Flecainide and hair loss

[TachyAfraidy]

I started flecainide post rf ablation and it did drop me into sinus, but have had recent tachy episodes lasting half hour at rates up to 225 bpm. I take Cal channel blocker and the rhythm comes down and is very responsive (so far). It has been 4 months and the breakthrough tachy rhythm is on the incline. I am bummed because my body has adapted to the stuff and I am not nearly as dizzy or ridden with dyspnea as before. I have tried and failed at most of the other drugs. I may need another ablation or some sort of pacemaker for the fhast rhythm. Why does blood pressure run away with hr whe in these episodes? I too try to just take the channel blocker and see where things will go from there before I call 911 or (more often) take myself to the emergency room, where they know me. Also, I am not a vain person, but am losing my hair in handfulls. Dont know whic to blame, the coumadin or the flecainide. It is a small price to pay for peace. Sinus rythm equals peace and normality to my life. I will take it if that is what it takes. Anyone on flecainide might want to read "Deadly Medicine" by  Thomas J Moore. Very enlightening. I will just wear short hair and keep taking my omega 369 and fish oil. Anyone else experience this?

[TachyAfraidy]

Hi Jerry. Thank you for the response. I had AFIB and post ablation (I had the procedure on March 10th) my AFIB morphed into a flutter. Atypical Atrial A Flutter. The tachycardia is recent. and not like it used to be prior to the prodedure. It is not lasting long and not as severe, except July 10th. Severe, but came down with a non time release verapamil 80mg. Prior to the ablation, I took 360 verapamil twice daily to keep my atrial rhythm in check. That is double the maximum reccomended dose, but was working and prescribed by my ep, who is a senior fellow and has been doing ablation procedures since 1990. He teaches at UCLA and I respect him highly. I see him this month and will bring up the flecainide issues. This is the best I have felt (lately since this whole thing started in about November, so I have to weigh the options with relativitiy to the risk involved with this particular med. I have been assured by my cardiologist and my ep that a person who has not suffered a heart attack and has normal pumping ability (I just had 2 treadmills and in comparison to 3 days post ablation and now, my heart has made pumping improvement, this may be because I have my blood pressure very under control post ablation without meds as well) does not have to worry about sudden cardiac death from flecainide. I am part way into the book "Deadly Medicine" but all of the clinical trials were with patients that had major cardiac issues and was trialed as a last resort med under some sort of protocal where they use a med not yet approved by FDA as a last resort for treatment. That is why it took a while to discover that it was killing people who had pre existing heart damage due to heart attacks. At least that is my take on the 3M and FDA hub bub when this drug was past R&D and into the approval stages. I appreciate and will take your good advice straight to both of my doctors. I feel like there is not a med out there that will help me manage this that lasts for my heart rhythm maintenance for very long, Most people fall out of rhythm after more than a year and these drugs are only seeming to work for me for 2-4 months. I have been through so many, Digitalis, Altenalol, Sodelol, Propafenone, Amiodaron and now Flecainide. I have not been in NSR before Flecainide. My EKG was picute perfect for the first time two weeks ago. I went over my chart copies last night and laid them all out on the table, wow. I have come a long way, so it is hard to write off the flecainide over my hair loss. I just wonder what other system in my body may suffer from the strongest class 1 antiarrhythmic drug on the market! The pharmacist stated that they did not have a 90 day supply because it is an "older" drug and that they stock sodelol due to supply an demand, whoever she did say that she liked flecainide because of they very fact that it was an older drug and that it had been through the rigors of proving itself over time. She said that is had come a long way since 1982 when all of the deaths were occuring. She felt that there was nothing wrong with it and that the reason that they did not have enough was not do to its morbifity rate! I am an information gatherer and in info from any medical person with an opinion is welcome in my book. It is interesting though,...to hear all of the various opinions, even between my ep and cardiologist, and my cardiologist and his male nurse practitioner and his medical assistant. Cardiologists in the ER and the emergent doctors themselves, all had different opinions at to pro ablation or anti ablation. I heard such a mixed bag prior to the procedure. My cardio's NP advised me that I should not insult my heart any more than it already was. Those words still ring in my ears and I will never forget them. But...I had tachy-brady syndrome and my heart was doing all sorts of bad things. Even PVCs. I was in bad shape and no antiarrhythmic was stabelizing my condition. I was in the ER allot! Usually with my luck, it was on a Friday or Saturday night at about 10pm, where inwhich I would see all of the GSW and gang warfare coming in. They keep you a min of 6 hours so it seems to watch the rhythm and make sure that you are alright before signing you out. I read lots of studies on regrowth of beta receptors post ablation which cause new neuro pathways to develop causing return of afib and a flutter and other rhythm disorders. He emailed me tons of studies currently being done to scientifically prove/disprove this theory. I believe that throught the cardiac jargon, this is being proven to be true. The body is regenerative by nature and the ablation burns/scars may even promote the heart to regenerate these beta receptors in its own self defense. I used to query the drs and worry, but I realize that it is just too overwhelming and that I have to stay informed, yet trust my physicians, Getting stressed and worried only irritates my rhythm into tachycardia. I am learning to not engage in every arguement or disagreement or debate anymore. I save my battles for the ones that are noly most necessary, stress plays a huge role in all of this. I am working to stay in a zen place as often as possible, in this world we live in, that can be a challenge. Thank you for your concern and good advice, I won't blame coumadin for my hair! Does Rhytmol SR 425 give of side affects? That number 425, I recall reading it in associtation with the channel blockers I think. Is it a channel blocker? Oh, and in answer to your question about my taking channel blockers, I went from taking 720 mg of time release verapapmil a day to taking 80 (sometimes half 40mg) non time release if may hr goes over 110 without exertion. This has only happened three times since July 10th. SInce 3 times recently, I feel the affects of flecainide might be wearing off. That is what usually happens when these drugs stop working for me. Take good care and be well Jerry.

[Jerry_NJ]

Sounds like you have researched the side effects of Flecainide, and it does include possible hair loss.  Given it hasn't (as I read your post) helped a lot with you irregular HB I think you should discuss with your doctor changing medication.

Sorry if I read your post too fast:  was the ablation for tachycardia?  If yes and you still have tachycardia it seems to me a second ablation may be called for.   Sounds like the channel block is very effective, do I read correctly you take the CB as needed, not a regular dose a day?  

I have been on warfarin (coumadin) for years, and even at my advanced age, my hair seems to be staying in, I conclude it does not cause loss of hair for me. I have never taken Flecainide, my stronges anti-arrhythmia drug was Rhytmol SR 425, twice a day.  It did not stop my AFib... I have never had an ablation for AFib.