I've been taking Flecanide (100mg 2x per day) and Metropolol for AFiB following two failed ablation for almost 3 years. My AFIB is well controlled and I've had no events during that time. I'm 65, healthy and very fit.
Unfortunately, I've developed a severe case of Tinnitus that started in April 2020 and has gotten progressively worse in duration and intensity impacting my quality of life.
I've tried everything so far to reduce the Tinnitus including acupuncture, 3 different types of hearing aids, hypnosis, low dose Naltrexone, OTC meds (Flavanoid), all to no avail. It's a tough nut to crack.
I've researched that a rare side effect of Flecainide is ringing in the ear. I'm wondering if Flec is the culprit even though I've had no issues with Tinnitus prior to April 2020.
Has anyone begun to experience Tinnitus after being on Flecainide for a long time or even shortly after starting? If so, what have you done to deal with the Tinnitus? I'm hesitant to go off Flec since it manages my AFIB so well but at the same time the Tinnitus is super annoying. Of course, going off of Flec doesn't guarantee that my Tinnitus will go away, as the cause could simply be due to my declining hearing with age. I'm not sure what a viable alternative anti arrhythmic to Flec would be, but will check with my cardiologist and get his thoughts
Appreciate any comments, thoughts or similar experiences.
Thanks much,
Jeff Cooper
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Jhcoop55
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I developed bad tinnitus and it ended up being an Acoustic Neuroma. I've been on the same regimen of flecanide and metopolol for 6 years. I've noticed no difference cause it's always pretty loud. My tinnitus does a 3 day cycle of very loud to medium and sometimes low volume. I've learned to live with it. I take a b-complex which takes the edge off the intensity. I can tell a difference if I stop taking it.
Hi Jeff, I am roughly the same age, fitness and have been on the same Flecainide dose for 7 yrs. I am not sure whether it is the Flecainide, AF episodes or other reason that has caused my tinnitus. Initially, I found it difficult as I think my senses were on high alert making it seem louder. As my QOL has improved, I have found I notice it less to the point where it is of little significance - focus on it however, like as I am typing this, and it is annoying again. How to stop it no clue - but I think I may have reduced the volume by reducing sugar in my diet.
Thx. I am a bit of a chocoholic. Maybe worth a try to cut back. When I'm busy or distracted, I temporarily forget about the tinnitus, but not usually for long. Hoping that over time my brain will learn to ignore it
Jeff have you had the tinnitus properly diagnosed as tinnitus? I have pulsatile tinnitus, which is not “true” tinnitus and usually in one ear and is the noise of one’s pulse. It sometimes indicates a tumour or unsafe blood vessel and merits scans. Mine appeared suddenly after a traumatic operation, no tumours etc, but so annoying. Sometimes it drives me mad. I cannot escape it. Usually I can ignore it but if trying to concentrate on something it feels insistent. So I send you my profound sympathies!
Hi Maddiegran, I would like to send to you my sympathies as well!
I have been suffering P. T. for many years and since developing AF in 2011 I feel I’m going really crazy 🤪 because de constant irregular irregularity from AF, and lately Ectopic HB. I also have Carotid Calcification but Drs can’t or don’t want to assure me if that is the reason for my P. T. I have found, since started with 40mg Sotalol its sounds are a bit softer/lessened (?) but still it disturbs my sleep all the time (everything on the left side: carotid and ear). Have you had the Carotid health checked? Mine definitely is coming from my heart because I have had it checked by an Otorhinolaryngology's
I am 68 and have been on Flecainide for 15/16 years at lowest dose and I have had tinnitus for several years. About 3 years ago at the doctors for something else I mentioned the Tinnitus as it seemed to be getting worse. Doctor was a locum and first words out of his mouth were “well you know Flecainide causes tinnitus”. It was news to me. He sent me a self help guide for tinnitus and that was that.
I’m 9.5 weeks post second ablation and if all goes well and can stop Flecainide in the future it will be interesting to see if tinnitus stops or at least eases. I have it 24/7 in both ears but have got use to it and can ignore it quite well. Mine is a higher pitched hissing/shushing sound. It’s only when quiet I am more aware of it. Now and again its bad and want to hit head against the wall but that’s fairly rare.
Thx for your background. Like you, my Tinnitus is a high pitched hissing sound that is either bad or very bad 24/7. It's with me all the time and unfortunately so loud that it's hard to ignore. The only good news is that thankfully, it doesn't seem to disrupt my sleep for the most part. But, the moment I awaken, there it is - greeting me to start the day.
I'll talk to my cardiologist for next steps. I have been offered an opportunity for a third ablation as it would be nice to get off meds but won't know for sure whether being off Flec will solve the tinnitus issue. Let us know how you are doing after your ablation and once you are off Flec. Good luck
No, but I started Tinnitus after starting on Atorvastatin. My tinnitus is now constant and pretty loud, but funny thing is that after all this years (years now) I only hear it when someone mentions the word tinnitus, so like now because we're talking about it.
Mine is a fairly loud white/purple noise, with occasional what I describe as pressure waves, or mini pulse-explosions (explosions is over the top but can't think of another description), also occasional whistling just to make things interesting !!!
Anyhow, back to the link with Atorvastatin... Because I thought there might be a link I stopped taking the statin nearly a year ago, but it's made no difference whatsoever. So I think is was just coincidental.
Tinnitus is a bit weird, and no-one really seems to be able to get to the bottom of it. There is a British Tinnitus Association on HealthUnlocked, and I'm a member, you might find help and info on there.
Here's a funny one, that might just work if you're very lucky. I was on YouTube and I found this quirky Chinese man with a cure for tinnitus!!! Oy yeah I thought. It involved drumming the back of your head with your fingers where your neck meets you skull. I thought what a load of garbage, but gave it a go. Guess what, it always stops my tinnitus immediately, but only in my right ear every time, never the left unfortunately.
If you want to try it, Dr Berg on YouTube, who is not a quirky Chinaman, has a video on it. Just search "Dr Berg Tinnitus" and you should get it. I don't think it works on that many people but it certainly does for me, in right ear, usually goes away for a few hours as well, not just minutes. But always comes back.
Thx. I tried the various "cures" on U tube including the one you found. Unfortunately, the neck tapping, ear pulling, sticking fingers in and out of my ears etc didn't work for me. Glad it it partially worked for you. My wife thought I was a little nuts when I was doing it for a week, ha ha!! It was worth a try.
Hi there,Lordy, really interesting topic folks. I've suffered from tinnitus for many years now but did have it before going on Flecainide, which I've now been on for about 8 years. However many times I've asked why it's got so much worse and never gave thought that the Flec may be enhancing it. I listen to music ALL the time as a gp I had many years ago when I first mentioned the Tinnitus, said music helps. My tinnitus has always sounded to me like a permanent large flock of birds live in my ears/head!!! I get some whooshing and pinging sounds too but all the time the damned birds twitter away 24/7!!
Sadly, my 'episodes' of AF are a bit haywire recently and perhaps the Flecainide needs a revisit which I would do.....if I could get an appointment with anyone!! I even had a hearing test......OVER THE PHONE!!! However on Tuesday 5th January I'm having a hospital consultation about my hearing which has become really bad very recently and very suddenly. To be honest, I'm guessing I'll come home with trumpets attached to my ears!!! I wonder if that'll help with the Tinnitus eh?
stay safe everyone. and Happy New Year to you all!!
I wonder whether reducing your Flecainide a little would help at all? At my AF nurse's suggestion I took mine down to 75mg in the morning and 50mg at night. Have never suffered from tinnitus though, my side effect was vivid dreams/scary hallucinations. Have been fine since.
Taking the Flec dose down a bit may be worth a try to see if there is any benefit. Of course, I'll check with my cardiologist first. If he agrees, hopefully no impact on arrhythmia
My tinnitus predates my AF by a lot. Noise induced (airplane engines and propellers). I was on flecainide for 2 years before I had my ablation. I stopped taking it afterwards with no change to my tinnitus. It is a very hard nut to crack. I have just gotten used to it.
I took flecainide as pip for a time and it was fine but then Ihad to take it for a month twice a day. After two weeks I had terrible tinnitus but only during the night and never during the day. It was so loud, it would wake me up. The EP was always surprised when I told him. I suppose the fact of taking it daily made the side affects kick in.
Just curious, are you still taking Flec daily and are you experiencing the tinnitus or have you gotten off the daily regimen with a reduction in tinnitus?
No. I stopped taking flec and the tinnitis stopped immediately. The afib didn't come back but I had a couple of bouts of tachicardia. I've been taking Verapamile (a calcium channel blocker) for the last couple of years with no side effects.
Interesting. I'm a little hesitant to go completely off of Flec since it manages my AFIB so well. In consort with my Electrophysiologist, I will taper down a bit to see if there is any relief.
Good luck Jh, that seems a good idea. These side effects are really frustrating sometimes but there's no other option if the medication is working. I hope you get it all sorted out ..
Hello Jeff...I don’t take the medication you mentioned. I developed tinnitus some years ago and attribute the problem to taking diclofenac, which I took for a back problem. I took that medication fo some months. I think though, that assumptions of a medication causing a certain problem is debatable. Good luck.
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