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Is Vertigo connected to AF or the medications for it?

Posted , 5 users are following.

maggie34838
maggie34838

Had my first bout of vertigo a few weeks ago - couldn't walk straight, dizzy then vomiting. Went A & E and given anti nausea medication and fluids, resolved after 3 hrs. Someone recently mentioned that could be connected to AF or the medications I'm taking - Diltiazem and Flecainide. Does anyone else know of a connection, please?

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • al32084
    al32084 maggie34838

    Posted

    interesting as my 1st bouts of af were at first bouts of vertigo. not at same time but within few weeks.
    • maggie34838
      maggie34838 al32084

      Posted

      Of course common cause could be age related - just getting older!! - for me at least, I'm 68. But could be related to AF also.
  • derek76
    derek76 maggie34838

    Posted

    I had loss of equilibrium similar to vertigo when taking Amiodarone and it stopped soon after stopping the drug.

    I had to stop Bisoprolol last month as I had similar symptoms to you but without the vomiting just nausea. It also worsened my AF symptoms. It was so bad at the end that I could not stand without clutching on to something. I also had a loss of feeling and numbness in my feet that has not gone away.

    Quite a few medications seem to have such an effect.

    • maggie34838
      maggie34838 derek76

      Posted

      Thanks Derek, yes I often wonder if AF medications are worse than AF itself! I also hated Bisoprolol - was very badly depressed which stopped when I stopped the Biso. - Had a lot of problems convincing my doctor that was the cause, she wanted to put me on antidepressants. Never been on Amiodarone but all these medications affect people in different ways.
    • derek76
      derek76 maggie34838

      Posted

      Amiodarone is the worst drug ever and remains in your system for years so that after effects are not usually not connected to it.

      I had a pacemaker fitted on Friday and my heart rate went up from the recent average of 72 to around a 100. The consultant was inclined not to treat it and just get me back on a blood thinner. 

      I decided that I was not very happy with no medication for AF and later spoke to another Doctor at the hospital who put 'intolerant to bisopropol' on my discharge notes and suggested that I could try Diltiazem instead. It has brough tmy heart rate down and half my BP readings have not shown an irregular heart beat.

    • maggie34838
      maggie34838 derek76

      Posted

      That's good Derek, I find the Diltiazem and Flecainide the best combination for me.
  • GotAbitBetter
    GotAbitBetter maggie34838

    Posted

    Not sure how long you've been diagnosed with AF : I was put on 5mg Biosprolol last September and was almost bed bound for 5 months because of the dizziness and breathlessness. Like you, the medics dismissed my plea, and I also became depressed: not sure whether this was the meds or the fact that I had become so debilitated and restricted. Fortunately the dose was then halved to 2.5, and now am on only 1.25mg combined with a dose of Frecainide and another dose of Flecainide in the evening and am feeling much better.

    Have you looked at your blood pressure, because for me I suspected that the Bisoprolol was slowing my heart down so much insufficient blood was getting circulated quickly enough.

    Afrail I don't know aabout Diltiazem.

    Does anyone reading this string knows whether the drug manufacturers look for or get this feedback officially on their products?

    Have you gone back to your Doctor for more tests to be ordered?

  • Mazza44
    Mazza44 maggie34838

    Posted

    Diltiazem made me quite poorly, my HR was in my boots too, very dizzy. I work in falls and syncope where we specialise in dizziness normally it's the movement of crystals in the ear so not sure about it being drug related, could be. 
  • mike78443
    mike78443 maggie34838

    Posted

    And I thought I was special! I've had some serious bouts with Vertigo and I too had afib when they happen and I've had a few after my ablation. It brings back sad memories listening to you all talk about the drugs you take. I took everyone of them one time or another and I too felt way out of sorts for years. If you can get an ablation get one as soon as you can; in 90 days you'll be mostly medication free and you'll start feeling better the day you step out of the hospital. Best of luck to you all
    • maggie34838
      maggie34838 mike78443

      Posted

      Interested to hear you've had vertigo too. Pleased for you Mike re Ablation but I had one on March 4th (I think you had yours just before me?) and sadly am no better. Was full of positive expectations and have tried to cut my meds down several times in last month - I go back into AF and also get the chest pain that I had right at the beginning with AF. Am seeing my EP in a couple of weeks and see what he says as regards another ablation - I know the success rate goes up from about 70% with one to about 90%. Found the ablation itself no problem but disappointed it has made no difference.
    • mike78443
      mike78443 maggie34838

      Posted

      Keep your chin up girl. I too felt the same as your feeling now when I went back into afib and aflutter after 18 months of really feeling good. Get the second one and stay with the same doctor he's already map your heart so he or she will know where to ablate next to resolve your issue. Our electricial system is quite amazing, keep the faith that the next one will work out for you. Best of luck to you ...
    • derek76
      derek76 mike78443

      Posted

      When I went for my pre assessment prior to my pacemaker being fitted last week I was complaining to the young doctor about another problem I have. That one doen't matter she said 'We have but one object and that is to keep your heart beating at all times'.  I'd not had one say that before.

      When I went for a pre assessment prior to my second cataract operation two years ago I aked why it was needed so soon after the one for the first procedure. She said that two of those she had seen that day who were coming back a second procedure had strokes since their first cataract operation. I found that rather strange. 

    • maggie34838
      maggie34838 mike78443

      Posted

      Thanks so much Mike for that supportive message. My EP didn't trigger AF when he ablated me (I have paroxysmal AF), he said he believed he got just the same results by just ablating round the pulmonary veins for everyone. So not sure if he would have a map of my heart and I want to ask him that when I see him. I hope he wouldn't just ablate in the left atria because that's the next likely place - I want to know exactly what he's going to do and what the logic behind it is. I'd rather he tailored it to my particular heart this time. Unfortunately I only have one choice of EP (I live in NZ), if I want to go to another one I would have to go privately and I don't have Health Insurance. Thanks again for your encouragement, helps a lot.
  • GotAbitBetter
    GotAbitBetter maggie34838

    Posted

    I had an EP in February (an experience I'd rather forget) but the Cardiologist couldn't make whatever has to happen so he could ablate occur, therefore I'm left on meds. Wonder if anyone else has had this occur?
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