Irregular Heartbeat (Arrhythmia)

Alcohol and Flecainide

Been taking these together for a year and I'm starting to get muscle spasms at night. Has anyone else experienced this?

Updated May 19, 2023 in Flecainide

Amiodarone - a risky drug?

I have recently started taking Amiodarone. Some of the comments here are worrisome, but were made several years ago. Is it safer now or still the same risks? ## Hello, Mary! How are you? Nothing has really changed about it. The FDA classifies it as an antiarrhyythic agent that's common used to treat cardiac dysrhythmias. Its typical side effects may possibly include nausea, interstitial lung disease, thyroid abnormalities, GI upset and elevated liver enzymes. What do you consider really risk and worrisome? Perhaps I can better help you if those are addressed. ## My father just died a few days ago as a direct result of taking Amiodarone... His death was two weeks of agonizingly trying to breath on a bipap machine.... He was relatively healthy prior to being on this drug which caused ...

Updated April 18, 2023 in Amiodarone

Taking Flecainide and Verapamil Together

I suffer from AFIB, get it once aprox every two weeks for 6 hours. My cardio wants me to take Flecainide and Verapamil. I am really afraid of the possible side effects of Flecainide which appears to be a dangerous drug, and why would he give me Verapamil when I have quite low blood pressure? ## I was afraid of Flecainide as well and terrified of taking both together. But what's the alternative? Like you I suffer constant bouts of AF and they can be debilitating to say the least. I have found Flecainide OK, but still get AF, am about to start on Verapamil as am sick of being sick. Fingers crossed...this is a rotten complaint and Drs have really no idea how to best treat it so you have to try along with them...dancing in the dark! ## Verapamil, as well as most other blood pressure med...

Updated January 25, 2023 in Flecainide

Tikosyn and daylight savings time

I take my Tikosyn at 5:30am and 5:30pm. I know it’s important not to miss a dose and adhere to a schedule. Do I alter the times at all when the clocks fall back during daylight savings? ## For daylight saving do I take my tikosyn an hour earlier ## Unless your doctor, or pharmacist instructs otherwise, you can adjust your dosing times accordingly. Generally a change of such a small window is fine. The FDA warns that Tikosyn may cause side effects, such as nausea, headache, chest pain, back pain, and insomnia. Ref: Tikosyn Information Are you on any other medications?

Updated November 25, 2022 in Tikosyn

Tikosyn help and experiences

What's your experience with tikosyn? ## I don't have any personal experience with this medication, but thought it would be helpful to others who are interested in it to post some more details about Tikosyn. Tikosyn (Dofetilide) is used to treat irregular heartbeats. It improves your heart rhythm by relaxing an overactive heart. Information regarding other uses, side effects, interactions, etc, can be viewed in the two links below: I hope this helps! ## I am scheduling a hospitalization for this medication (Tikosyn). Would love to hear from anyone who has used this; what has been your experience? ## I studied Tikosyn and thought it would be the best choice for me, because it does not have the side effect of slowing the heart down or lowering blood pressure like so many anti-ahrry...

Updated October 25, 2022 in Tikosyn

Amiodarone and asthma

I was given Amiodarone as a precaution June of last year after open heart surgery. Even after two personal visits each (the heart surgeon and the attending pulmonary doctor). I made it very clear to each of them not to give me any medication that could affect my asthma. I started having serious breathing issues within three days of my surgery that became progressively worse. I complained daily and begged for Prednisone which they refused to give me. I had stopped this poisonous drug after five weeks, but the damage was done. Amiodarone can stay in the cells of your body for several months continuously doing damage to your lungs and more. It ruined my life! ## Hello, Ken! How are you doing? I am very sorry about what you've been through, that's terrible. Unfortunately, when presc...

Updated September 20, 2022 in Amiodarone

Flecainide Side Effect

Anyone suffer abdominal distention (bloating) from Flecainide? It's making me want to go off the drug...only been on it a week. Thanks ## Have you consulted your doctor? It has been known to cause dyspepsia in anywhere from 1 to 3% of people that use it, according to the clinical studies. If it is very severe, you should consult your doctor for a dosage adjustment or possible switch to a different medication. ## I am bloating up like crazy since being on this drug. I called my doctor about it and he said to excercise it couldn't be from the flecainide. After reading this forum I will challenge him on his answer. ## ME! I have been on Flechainide twice now for Afib. That is its worst side effect I have is bad stomach gas or indegestion which causes upper center chest pain. It als...

Updated July 25, 2022 in Flecainide

Sotalol and dizziness

I was prescribed sotalol 2 years ago for a-fib. After a couple days I noticed I was dizzy all the time. I would go down to my shop a find myself grabbing on to anything to keep from falling. With lathe, milling machine, tire machine. To fall into any of those and more with my head could be a serious medical problem. I wasn't having this dizzy problem before so I decided to quit the Sotalol and se if it was the culprit. It took a couple days but things got better and better yet as time wore on. After a couple of months I felt guilty about self medicating I started the Sotalol again, on second morning, I could barely stand up to get from bed to bath. I consider this a serious side effect, what are your thoughts? ## Sotalol is a beta blocker, and dizziness can be a very common side eff...

Updated May 21, 2022 in Sotalol

Tikosyn and cough syrup

Which cough syrups can you safely take with Tikosyn? ## Did you have a few specific products in mind? It would help to know for the sake of being able to cross check ingredients. For example, Nyquil contains Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, and Dextromethorphan - none of those ingredients appear to interact with Tikosyn [1]. Please share the name of the cough syrup that you prefer to take.

Updated April 14, 2022 in Tikosyn

Amiodarone for atrial fibrillation (A-fib)

I would like to know if Amiodarone was effective for atrial fibrillation and were there bad side effects? ## Yes, Amiodarone is used to treat irregular heart beat, and has successfully helped many people, especially when other medications weren't effective. The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, sun sensitivity, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Ref: Medline Plus Amiodarone Are you on any other medications?

Updated March 25, 2022 in Amiodarone