Flecainide & Constipation : Hi All, I... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

31,042 members36,647 posts

Flecainide & Constipation

ramblerbaz3 profile image
28 Replies

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with PAF in September 2020 & I take 5mg x 2 of Apixaban as anti coagulation & was taking 100mg Flecainide as PIP.

My episode’s of AF increased a couple of weeks back & had 5 episodes in 1 week. I contacted my EP who has now put me on 2 x 50mg of Flecainide twice daily (am & pm).

The problem I have had since taking this daily, is I am getting constipation each morning when going to the toilet. This I never had before !!!

I have a very varied diet, including Fibre & keeping fairly well hydrated.

I am considering taking a Magnesium supplement to hopefully help with this problem.

Any suggestions/advice on what type/make to buy, or any other remedies that may help, will be much appreciated .

Thanks very much for any help, .......... Barry

Written by
ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
28 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

I've not taken flecainide for many years Barry but not heard of this issue. To clarify is your dose 100mg twice daily or 50 mg twice daily?

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to BobD

Hi Bob.....my dose is 50mg twice daily...1 morning & 1 night. Thanks

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply to ramblerbaz3

quite a low dose then.

I just got off 4 months of the same dose Flecainide you're taking.

I, too, had the stopping effect. I took a tablespoon of organic psyllium husk powder (brand: Organic India) mixed into a full glass of water in the morning. Start off with 1 glass a day .... progress to a second in the evening, if nothing improves. (Don't take meds within an hour or two of psyllium).

Magnesium is always a good supplement.

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us

Hi..... Thanks for that I will look into it......all the best!!

cuore profile image
cuore in reply to ramblerbaz3

Rather than water, I put the psyllium husk powder in my oatmeal in the morning.

Londonlass profile image
Londonlass

I had same problem with Flecainide. Magnesium citrate 1 tablet 150mg from Nature’s Best helped or small glass of prune juice.

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to Londonlass

Hi.... Thanks, that make is 1 of the ones I have looked at ...all the best !!

mobradley profile image
mobradley

yes, I had exactly the same on the same dose, talked to the chemist and he gave me a remedy which was gentle but effective. Not on flec any more and its gone away.

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to mobradley

Hi.... Thanks for your reply, it’s not just me then..all the best!!

secondtry profile image
secondtry

I have been on 200mgs Flecainide a day for years and have also experienced a 'slowing up' in that department. I suggest trial and error is the only way to find what works best for your individual system. I eat fruit incl prunes, 3 pints of water a day, exercise x2 per day etc and it is not a real problem. I also take Nutri MegaMag Muscleze which is a magnesium compound but has much more than that beneficial to the heart - prescribed by a London Naturopath partnering it with CoQ10.

The_Lord_is_with_Us profile image
The_Lord_is_with_Us in reply to secondtry

CoQ10 .... a powerhouse heart supplement. Naturopaths are some of the best consultants. Good for you . . .

Also, sounds like you have been controlling your arrhythmia nicely for years with Flecainide. Demonstrates there is hope for sufferers for long-term med control that keeps the malady at bay.

Magnesium is a superstar for many things .... but I found it smoothed out my continuous ectopic beats that were driving me crazy. Thank you! magnesium . . .

secondtry profile image
secondtry in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us

Thanks, a lot of homework to get a reasonable understanding of AF and frustrating as you don't know which action is the leading one. I think the answer, rather than focussing on the goal of eradicating AF, is to enjoy achieving 'every day small improvements'. Best wishes.

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3

Hi secondtry, Thanks for your reply, have just started eating prunes & going to up water intake....will look into the magnesium compound....all the best !!

Opoho profile image
Opoho

Add a kiwi fruit a day!

Tapanac profile image
Tapanac

Yes I had this too, but I contacted my GP as had had a problem that way for over a week and he gave me a prescription for Laxido. I took this for one day and touch wood have been fine ever since. You can buy this over the counter for £7.50 as it is ok to take with any pills. Good luck as I know this problem is very uncomfortable. Good luck.

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to Tapanac

Hi Tapanac .... Thanks for that, will definitely look into this . All the best.

tunybgur profile image
tunybgur

150mg flec every day.

Home made Kefir every day, very cheap to make and has a marvellous effect on digestive/immune system....regular as clockwork and feel great!

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to tunybgur

Hi tunydgur, Thanks for your reply & advice....sounds great 👍 All the best.

bassets profile image
bassets

I ended up with the same problem and have been taking a probiotic each morning which seems to have alleviated the symptoms.

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to bassets

Hi bassets, Thanks for your info....that seems well worth trying....All the best!!

The_Lord_is_with_Us profile image
The_Lord_is_with_Us in reply to bassets

Probiotic is very powerful for immune system and entire constitution. Excellent advice . . . Everybody should be taking it in some form. So much in modern society destroys the life sustaining benefits of probiotics .... especially antibiotic use.

bassets profile image
bassets in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us

Certainly!

bassets profile image
bassets

👍

babayaga profile image
babayaga

One more suggestion Barry : do you like dried apricots? and are you anywhere near a health food shop? The reason to get them there (or dried pears or peaches) is that you can get organic unsulphured, and they are healthier. The unsulphured ones can be hard sometimes, and it may be a good idea to soak them in hot water, then eat them with your cereal (if you eat cereal) or whenever. I use them as snacks.

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to babayaga

Hi babayaga...... Thanks for that, will look at dried apricots, have just been giving prunes a try .All the best!!

babayaga profile image
babayaga in reply to ramblerbaz3

Yes,, I forgot to mention prunes and figs. But I've stayed off prunes because my dad used to say sometimes, when I made him angry, "You're full of prunes!!"I take magnesium as well.

--Barbara

ramblerbaz3 profile image
ramblerbaz3 in reply to babayaga

😁👍.....Barry

You may also like...

Flecainide

without any episodes. I had to stop Flecainide because cardiologist have seen a Brugada pattern on...

Flecainide

wants me also to take flecainide twice a day. Has anyone had any side effects with flecainide

Flecainide

like the sound of - would flecainide be more user friendly than amiodorone ? any thoughts...

Flecainide & Tinnitus

Hi, I have been on Flecainide 100mg twice a day since my cardioversion in July for AF and over the...

Paxlovid and Flecainide

not take Paxlovid because of my taking Flecainide. I’m 76 and take 50 mg Flecainide twice daily plus