Does flecainide cause low diastolic blood pressure?

[manabouttown]

I've been on flecainide 50mg twice a day,and have found that my diastolic bp is between 55 and 65 but my systolic is normal 110-125

[Palpman]

I've never heard of blood pressure being affected by Flecainide.

A bp of 120/60 is fine. You should take it twice and average it then do so twice per day over 2 days to get a good overall average.

Your bp is normally lower in the mornings compared to evenings.

Mine is 110/65 in the mornings and 130/80 evenings. I'm very happy with that.

[manabouttown in reply to Palpman]

Thanks for your reply

[BobD Volunteer]

Sounds perfect to me.

[manabouttown in reply to BobD]

Thanks for your comment

[BobD Volunteer in reply to manabouttown]

Funny that over my lifetime BP target has changd greatly. Used to be 100+ your age over 90. Fiteenyears ago they wanted me at 145/85, ten years ago 130/75 and now less than 120/70. Everytime I hit target they move it.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hiya Bob,Interesting comments there, I was still living in Sydney 17 years ago and my GP back in the day was well chuffed with my BP being at 145/85 ish. My GP today would totally freak out of I presented with that figure and would probably incarcerate me in the Tower of London ! I've come to the conclusion its Old Age in partnership with Father Time that moves the goal posts. I'm now back up to my pre AF figure of around 136/80 but am putting that down to being in constant pain that's holding it there.

John

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Sorry you are in pain John, why do you think that impacts your BP?

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Hiya CD,

I wish I could say that it was based on some sort of fact or something scientific ... but I can't. More based on observation than fact I'm sorry to say.

Since 2014 ( aged 70) I have experienced increasing degrees of osteoarthritis (OA). Right knee was the start point and had a partial knee replacement in Nov 2015. Job done ! Then in late 2018 came the diagnosis of OA in the Ac joint of right shoulder which is thought to have arisen from a fall off a bungalow roof 20 years earlier. This has now settled down and is of no trouble, have exercises to do but am not in need of that at the moment. All well.

In the last 12 months I have had a diagnosis of OA in Ac joint of left shoulder ... and it is this that is beyond belief ..... and pain which at times is beyond pain.

GP is trying to get me seen by specialist physiotherapists which will embrace pain management and ways of mobilisation of soft tissue ... waiting ! Pain relief is mostly Cocodomol 30/500 and at times applications of DMSO cream.

I have discomfort 24/7, on a scale of 1 to 10 it is always every day without fail at 1 to 2, there are other times it spikes to 5 to 7 and at night almost always spikes at 8/9. A good nights sleep is rare !

Weather is my worst enemy when barometric pressure is low say, 1005 Mb and less - with high humidity, say 75% to 98% it is worst. Unbelieveable !

So to your question ( sorry) ... a process of elimination, I have researched the relationship between pain and high blood pressure - is where I got a part answer. My GP has increased my dose of Bisoprolol from 5 mg to 7.5 mg and this has had no impact on my BP at all. I have reduced my working hours since last September. I am reasonably active and average around 2 miles a day but I don’t do any purposeful walking or exercising beyond that. Exercise is an issue for me. So is poor sleep. Diet is fine, weight is much as it has been for years, constant at 15 stone. I’m not particularly stressed even allowing for my bus driving, I’m not a stressed out driver ( of any vehicle) ... it is what it is. So, all in all lifestyle and diet are good but not excellent and is a factor BUT not everything. So I came by deduction to what is left- pain. AF is highly controlled, gives me a kick in the chest occasionally reminding me not to get to smart. Yeah so really all that is left is pain.

Apologies for the length of this but felt you should have as much of a balanced answer as possible.

John

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I always feel for anyone in pain, OA or even worse RA (I have a dear friend crippled by RA) is excruciating & will cause inflammation & pain which = stress which I think can cause low BP as much as high.

I had several accidents in my 40’s & was told by OA specialist that I would be in a neck brace within 10 years because of the damage - oh no I won’t I thought & although I have to work at it, managed to keep things supple. I have what my Rheumatologist friend calls ‘roofers hands’ so I have pain & swelling in hands & wrists mostly - all from sailing!

Hope you get that referral very soon as pain management & keeping supple really helps. Sad there is no cure for old age. My granny always used to say ‘Youth is wasted on the young”. Now I’m beginning to realise just how true that statement was!

Take care.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CD .... oh yes, that saying, heard that from my granny too - must have been a saying of their era 😊 I'm afraid down here on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall doesn't provide the best weather conditions for OA or RA due to the North Atlantic weather soaring in. I devour the TV weather charts and/or Weather apps on my phone and am always looking for the Jet Stream being up around the Bristol Channel or a bit higher up. Then I am confident that down here we'll get some warm dry weather and low humidity and high barometric pressure.Meanwhile I am grateful for small mercies, that I don't have RA or uncontrolled AF with the obvious distress it causes people as we know from lurking around on here - or any other more sinister conditions. At least working 3 days a week driving buses keeps my brain active and disposes of the tendency to self pity. Funnily enough that's when I am least affected probably as much due to some fine ergonomic design work of the seating position in relation to the steering wheel both of which can be very finely adjusted for comfort etc. especially on the very modern buses.

Have a good week ahead and stay safe. Its a crazy world out there, with moments of beauty too I must say.

John

[secondtry]

Not in my case on 200mgs/day.