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on Flecainide for AFIB. fainted from hyponatremia. anyone else experience? safer med recommendation?

Posted , 8 users are following.

mikelly321
mikelly321

I fainted recently. my Dr. said it was due to hyponatremia (low salt in my blood). I've read since then that Flecainide can cause this: "Hyponatremia is a previously unrecognized entity as an adverse effect of flecainide...

By this rationale, hyponatraemia would lead to Flecainide toxicity. Flecainide has been shown to reduce salt absorption in animal bowel." 

has anyone else experienced this as a side effect? 

​I was doing 100mg twice a day as directed by my original DR who performed an ablation on me three years ago. recently, I've cut it down to 50mg x 2 with no recurrence of afib symptoms. they did return when I tried to quit completely.

I also read: "Excessive mortality or nonfatal cardiac arrest rate was seen in patients with asymptomatic nonlife-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial infarction more than six days but less than two years previously who received flecainide compared with patients assigned to a carefully matched placebo in the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST). It is prudent to consider the risks of Class IC agents (including flecainide), coupled with the lack of any evidence of improved survival, generally unacceptable in a patient without life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, even if the patient is experiencing unpleasant, but not life-threatening, symptoms or signs. Flecainide is not recommended for use in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. Case reports of ventricular proarrhythmic effects in patients treated with flecainide for atrial fibrillation/flutter have included increased PVCs, VT, ventricular fibrillation (VF), and death."

can anyone recommend a drug they've been on that's considered safer and that works? THANKS!

1 like, 24 replies

24 Replies

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  • diannec
    diannec mikelly321

    Posted

    I had the same sort of questions just before I went on flecanide when I read the leaflet it scared the life out of me. I am on Irbersartan 150mgs, bendroflumethiazide 1.5mgs both once a day for HBP then I take Tildiem Retard 120mg twice daily for my HBP and PAF, Flecanide 50mgs twice daily for my PAF and Rivaroxoban 20mgs once daily, very occasionally I feel a little light headed but never very severe, how ever I have never been a big salt user but I have found myself using more salt recently.. And wonder if that could be my body needing more salt ?
    • mikelly321
      mikelly321 diannec

      Posted

      I've increased my salt intake with very little guilt for the first time in my life. ;-)   my blood pressure was ridiculously low the day I fainted. a more recent Dr. visit, my blood pressure was closer to normal, and I was at a more appropriate 34 sodium level. I presume it's a combo efect of reducing Flecainide to 50 x 2 and increasing my salt intake. the Dr. told me to buy pickles on the way home after the first visit.
  • sammis2u
    sammis2u mikelly321

    Posted

    I have fainted due to my AF recently also.  So we are trying to control it better. Praying something works..this is awful. I am meeting with an electrophysiologist, but have been putting an ablation off as long as possible. Seems like my time may be near now. The side effects of the med you listed would give me serious cause for concern also. Knowing me I would not take it. look, as you are for another choice.. Nope wouldn't do it but thats just me.  
    • mikelly321
      mikelly321 sammis2u

      Posted

      I'm not even sure that my ablation ever helped since I was put on Flecainide pretty much immediately and never went off it until recenlty when the fainting thing seemed connected to it (I hit my head twice on the way down sitting in front of my computer desk as I was, and it was quite scary thinking it could possibly happen while I was driving). the Flecainide could have been carrying me from the beginning.

  • CDM2
    CDM2 mikelly321

    Posted

    Hi Mike.. Last summer I had episodes of what seemed to me to be hyponatremia.  I am on flecainide 2 x 50 and verapamil SR 180, and my afib is really under much better control.  Still get it but not as often.  I pop in and out.  I raised the hypnonatremia question with both my specialist and my GP.  Eventually an electrolyte test was done, and I was within the range of normal.   I chased the literature on hyponatremia and flec.. There were only a few instances..  And yes flec can be fatal in some people.  Man, I didn't choose to have afib!!!!  I am more conscious of my salt intake now, and especially my fluid intake in hot weather!!!!
    • Kingjerry42
      Kingjerry42 CDM2

      Posted

      Your comments on your AFIB were very interesting and glad the meds you are presently on are helping you much better.
    • mikelly321
      mikelly321 CDM2

      Posted

      hi CDM2,

      it appears to be a recently discovered connection so there's limited literature. I was on 100 x 2. seems like most people here are on 50 x 2 like you. I have cut back to that with no increased afib episodes. may try to cut it to 25 x 2 to see what happens. the less you take, the smaller chance of nasty side effects, at least until I can find something considered safer. so what is verapamil SR 180 doing for you? looks like it's pretty heavy duty from a quick read...

  • jack82115
    jack82115 mikelly321

    Posted

    to start buy her a medical alert. preferably with a fall detector like http://www.toptenreviews.com/health/senior-care/best-fall-detection-sensors/medical-guardian-review/. Or without it, simpler, for example, such https://qmedichealth.com/products/cellular-medical-alert-service. Or a phone that reacts to falls https://www.amazon.com/Snapfon-Senior-Unlocked-Hearing-Compatible/dp/B005CWSF3U/?tag=aboutcom02lifewire-20&ascsubtag=4125595%7Cgoogle.com.ua%7C%7C% 7C99% 2C83% 2C79% 7C1% 7C

  • CDM2
    CDM2 mikelly321

    Posted

    Update:...I progressed from afib to atrial flutter... This was blamed on the flec.  My new GP, my old GP and the cardiologist in emergency said "what are you taking that for?"  They consider it dangerous.  I was taken off flec.  I have been concentrating on healthy lifestyle, losing weight and etc.  I have occasional afib episodes and try to keep my electrolytes balanced.  So far so good.  Good luck to all

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