Flecainide Reaction

I am super sensitive to medications, and even to things such as gluten, lactose, etc.

With the food category, my sensitivity is expressed gradually and slowly. For instance, gluten in the diet provides slowly increasing symptoms over weeks. In any case, the body manages to compensate with the imbalance as much as it is able to.

With medications, there is usually no indication of any sensitivity for 1, 2, 3 weeks (or even months in the case of minoxidil), then the reaction is violent.

Over the last 3 months I tried flecainide to see if the occasional Afib session could be terminated. A dose of 50mg worked on 1 occasion. Then of 3 following Afib sessions, no luck. So I gradually increased to 150 mg, which is not particularly high (I weigh 92kg). Didn't curtail the Afib. Then while in Afib my heart went crazy for 15 minutes about 12 hours after the 150 mg dose. I've had 2,500 Afib session over 20 years, but nothing like this. This event wasn't Afib, or perhaps Afib with another superimposed dis-rhythm. It was almost unbearable. Then it suddenly ceased.

My Afib of the last 12 months is greatly reduced and reducing further (everyone remarking how healthy I appear) and this seemed like an opportunity to try flecainide.

Flecainide is used to treat arrhythmia, yet the information sheet states an "irregular or rapid heartbeat" a possible side effect.

Anyone else have such an experience?

Back to the natural approach.

The antiarrythimcs that slow conduction in the left atrium can have the adverse effect of being proarrythnic for flutter circuits in the right atrium. Without a Holter monitor, though, that'd only be a guess as to what might've happened. The really scary scenario would be a ventricular arrhythmia. I've never had one of those, thank God, but from what I gather you would probably have lost consciousness if that happened.

I would not use the Felc either if I experienced that which you describe. Perhaps you could ask your physician to reintroduce it or another anti arrhythmic if you wish in a hospital setting where you'd be on an EKG. That way they can look for troubling signs such as QT interval prolongation as your body metabolizes the medication. If I recall correctly this used to be the standard practice for introducing patients to AAR drugs, but we've gotten a little more cavalier with it recently.

Thanks for the feedback wolfpack!

I was getting to the stage of passing out. The increasing strain on the heart was incredible...no pain, just an inability to cope with the rhythm -- it wasn't one chaotic rhythm but multiple. I couldn't take it much longer and while sitting on the floor slammed my (inner) wrist down and it suddenly stopped. I felt zapped for hours overnight. Since then I'm back to my usual and feel as if it never happened. Oh well, another allergic response. Seems I just can't take pharmaseutics especially.

Phill - The liver is involved with detoxification of chemicals and Rx drugs are chemicals. Two parts: Phase 1 utilizes the p-450 enzyme system to convert fat soluble toxins to water soluble which can (then) be excreted easily; and Phase II, uses mostly glutathione to bind these altered toxins so they can be safely excreted. When they are not managed, then they can remain and cause toxic-like reactions.

There is a detoxification test by Genova Diagnostics …The DetoxiGenomic® Profile uses genomic testing to identify risk for chemical sensitivities, oxidative stress, and ability to handle various medications. This test ”evaluates SNPs associated with increased risk of impaired detoxification capacity especially when exposed to environmental toxins. It also identifies individuals potentially susceptible to adverse drug reactions.” [www.gdx.net]

Helpful detoxification aids such as sulfur, glutathione, taurine and selenium and other plant flavonioids and vitamins are known to stimulate both phase I and II detoxification… especially carotenoids and indole 3 from broccoli. Plus curcumin. Milk Thistle improves liver cell function as it is a powerful antioxidant. Avoid alcohol as that taxes the liver and also depletes magnesium quickly.

Magnesium deficiency impairs the phase I detox process so it’s important not only for helping to prevent arrhythmia, but also supporting the liver detox pathways. As has been mentioned in several reports on taurine (which is one of The Essential Trio)… taurine plays major role in detoxification and deficiencies can magnify sensitivities. Vitamin B6 deficiency has been noted in 60% of all chemically sensitive individuals and when B6 is low, taurine is also deficient. There are others as well.

I have great empathy as I’ve been there. I had MCS – multiple chemical sensitivities – from an unfortunate systemic exposure and that led to the liver detox testing and also nutrients to support the liver’s detox system. I could stir up a racing heart that often led to afib just by walking through a the perfume section of a department store. I typically am sensitive to drugs as well.

I can share a list of nutrient suggestions if you send me a PM…. but it’s best if you can test first.

Jackie

Was the unusual event Rythmic, or caotic, like AFIB?

I suggest reducing your dosage, and if it happens again, and you don't have a Heart Monitor Device, go to the ER to get an EKG.

If it happened 12 hours after taking the dose, the concentration of the Flec should have dropped enough, that a potential lethal Arrythmia (like Torsades) would not manifest itself. The highest Concentration would be about an hour after you took the drug. Did you take a Beta-Blocker with the Flec? You are suppossed to. Flec can also cause Atrial Flutter, and a Beta-Blocker is necessary to prevent the possibility of Atrial Flutter with 1:1 conduction, or in simple terms, very high speed Flutter.

I think it was 12 hours after the flecainide, but I'm not sure completely. It may have been 6.

I can't describe the rhythm other than the heart felt unable to sustain it for any length of time. With Afib the heart can manage okay.

My trouble is I react to many things, particularly pharmaseuticals. For example, I have slight but permanent tinnitus, but taking aspirin makes it loud. While recovering from general anesthetic an hour after an ablation, I was walking around half-asleep, packing my bags to go home. The nurses put me back in bed with oxygen, and 5 minutes later I was at the bedside cabinet adjusting the oxygen regulator to full blast. During another ablation I stopped breathing entirely and they had to bring me out of it.

Years back I was on, I forget name, that reduces the heart rate. It was as recommended by cardiologist as a first measure. It passed the blood-brain barrier and the dreams were horrific, me yelling so violently I set the neighbors dogs 150 meters distant into a spin.

But I'm doing rather well of late, but sometimes I get too excited and indulge in too many of my Afib triggers at once. Reacting to medication is just something I'm not likely to ever manage well.