Flecainide and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• Mis...
• January 29, 2018

For Atrial Fibrillation "This medication literally killed my mom. They increased it from 50 mg to 150 mg twice a day after pacemaker, and she slowly declined. Shortness of breath, severe weakness, nausea, no appetite. After 3 months, she became toxic from the flecainide and collapsed at my house. Called the ambulance, and she passed away within 21 hours. Total organ shutdown. Her death certificate said flecainide toxicity. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH THIS MED AND INSIST THEY CHANGE IT IF YOU GET ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS. I had Mom to the cardiologist on Monday with Doppler, blood work, echo, EKG, and pacer check, but NO flecainide level was done. All tests were perfect. Called Dr. on Tues because she could not even walk. They said she had fluid overload and increased diuretic. She was gone by Thursday. She went from a fit, beautiful, energetic lady in Sept to gone in December."

• Mga...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 9, 2021

For Atrial Fibrillation "I began having AFib episodes that sometimes lasted for hours. At 74, my electrocardiologist prescribed 100 mg of flecainide 2 times a day. The AFib stopped, but after about a year I was feeling lousy. I was always tired, lethargic, and out of breath. My legs shook going down stairs. I could barely hold a pen still to write. I gained about 7-8 pounds in a year, no matter how little I ate; I developed constipation. My PC doctor ordered blood work-all normal. I called the electrocardiologist's office and told them. They cut the flecainide dose in half to 50 mg twice a day. The leg and hand tremors improved in 24 hours. Shortness of breath and fatigue also improved. They said the dose was too high. The AFib didn't come back either. I lost several pounds, and my constipation improved a little. 5-6 months later, I'm feeling kind of fatigued with some tremors, but not as bad. More monitoring early on would be helpful."

• pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2015

For Atrial Fibrillation "I don't ever like taking new medicines, especially those that can have severe side effects. I started taking Flecainide 50 mg 2 times a day on October 13th as my paroxysmal atrial fib was getting more and more common. Before this year, I would get afib once a month. Then it started happening a few times a week, sometimes more. My cardiologist prescribed Flecainide because the afib was affecting my quality of life. So far, it is definitely working to keep my heart in rhythm. No abnormalities that I know of. However, I do have a slight headache most of the time and feel fatigued a lot and sometimes feel a little like I am not taking a full breath. I am trying to see if these symptoms subside."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 15, 2019

For Atrial Fibrillation "I was put on flecainide after going into a fib (atrial fibrillation) during surgery and am suffering side effects. Since taking it for almost a month now, I am constantly out of breath. Even sitting down, I feel as though I can’t breathe. I have those feelings of needing to yawn, but nothing happens. I also have anxiety, and this is triggering my anxiety even more. By the way, this is the second time I’ve tried flecainide, and both times it did this to me. I refuse to try it again. My a fib doesn’t happen unless I drink too much caffeine, so I’m opting to cut caffeine completely out rather than live like this. It’s horrible."

• val...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 10, 2014

For Atrial Fibrillation "36-year-old male; athlete; lone atrial fibrillation; year and a half on flecainide. The medicine works, but episodes of atrial fibrillation still occur, just not as bad and not as often. Because I'm an athlete, my A-fib episodes occur more about 2-3 times a month, sometimes just once a month. Some last a few hours, but some last up to 24 hours or more. I still exercise, but not when I'm in A-fib because it causes shortness of breath. Note: my episodes don't really feel like I'm at 180 bpm at rest. They just feel like I'm out of rhythm at a normal rate, but of course this is me checking my pulse without an EKG."

• Gca...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 22, 2017

Flecainide for Supraventricular Tachycardia "I have been on Tambocor for 7 years now, and in the past 2 years, I have been having dizzy spells, almost blackout, panic attacks for no reason, breathing problems out of the blue, eyes are blurring up more and more each year, no energy, weak muscles, and not for lack of trying, I just can't get them to tone up, so I consider myself weak. My tummy gets upset, ringing in the ears, and the most annoying, other than the dizziness, is the low blood pressure, it just drops so many times! These are all symptoms for this drug. I was in denial for a long time, as these side effects were minimal and just became worse. I'm not on any other drug. I'll have to go off it, but what's next??"

• Pou...
• November 15, 2011

Flecainide for Atrial Fibrillation "Initially, it worked with minimal side effects. But after one year, I have virtually all known side effects for this medicine, including severe fatigue and shortness of breath - or inability to get a full breath. I attributed these to mold in our soil due to construction and did not look at side effects until my EP's total lack of concern made me wonder if he was hiding something. I am shocked by what I now read and have no idea what to do - obviously, reporting to my EP is not the answer. My GP says she knows nothing about cardiology."

• Bic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2019

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I was put on flecainide about 6 weeks ago - 100 mg twice a day. It immediately stopped my ventricular tachycardia. But the cardiologist didn’t tell me that there is a loading period to be followed by a lower maintenance period. So while I felt good in the beginning, after 3 to 5 days on the same dose, I became fatigued and worse, I couldn’t get a good breath of air. Without the doc’s input, I rolled back to 50 mg twice a day and now I’m at 25 mg twice a day. I still have mild breathlessness, the bigger issue is it won’t let my heart get past 108 bpm. I’m thinking of dropping it altogether. I have an ICD, so it will pace me out of VT. I’m very active and will likely get an ablation. Drugs are hard for me to live with."

• A f...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2015

For Atrial Fibrillation "Had AFib for 6 months. Did the cardioversion once. Went on this drug 5 days later, tried cardioversion again, and it worked. Been on drug now for 10 days. Feeling tired, have shortness of breath with even light exercise, like walking around the block. Also, headaches, not happy about it."

• mag...
• November 18, 2011

For Atrial Fibrillation "No room to get into my history of AF and flutter, so will make it short. Because of a serious AF episode resulting in hospitalization, my cardiologist increased the Tambocor to 100 mg twice a day (had been on 50 twice a day for 3 or so years). Always had dizziness, shortness of breath, and feeling unstable since taking this medication. However, since increasing to 200 mg a day, side effects increased and are getting worse. Just experienced the flashing lights today for the first time. My search of flecainide and flashing lights brought me to this site. Thank you! Will reduce the dose again to 100 mg a day until I can see the cardiologist next Wednesday."

• Anonymous
• April 6, 2010

For Atrial Fibrillation "Started flecainide 9 months ago after very frequent episodes of AF. Tried bisoprolol first but suffered side effects and still had AF. Couldn't sleep and sat around like a zombie. Now I take a very low dose of bisoprolol and 100 mg of flecainide twice a day. Life is normal again, but I get a bit breathless with exercise, like walking up steep hills! I'm a 62-year-old female and was very fit until 5 years ago! At least I now have a near-normal life."

• Di7...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2020

For Atrial Fibrillation "Went into afib in May. Prior to that, I suffered with PVC and PAC. After trying a few beta blockers, I was doing good on Carvedilol. Then the PVC started up. My cardiologist put me on flecainide 50 mg twice a day. It's been two weeks, and I still have PVC, but now I get them when I try to do any little housework. I'm out of breath and can't breathe. My cardiologist wants me to increase to 100 mg twice a day. I'm not sure I want to live like this. I can't do anything without feeling out of breath and chest discomfort and PVC."

• Get...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2019

Flecainide for Atrial Fibrillation "My bro was diagnosed with AFib not long ago, and the doc prescribed Concor once a day and Tambocor 50 mg twice a day. It worked well the first 3 days, and he had a slow heart rate, fluttering, shortness of breath, and shakiness all together on the 4th day. It seemed like it was getting worse after taking this drug, it's just not for him, and the doc agreed to take him off now. Trying new meds next week, and I hope that one will work well for him. Having shortness of breath and feeling weak is really terrifying."

• Lor...
• September 29, 2020

For Atrial Fibrillation "I was on this drug for 6 weeks. I had more heart symptoms on it than off it. I became weak and could hardly walk, stand, or shower. I had extreme anxiety on this pill. Shakes, shortness of breath. My doctor kept saying everybody is nervous when they are first diagnosed with A-fib. After several ER visits, I slowly went off it. Then they switched to Metoprolol. I had a very slow heartbeat and low, low BP. Now I’m just taking a blood thinner and doing better. I think this drug changed me in a bad way, I’m still not the same after 7 months."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2021

For Supraventricular Tachycardia "I was put on flecainide 100 mg, two a day. At first, for a month or so, I had no attacks. Now, I'm having attacks often lasting over 48 hours. I'm weak, can't walk to the bathroom, I'm so out of breath. I'm right back where I was before I was put in the hospital."

• bil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2015

For Atrial Fibrillation "Only on it for 8 days. After 5 days, started having shortness of breath, muscle spasms in upper back, pounding heart rate, fatigue, stiffness in neck and face."

• Doc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2022

For Atrial Flutter "Worst experience I've ever had with a drug: severe, constant nausea, headaches, diarrhea, cough, difficulty breathing, insomnia. All that, and it didn't help the arrhythmia at all!"