Flecainide and Tremors: What Users Say

• 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."

• bad...
• July 28, 2016

For Atrial Fibrillation "Beware of this drug. My mother was put on this drug in addition to diltiazem. It sucked all the life out of her. She got tremors; couldn't walk 100 meters without catching a breath. Major fatigue and weight gain. If you're sensitive to meds, do not use this drug. She will stop this drug today."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2021

For Atrial Fibrillation "I was having more frequent episodes of Afib, some lasting for 2-3 hours. I was put on Flecainide in Sept. 2019--50 mg morning and evening. It got the episodes under control right away, but I developed tremors in my arms and legs. I had trouble going down the stairs, and I had difficulty writing. I was very tired and felt winded most of the time. I found it hard to do anything without feeling tired. My life was really affected. My dosage was adjusted to half a pill, 25 mg, twice a day. Within a day, the symptoms subsided. That verified what I suspected all along--the medication was the cause. So far, things seem to be okay. I hope it lasts."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• October 16, 2010

For Ventricular Tachycardia "I have been taking a combination of medicines, flecainide (50 mg twice a day) and metoprolol (12.5 mg twice a day), to control idiopathic paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia for two months now. Trying both medicines separately did not work for me. During the first two weeks of starting flecainide, I experienced moderate to severe side effects including visual disturbances (mostly peripheral), shakiness, vertigo, weakness, nausea, fatigue, and bowel changes. Since my body had a difficult time with the medicine, both medications were reduced in half. It is much better now, but I am still hoping this is not a long-term treatment. I give this medicine a 10 rating for effectiveness. I have not had a single episode (including PVCs) since being on both medications."

• Sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 3, 2021

For Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia "I started taking flecainide in September 2020. It worked great for my PSVT. It was the busy season at work, so I thought all the 'changes' were due to the stress. I had dizziness, was off balance, my left hand started shaking, I got lost 3 times returning home from the store on routes I had been on hundreds of times, visual disturbances, and memory problems. In April 2021, I went to my PCP about other issues, and then my cardiologist because my blood pressure decided to drop really low. I mentioned all the things that were happening, he said, 'Oh, it is the flecainide,' and took me off of it. Everything returned back to normal in about 4 weeks, with the exception of the hand shaking and memory problems. I am being told that since the medicine is out of my system, it is not related to my memory issues, however, I am not convinced. At this point, no one can tell me what is wrong with my memory."