Stopping flecainide and Atenolol

[PT123]

Post ablation 8 weeks ago. I stopped taking my meds 2 weeks ago (as instructed by my Cardiologist). Since then I have been unwell. I have nausea, fatigue and pain in my kidney and back. I can’t eat much and feel very emotional.

Hi have been to the hospital and had a CT scan and bloods. All has come back normal, which is good. They can’t explain what’s wrong with me. Maybe viral. I take Apixiban so maybe this is causing the nausea.

Has anyone else experienced any issue coming off these meds? These problems only started a few days after I stopped taking them. The doctors don’t see any connection in this, as they say they are not addictive meds. Any feedback would be helpful . Thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

Tend to agree with the doctors and since you have probably been on apixaban all along can't see why that would be the cause eithe. Have the suggested re starting these in case it stops your problems? I know engineering and medicine are different but cause and effect are usually constant.

[Bennera513]

Are you my Doppelgänger? I'm 6.5 weeks post ablation and came off Flecainide and Atenolol 1.5 weeks ago. I'm only on Apixiban currently. The similarities are strange, don't you think. Anyway I've been on and off Atenolol for 20 years but had used Flecainide PiP through my 2 year Afib ordeal. After ablation (for which I came off both) I went on scheduled dosing of both to address near constant PAC's. The side effects proved intolerable so I stopped the Flecainide first, then the Atenolol a week later (it was a quick taper from 25mg twice daily (done that way to offset low HR and BP, then to 25 once per day to 12.5mg for a week and then cold turkey). I felt so much better immediately. I still feel great but get odd moments of dizziness, low blood pressure (which is opposite what I'd expect post ablation and off beta blockers). Heart rate continues to run high (62 at night and high 80's during the morning to afternoon). I struggled with some GI distress in the first few weeks post ablation and perhaps due to Omeperazole, which might have paradoxically been expected to resolve those issues. Here in the states we often also take an anti-inflammatory gout medication called Colchicine. I don't think I got on well with that one. But now I'm only on the blood thinner and I like it that way. I had committed to stay this course through the rest of my recovery if I can so I remodel with what nature intended and because I feel so. much better. I would expect the same for you and therefore can only think it could be something else. A final thought, for me,....anxiety! It's amazing what you can sense of your body and how you perceive bodily sensations when you are 'not quite onboard' with what you are going through physically and mentally. Don't forget to at least consider those possibilities. This doesn't negate any of your experience,....but maybe give it a couple more weeks while also exploring professional opinion of your 'side effects' during roll-off. I've read some folks get worse before getting better as they titrate out of a medication they didn't get on with. Best of luck!