Medication side effects

[Leggylady]

Hoping this finds you all feeling well and happy.

When I had an ablation in November, my EP prescribed Flecanide for four months, and then I was recommended to stop. All fine. The issue is that a side effect of flecainide is constipation, which actually benefitted me as my BP medication Candesartan, was giving me the opposite problem!

Since stopping flecainide, the candesartan problem has returned with a vengeance. I’m wondering how long I should be patient to see if it settles back down to a more acceptable le el. Any thoughts? And has anyone else had this issue?

Many thanks, Lyn

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Lyn

I think you should add more roughage into your diet, so that your bowels are not so loose. Try adding flaxseed to your breakfast, it will also add magnesium and Omega 3 into your diet and hopefully give you more energy.

It may be a good idea to see your GP for some advice re the effect of the tablets you're taking that cause the problem. Perhaps they could be taken at a different time , or mid food to lessen the effect on your bowels.

Hope someone who has had the same problem will answer you.

Jean

[Leggylady in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean. I may well end up speaking with my GP, or perhaps the AF nurses. I used to take linseed (flax seed) for constipation before I started on meds so might give that bit a miss!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Leggylady]

You need to add bulk to your bowels, to stop them from being so loose. How about eating some mixed nuts, making sure you chew them well.

Jean

[Leggylady in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean, but I already eat nuts every day, and plenty of fruit and veg. I could perhaps include more bread (whole meal).

[jeanjeannie50]

Gosh, I ate wholemeal bread for years thinking it was what was best, much as I hated it. I have friends an elderly couple 85 & 86 years old and they eat what they want, even white bread. I think their secret to a healthy life was always keeping busy. The year before last they had a new shed delivered. She mixed the cement for the shed to go on and then they put the shed together themselves. He put shutters on it and I was astonished when he bought some lino for the floor. All their gardening tools are kept in there and they're all cleaned after use. That couple have made me rethink what makes a healthy life. I'm now wondering if keeping active and not food is the answer. This doesn't help with your problem, but your talking about brown bread led me to want to tell you.

[Lilypocket in reply to jeanjeannie50]

That makes sense Jean x

[AussieHeart]

That’s interesting. I had “high” constipation prior to being put on Flecainide and didn’t notice much improvement on it. After ablation I’m off all meds and suffering with chronic constipation yet again. Mine’s so bad I can feel lumps in my belly and I get the shakes due to faecal loading! A gastroenterologist told me take magnesium, Colon lytly, or iberogast, or all three. Too much magnesium tips me into diahrea but colon lytly is severe too. Iberogast calms things down. It’s a management issue but less roughage improves the issue for me! Try hydralites if you can’t up water intake.

[Leggylady in reply to AussieHeart]

Try linseed. A couple of tablespoons of seeds daily. I used to rely on it and it was the only thing that helped me. You can take it in juice - just stir and drink it down, or stirred in yoghurt etc.

[Lilypocket]

Hi

Do you like bananas? They are excellent for overall health and are good for gut health.Hope someone who takes the same drug can give you an answer.

Take care

[Leggylady in reply to Lilypocket]

Thank you - I do already eat a banana every morning.

[Singwell]

Bit of a predicament! Funny, but Flecainide didn't do that to me but I guess our gut microbiomes are all different. Try psyllium powder- not too much - add it to soaked oatmeal if you have it, or a smoothie. You need plenty of liquid to mix it in with. Try half a teaspoon only to begin with.

[Leggylady in reply to Singwell]

Thanks for that. It’s not something I’m familiar with, but I’ll look into it.

[Magson]

I take Candesartan but I don't have the side effects that you have. There are plenty of other medications that your GP can prescribe as an alternative.

[Leggylady in reply to Magson]

Thanks for responding. I was happy on amlodopine but my EP wanted it changed as he says candesartan or Losartan have a beneficial effect on the heart. I asked if I could change back after my ablation. He said I could, but the candesartan will help to keep my AF in check.

[babayaga]

It's taken me a while to answer this -- sorry! Anyway: I take Flecainide and Candesartan, and I get no side effects from either -- but perhaps I don't get the constipation because I am eating a lot of dried fruit! That can create loose stools, but prefer not to call it diarrhoea. It can result in breaking wind, but only if you eat too much.

[Moonriver]

dried figs work for me or prunes