Duration of meds side effects?

[ireneo]

For those of you on anti-arrhythmia meds: I understand there's an initial period of adjustment - fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, whatever depending on the medication. Then the effects ease off and you feel fine, right? Or does the fatigue, etc. linger and you simply adjust to the new you?

[ireneo]

In my line of work/retirement there's a lot of calculations of Kcals, meds, fluid therapy and so on. The difference is that the animals will feel my mistakes, not humans. Still, I check and recheck.

I don't mind my arrhythmias so much since they're not life-threatening. But the med has been very helpful with the chest aches/pains and Raynauds. But yes, it is a 2 edged sword. I'd like to keep my energy and mind and just lose the pain. Not likely.

[Brooke_38]

I think it's like a double edge sword...You go on the meds to reduce symptoms from the arrhythmia but end up dealing with side effects of the meds. I find it to be a no win situation :( Sometimes I would rather deal with my afib then the creepy side effects of the drugs!

I totally agree about what life used to be like. Go into a room and remember why you went there.

Good for you being retired! I work full time as an RN and have many years ahead of me before I can think about retiring (we're about to send our 1st off to college!)

[ireneo]

I like that - the stupid cloud. The things we could do before meds like remember activities on certain dates, even remember what 3 items to pick up at the grocery store. Work is the hardest because things get so hectic and I feel I can't keep up as well. Good thing I'm retired, kind of.

So the feeling I'm getting is that side effects never go away completely; they just aren't as bad as the first couple weeks.

[Brooke_38]

I have taken Sotolol, Rhythmol and am currently back on Flecainide. I went back on the Flec well over a month ago and still feel extemely fatigued and the fog or should I say stupid cloud is still with me.

[Momto3]

When I took flecainide and rhythmol, the dizziness and fatigue wore off.  However, the weird dreams and shakiness remained.