Can Flecainide Cause Dizziness?

Posted on Wed, 12 Jul 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 Answered on

Mon, 21 Aug 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : i take the following meds Flecainide 50 morning 50 evening for Atrial Fib(i had a cardiac ablation in 2008 at XXXXXXX and seemed to work i take synthroid 75mcg for thyroid i have hashimotos thyroiditis once a day i take Klonopin 1.5 which i take .5 morning .5 afternoon and .5 evening for anxiety which was caused and the drug started when i got the afib. But right now the question is sometimes i feel off not dizzy where the room spins or stuff just don't feel totally great in head. I still am able to play golf and other activities but it is very irritating to me. I am 71 now but in otherwise decent shape. I just hate the way it makes me feel. Knocks my mood down somewhat also

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can you elaborate please

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for considering Healthcaremagic as your health partner.

I tried to understand your annoying experience but I feel it will be better if you can describe it in more detail.

Not feeling great in head is slightly vague term and including some more details may help me to understand the situation and suggest remedies.

Having said this from the available description I can make a conclusion that you are not having dizziness which is common side effect of flecainamide. Being functional and better than average health implies to me that the feeling is short lasting and have no negative impact on your performance.

I look forward to get more details.
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (2 hours later)

i will try to be as accurate as possible. Believe it or not it can be different on some days however head feels like a block pressure like at times. I am wondering if the klonopin has something to do about it also. I would love to get off the klonopin however it does help with some anxiety. However taking drugs is not one of my favorite things. My biggest health feelings are being tired and head feeling like a pressured block at times. It really doesn't show because i can make people think i am the best shape of any 71 they have seen. I don't react well to weather extremes and it has been hot here in XXXXXXX I see my electro cardio guy at XXXXXXX tomorrow but shouldn't be a big thing but i will ask some questions. Like I said the klonopin was given me when i started having the afib creating anxiety about 10 years ago. The flecainide i was off at one time but with a couple of afib breakthrus since the ablation the electro put me on small dose of the flecainide. I Ablation is not a cure but a control and it has worked for me really only 4 break outs since 2008 and they were when i had some illness like bronchitis. So to expand for you my head feels like pressure there not sharp pain or anything like that. i also because of the gastritis found in the endoscope from gastro was taking prilosec however don't really take that regularly not sure what effect that would have stopping it.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for clarifying your symptoms in precise manner.

With available description your symptom can be called as light-headedness which is characterised by heaviness over head. The light headedness as a symptom can occur in variety of conditions and before we move to other parts of health I feel evaluating the one which are obvious i.e klonopin and anxiety.

The fist likely cause is klonopin as suspected by you. 60 years of age when you received your first klonopin is quite different from the current age when almost 10 years passed. The lightheadedness could be the result of increased demand for klonopin or slight over dose of klonopin since there is slowing metabolic system in our body as we get older.

To test my assumption I will request you to get some lower dose of Klonopin. In precise way target 0.25 mg reduction every week. In addition to confirming my assumption it will also serve another purpose which is to use lowest possible dose of benzodiazepines. Since the anxiety was after a event I feel you will be successful to either remove or atleast reduce the dose of klonopin over time. It is also important to remain active as in recent past and have proper stress management.

I hope this helps you.
Feel free to write back to me.
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (7 hours later)

i am willing to try to wean off some of the klonopin but they say you should do it slowly as it has very rough withdrawal symptoms. I take .5 in morning now .5 at 1 and .5 in evening. I think bringing down the 1 o'clock will be easier as to be honest just started about 3 weeks ago however the other two have been taken since the afib started when in 60s. I might have a better chance getting off or going to lower dose with a slower weaning of this drug. Benzos are not easy to get off of. I wish i would have never started this drug. I really didn't do my homework when i started it but if i knew then what i know now i never would have. what do you think my plan should be to reduce or eventually getting off this drug without severe withdrawal symptoms. I am getting a cat for companion which should reduce anxiety. I am single male but active. Thank you for you very thorough and thoughtful answers hopefully i can cut back or get rid of this addicting drug. Thanks XXXXXXX XXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

It is correct to state that Benzos have withdrawal symptoms and these are addictive drugs but it does not mean that you will get them. As I can see that there is little change over the last 10 years in dose of Clonazepam I feel it will be easier for you as chances of having withdrawal effects are very limited especially when you reduce it slowly.

As suggested above start with 0.25 mg in afternoon and after 7-10 days do the same for morning dose. Once this is done repeat the cycle for remaining 0.25 of klonopin for afternoon and than morning dose at the interval of 7-10 days.

I am sure that you will be able to do it in precise manner.
Thanks again.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (14 days later)

Well i have cut the afternoon dose down to .25 from .5 and in few more days will go with half of the morning dose to .25 like you wanted me too. I also notice that when i take a short nap i wake up and my heart seems to be beating not particularly faster but very noticeable which causes some anxiety. I take my blood pressure and it is normal and i have an ap on my iPhone KARDIA which gives me an EKG and beats per minute reading and that seems normal. the beats i get after a nap irritate me and cause anxiety in me. I woke this morning ate some cereal with blueberries and then played 18 holes of golf and then went to diner at 1115 and had some french toast with syrup and some bacon. I came home and rested but that is when i feel asleep and when i awake maybe 20 30 minutes later that is when this occurred. It has not been first time but creates anxiety what are your thoughts.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

I am glad to know that you started reducing the dose of clonazepam and doing well on most occasions except few moments of uncomfort after taking a nap in afternoon.

Although it seems to be a normal thing as this occurred in past but still as a precaution I will request you to lower the pace of reduction. I mean to say that rather than 7-10 days take 12-15 days before doing further reduction. This will helps you to settle down the anxiety to optimum level before you reduce further.

I hope this answers you further.
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (22 hours later)

i will go along with you suggestions and i hope it works i would love to eventually get off klonopin. I still feel i will have some anxiety even without it because of the hashimotos thyroid condition and my atrial fib although i don't have many break throughs 5 since 2008 however there still is some anxiety. I also feel weakness in chest area although i can do everything and my lung performance is good. It could be anxiety. I use a device called a expand a lung breathing fitness exerciser. It seems to help and takes away some of worry of the chest feeling. I will go with the 15 days and see how that goes i am sure there will be some ups and downs as there is in all drug withdrawals. Thanks for you opinions and suggestions. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

Yes you are right in stating that some ups and down are expected but fortunately these ups and down are within normal range of experiences and there is good possibility that you will be able to overcome clonopin.

I also like to add that deep breathing exercises (a form of yoga) have excellent results in anxiety and I request you to do these exercises whenever there is opportunity. For these exercises slow your respiration during inhaling as well as exhaling and holding in between. Target a duration of 10-12 seconds per breath. I mean our normal respiration takes just four seconds to complete the cycle but for these exercises extend this time to 10-12 seconds per breath and have atleast five to 10 minutes of these exercises three times a day.

I hope this helps you further.
Thanks again.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (2 days later)

i am now on half a tablet in the morning. I am however suffering from headache not sure if it is from the klonopin or a switch i made from toprol x. 25mg to cardizem for the afib. I could call the cardiologist and go back on the toprol i am the one who really ask for the change. However klonopin withdrawal does list headache. I normally don't have headaches. I know this will be tough so as of saturday i am .25 morning .25 noon and .5 in the night. But am bothered by the headache. What are your suggestions if there is any. Thanks XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Take plenty of water

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

It is possible that the new onset headache is result of decreasing dose of klonopin although isolated headache is rare entity and we need to look for other possible causes such as change of medications.

In case it is result of klonopin increasing water intake and having deep breathing exercises must help you.

I hope this helps you.
Thanks again.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar