had never had constipation before (except once in childhood) but do get it now and think it must be the apixaban even though I am on the half dose- apparently it isn't the active ingredient in the drug that causes the trouble but the stuff they add to stick it together! The doctor blamed the flecainide but I only take that as a PIP as it fails to stop episodes when taken regularly and larger doses are unacceptable. When I took some magnesium lactate it seemed to lead to diarrhoea so I am going to try it again in hopes they will balance out! I can't believe drug companies can produce such stuff intended to alleviate one problem by giving you another! We also sprinkle pre and pro biotic powder on meals which includes chia seeds etc -
Hi Morzene, I also suffer constipation and have had horrible piles as a result! My tablets are Flecanaide, Lanzoprozole and Riveraxoban, plus many others for other things. I would agree with prunes, and plenty of other fruit like apples pears etc, but my saviour was Fibogel, prescribed by my doctor but you can buy it in chemists in U.K., so it should be available in France also. Best of luck to you! Jeanie-p
I never put two and two together, but now you come to mention it... I never had problems at first as I was too flipping anxious about the AF, but since the anxiety is better and I am eating less to lose weight and be more fit I have constipation. I never thought to blame the tablets, but if they are acting on your reflexes they will affect your bowels.
I have taken magnesium taurate for the past week and that has helped, but it makes my blood pressure a bit low I feel, so I am going to take less of it. The rest of the time I love prunes and they do the trick. They contain natural sorbitol which is a laxative. I discovered this about sorbitol when my kids were young... I gave them sugar free lollipops once which were sweetened with sorbitol. Half an hour later they were both on the loo! Lol
But thanks for highlighting this for me.
Milled flax seeds from Tesco on your ceareal or yogurt 2 teaspoons
Constipation
Amiodarone
Ibuprofen creams/gels
mild short headaches
BISOPROLOL to Verapamil 
