Dofetilide and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Sis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2018

Dofetilide for Arrhythmia "Have had a-fib for 15 years. EP wanted to take me off Flecainide and switch to Tikosyn. Was having some a-fib episodes with rate >150 on Flecainide 150 mg BID, but otherwise worked well with Metoprolol Tartrate 25 mg BID. Spent 3 days in the hospital for Tikosyn 500 mg BID dosing. Was on Tikosyn for 7 weeks before discontinuing. Worst 7 weeks I ever had. A-fib was way out of control. I was rarely in sinus rhythm on the Tikosyn. Heart rate was between 40-150. Lots of irregular heartbeats (PACs and PVCs), bad headaches, insomnia, dizziness, and SOB/breathlessness. MD did not want me to stop the Tikosyn even with the side effects. I had to quit working as an RN because the side effects were so bad. Went to a different EP for another opinion and he told me to stop the Tikosyn ASAP. I gladly stopped. I cannot recommend this drug."

• Ste...
• January 6, 2016

Dofetilide for Arrhythmia "I have only been on Tikosyn for five days now (the first three while in the hospital). Writing this at 2:00 AM, so I am having some insomnia issues and slight pain in my chest upon deep breaths. The first two doses did not cardiovert me, so I had cardioversion via paddle, which got me back to sinus rhythm very easily, perhaps because of Tikosyn on board. I had previously gone out of sinus rhythm 19 days after a successful ablation, with many post-surgical complications, which is probably why I didn't stay in sinus. I have yet to give this a really good test by exerting myself, maybe it is too soon yet, so I don't know if I'll ever be able to be as active as I was. Other Tikosyn side effects so far: my heart rate seems a bit rapid, and I get winded more easily. I will report back."

• Cin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2023

Dofetilide for Arrhythmia "I am scheduled to have an ablation done. I had to stop taking the Tikosyn 5 days before the ablation. Can I tell you I feel much better being off this medication. I would have an Afib episode at least 3 times per week. I developed severe insomnia and was extremely tired with low energy, and any exertion was too much, such as climbing 5 stairs, out of breath and fast heartbeat and extremely exhausted. Not to mention I was getting migraines. I do not want to go back on this medication."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2022

For Arrhythmia "I had very minor afib maybe once a month on Flecainide. 108 rate and short duration. Doc put me on Tikosyn 250 mg, and I quickly had side effects in the hospital: headache, insomnia, frequent urination, etc., and felt PACs. Now home and have even more frequent PACs that last more than 20 minutes at a time. I also have chills and a nasty body odor that I never had before. After two days at home, I’m ready to go back to Flecainide. Does not feel like a good solution for me."