I’m rather concerned that since I added flecainide to my daily medications my heart rate has dropped from the low 60s to the low 50s. Even with hard exercise now I can’t get my bpm above 75bpm.
I do feel ok generally and do an hours hard aerobic exercise a day. I am suffering dizziness in bed and when I get up. I had thought this was down to an ear thing - now I’m not so sure and wonder if it might be low blood pressure. It doesn’t happen when I’m up and about.
If I ring 111, they will just advise A and E so I was hoping you guys could ease my mind. Thanks
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Rhiannonimity1
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That's not an overly low heart rate, but as you are feeling dizzy I would get it checked out. Do you know what your blood pressure is, because as you say that will more than likely be the culprit.
Hi! I agree with Jean that it's advisable to get your BP monitored. Having recently had a more extreme experience of low BP and dizziness on rising! Take it slower when you first get up - you can pump your hands and flex your feet to get things moving. You probably know that with Flecainide most of us take something to stop the heart racing (it controls arrythmia but can raise HR). Obviously we're not medics here but it's possible your dose of Bisoprolol is higher than needed or a different partner drug with the Flecainide. I think this all depends on what else is being addressed with the meds. For example I tend towards have high BP and AF so I have the Flecainide for the AF and another drug for BP that also helps control the heart rate. So the two drugs complement each other. Your first stop is GP and getting the BP checked however.
I wouldn't worry too much. The medics will tell you Fleacinide is an anti-arhythmic drug only and doesn't affect heart rate but I am only on this drug, 200mgs/day, and it did reduce my rate similarly to yours. Your dizziness sounds like lowish resting BP to me because you are quite fit. I would buy a BP machine for self monitoring first; they are quite efficient and relatively inexpensive now. I would also follow the 'one and a half minute law' to reduce the risk of stroke when getting up - on waking, stay lying for 30 secs, then sit up for 30 secs and lastly lower your legs slowly onto the floor and wait 30 secs before standing up.
PS Sorry just seen in your title you are also taking Biso, you may want to discuss that with your cardiologist in connection with your symptoms. It is quite usual to partner this drug with Flecainide but if you are under 70 and assuming you have Lone PAF your cardiologist may be happy for you to try stop taking Biso, you MUST of course ask first. Because I am in my 60's and my BP is relatively low 115/64 my cardiologist said taking a BB or CB would 'make me feel unwell' and so far he has been right as I have had no problems and my energy levels are good.
Thank you. I am unable to get a doctors appointment for a blood pressure reading. I used to have a bp monitor at home somewhere so I will search it out and if not buy one and see what my heart is doing in the morning . If our local A and E weren’t suffering with so much Covid and low staffing - I think I would feel easier. I’m terrified of getting Covid and know that if I get AF again - hospital is where I have to go. ( I’ve been in twice in the last 6 weeks - people on trolleys in the corridor in casualty for 4 to 5 days because there are no beds on wards. So I am utterly reliant on my medication and don’t want it messed with by a gp - even though I am getting quite a lot of symptoms (over tiredness, nightmares, lower heart rate, bouts of shaking, feeling stressed) which are out of character and I’m putting down to having been on flec for a month. I don’t know whether this is rational or not - but my fear of The hospital is over-riding everything at the moment. I’m 53.
The first 3 months I was on Fleacinide it was tough, try to keep going for a couple more months and then pay privately for a prompt cardiologist appointment (beware any GP advice unless yours has a particular specialty in the area). Private appointments are costly around £200 + an ECG say £100+ but for peace of mind well worth my money. I would also take advice from an experienced Alternative Practitioner e.g. Naturopath on taking magnesium taurate & Co Q10 supplements; I was put straight onto these by mine.
Re Covid and hospital, I have bought hi quality Vit C 1gm sachets and VitD/K2 pills to make sure I give myself the best chance. Don't forget many with Covid experience no or very light symptoms and the hospitals are more geared up this time.
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