Leg, ankle, foot swelling on Flecainide

[RescueRanger]

4 1/2 months post pulse ablation, taking Flecainide and Diltiazem. Cardio cut Flecainide dosing in half after heart rate was dropping dangerously low. Everything seemed OK, but started having swelling in legs, ankles, feet about 6 weeks ago. This would resolve overnight, but now am experiencing even more severe swelling during the day and it does not resolve overnight. Cardio PA said reduce salt intake, but that doesn't seem to be making any difference. I stopped Flecainide yesterday and swelling is still present, but not building up as severe during the day. Heart feels a little wonky, but staying in NSR. Any insights?

[BobD Volunteer]

What to do I know but think more likely diltiazem. Flecainide is a rhythm control drug not a rate control one.

[RescueRanger in reply to BobD]

Thank you

[Oldforge73]

One of the common side effects of Diltiazem is swelling of the lower leg and ankles. I am surprised your GP hasn’t pointed this out to you. You may need a different rate control drug. I am on Diltiazem but do not get any swelling, it’s just bad luck that you are possibly reacting in this way.

[RescueRanger in reply to Oldforge73]

Thank you

[mjames1]

Very common side effect of Diltiazem. But that doesn't necessarily mean you should stop it. I put up with it because it does more good than harm. Discuss with your doctor.

Jim

[RescueRanger in reply to mjames1]

Will do, mjames 1, thank you.

[mjames1 in reply to RescueRanger]

And I talk to you with slightly swollen ankles, so, it's not just talk. I'm doing the Diltiazem walk 😁

Jim

[SuziElley]

I ended up having to reduce my Diltiazem right down to 60mg to get the fluid retention under some sort of control. Flecainide is unlikely to cause the swelling….

[RescueRanger in reply to SuziElley]

Thank you SuziElley, I appreciate your response.

[Cliff_G]

It'll be the Diltiazem, both for the swelling and the low heart rate.

[RescueRanger in reply to Cliff_G]

Thank you for your insights! Much appreciated!

[Ppiman]

As others have said, it could be the Ca blocker. Have you had a recent echo scan to determine ejection fraction?

Steve

[RescueRanger in reply to Ppiman]

No, I have not. I will look into that. Thank you Ppiman!

[Ppiman in reply to RescueRanger]

There'll be a wait on the NHS no doubt. You could ask for a cardiac MRI instead if there's deemed any point as it is said to be the gold standard. But... it's likely just the tablets.

Steve

[solarjdo69]

rescueranger - I have had periods of swelling in legs and am taking Metrolpolo and Diltiezem. I've found by self experimentation that it is primarily the doltiezem that cause my swelling.

Taling 240mg Diltiezem twice a day. Was a lot worse with higher doses. Was 360 twice a day/

So I experimented and found that by occcasionally skipping the night time dose, I was not swelling, but it does help my pulse regularity to take both doses. Waht seems to have ironed it out is the Hawthorne root 650mg capsule in AM when I take my morning dose.

Rarely if ever do I get swelling any more.

[RescueRanger in reply to solarjdo69]

Thank you very much solarjdo69. I think you are right about experimenting. I don't react "normally" to drugs (been awake and conversing during two surgeries where they thought I was out, only to go completely under after the procedure when they thought I should be about ready to go home! I was on 100 mg Flecainide 2 x/day but heart but cardio reduced that to 50 mg 2 x/day when my bpms dropped into the 30s (same exerperience with sotolol). Didn't start having the swelling until about 3 weeks ago, so something is either building up in my system or manifesting itself from a longer-term use. I have tried removing Flecainide (though just for a couple of days) with no change, so today I am going without the diltiazem to see if that makes any difference.

[solarjdo69 in reply to RescueRanger]

Another potential cause MAY be that your blood vessels may be getting clogged. A source of consternation between avid "I'll take that vaccine please.." and those that "fear the Covid vaccine has some potential issues." I fall into camp #2. I do a lot of research since I am in a sense my primary care physician. It appears that those spike proteins wheter from an actual infection (a small amount according to researchers) or from those produced and continued to be produced from the vaccine. This causes the smaller vessels such as the capillaries to get constricted or clog up putting back pressure on the cardiovascular system.

We see in the news today where so many young folks and athletes are dropping dead or unconcious during strenuous activitues which sure seems to corroborate this idea.

My opinion is that if you procured some cardio chelate EDTA capsules and take 3 each night that over a period of weeks that your back pressure will subside perhaps eliminating this issue. I get mine from a firm available most places MRM Cardio Chelate.

My cardiolgist wanted me to have an angioplasty after a CT scan showed I was pumping at about 40%. I said let me try something and we'll meet again in 5 months. I started taking my Drano (Cardio chelate with EDTA) Cleared up my arterial and capillaries. When I went to see him the first thing he said was John, you look good. He explained that my skin tone and such showed him that my circulatory system was working much better than b4.

This is probably TMI, but the "little guy" has all the strength I recall when I was young. Also , my skin blemishes (pimples, break outs) have virtually dissappeared and I have some of the clearest skin I have ever had.

Good luck om your quest for improved health.

One caveat to taking the chelate is that it depletes your minerals such as Magesium, Zinc, Iron, etc.. So one must a few times a week at another time, say lunch time, supplement minerals. If I forget, I am reminded by starting to get leg, arm cramps EG: charlie horses. Taking the mineral supplements fixes it right as rain. Just take 2 or 3 times a week the mineral supplements.

One other note. Some folks who try this chelate find that it dislodges too many toxins ata time so they get headaches. If so, they pare it back to starting with 1 capsule for a week or two, then increase until they get to the 3 capsule / day amount.