Flecanide did'nt work ?

[steve60]

Hi everyone, having an AF episode about every 10 days now (each lasts for around 2 days), was prescribed 100mg (x3) of Flecanide at onset of episode, however took 3 last night and AF still here this morning, back to the drawing board I suppose, do you guys think every 10 days is a bit extreme ?

[rupert12]

Sorry to hear you are having frequent attacks. Everyone is different, but I was having frequent attacks like you and have been put on flecanide, but I take it every day, one 50g in the morning and 2 x 50g at night, as I usually go into AF at night, with the option of another tablet if I go into AF, it is now 48 days since the medication was changed and not even had an ectopic beat, although my heart rate has slowed down. I just hope it stays that way!

[steve60]

Sounds like you have a good system, my cardio guy has said 300mg at onset of episode, which is meant to do the trick !!. Seems to be that same pattern forming, I drink over the weekend, episode starts on a Wednesday goes on a Friday, My cardio guy says its the drink, I'm not convinced (maybe I'm in denial !!), I'm just concerned now that the Flecanide has'nt stopped it

[Terjo]

It must be awful to have such frequent AFs . Personally I would think that drink might have something to do with it. I went out to lunch with friends last week and had a small glass of wine. In the evening I had my usual small wine with my dinner after which I had a flutter and had to do some serious deep breathing to stop it flipping into AF , I also took my Flecanide ,50, early plus 1.25 bisoperol .

The only thing different that day was the wine, although we don't have a cooked meal in the middle of the day often.

I had been in persistent AF for a year before having a cardioversion which lasted for over18 months or longer. Now I'm working on the breathing . Hope you find the right meds and things that work for you we are all so very different . Good luck. Terjo

[steve60]

Thanks for the response, I tend to agree, while I think drinking does not help, my cardiologist has said that now I have it, its here to stay even if I gave up drinking so I think whats the point, I don't smoke, put salt on anything or put sugar in anything, stop the beer and whats left !!!

[TheStand]

Steve60,

First, Welcome to the forum.

There are many other meds that can be tried. Flecainide is only 1 of many in that class. I see that you are taking it as what they call the PIP (pill in the pocket) method. Many patients do that when they are having few attacks spaced far apart. But 2 or 3 attacks a month, I would think that you would be taking Rhythm control meds to try and prevent AF instead of reacting to it.

As I said there are many other meds that can be tried that may work much better for you. I would really stress with your Dr that taking a med to keep it from happening is much better than trying to stop it after it starts.

Also I read back in some of your earlier posts...

You had written this: "Hi there, I am on asprin as I am informed that it is a blood thinner which in turn helps prevent clotting which is the main cause of stroke if AF. It does'nt prevent stroke but the symptoms of it"

Please go to the main AFA site and read up on this atrialfibrillation.org.uk/p.... It discusses the need for an anticoagulant. I am not sure who informed you that aspirin is a blood thinner. Here's another link to help explain this:

afassociation.healthunlocke...

The whole purpose of an anticoagulant is to help prevent a stroke from happening. Once a stroke happens nothing can prevent the symptoms.

"Been told by my cardiologist that as I have PAF I do not need an ablation, in other words I've got to learn to live with it, hey ho"

I would be asking to see an EP (Electrophysiologist) to evaluate your treatment plan. Again, if the Cardiologist is the one who told you to take aspirin I would definitely seek another opinion. "NO ONE" has to just learn to live with it.

Please ask any other questions you might have. The whole purpose of the AFA is to educate and stop all of the Misinformation being put out.

Again, Welcome to the forum.

Tim

[poppystorey in reply to TheStand]

Good morning could you advise please ,

Just got home from warfarin clinic and my INR as dropped over the last three weeks 3.00 2.5 and today 1.7 why is this .please can you help POPPYSTOREY

[steve60]

Many thanks for the reply, is is very informative and useful, it also makes a good deal of sense. Thanks

[LZuk]

I was on flecanide for awhile during 10 months of continuous AF. I had 2 cardioversions during that time which would stop the AF for less then 48 hours. The rhythm wasn't controlled by any medication, but the rate could be kept at about 100 bpm. I finally saw an EP and had an ablation after which he said to stop the flecanide because it wasn't working anyway. I still had some problems though until a second ablation. This week was 6 months since then and I am in normal rhythm all the time. So, I did not have to learn to live with it. I hope you can find some better solution too.

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Sorry Steve tend to think the alcohol may be a contributory cause.

[Offcut]

I have been told flecanide is not for me after many tries. i am not a big drinker but I did go to a party and drank to much and I have never felt so ill, I was on flecanide then.

[Hidden]

I was put on Flecanide by my Cardio on first visit after major episode of AF....admitted to hospital by GP as i had chest pains etc. Lasted for hours so hospital at time gave me Bisoprolol to convert me back to nsr .

I took Flecanide for 2 years but was going into AF every week and mine is so bad that i cant breath and get chest pains etc so my GP switched me to Bisoprolol 1.25mg daily and its brill! Feel so much better and have only had two bad episodes since.

Cardio thinking of doing a ablation, but i'm not happy about that as i have a murmur and two leaky valves so I wouldn't feel safe. Already had a Brain Stem TIA which knocked me for six for 2yrs...

Ask your GP if Bisoprolol is ok for you to try....

[poppystorey]

My inr as dropped over the last few weeks i need 5 consecutive readings of between 2.00 and 3.0 before i can have a cardio version my readings have been 2.5 2.0.and 1.7 please advise .thankyou POPPYSTOREY

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to poppystorey]

Hi Poppystory

Know that feeling, took me ages to stabilise with the warfarin, and I could not pin down what it was, no change of diet, no change of Mg and yet for 3 weeks I was 3.7, 1.7 2.7, it just seems to take some of us longer to settle than others.

Stick with it, your anti-coag nurse will have come across this many times and they know what to do, take her advice and don't change diet without letting her know. It's not a result of the heat and eating salads only is it?

Best of luck

Ian

[iris1205]

Sorry to hear of the ups and downs. Flecainide was given to me at the hospital after, magnesium, metoprolol, digoxin, and finally nine hours later Flecainide intravenously worked in 10 minutes. Tachycardia and AFib stopped. Unfortunately I tried pill in the pocket too and didn't have the same results. Actually I felt almost worse on it. I have been successful through breathing exercises to reduce the tachycardia and in turn the Afib has diminished but still having up and down mild tachycardia. I usually am at 75 bpm and I now vascillate between 85-100 most of the day. So still seeking solutions. Just finished a week of Event Monitoring- I turn it in tomorrow. The last Holter showed almost nothing.. a couple of doublets, triplets, SVT minor. I find the constant feeling of palpitations (not showing on ECG) more disturbing than the Afib at the moment. I can say that as I don't get it often nor for very long. I can't imagine for your folks who are in persistant or often. You are a courageous group!