Change of Medication....

[travelbug54]

Hi Everyone, my Consultant changed my Medication last week from Digoxin to Flecainide as he felt it would be better for me because of my persistent AF, has any members had their medication changed this way as I am interested to know if it was beneficial , thanks for reading....

[BobD Volunteer]

Flecainide is a rhythm control drug rather than one to merely slow down your heart rate.

[travelbug54]

Thanks Bob, have been told to take flecainide for another week and see if it suits me, if not have been told to go back on Digoxin....

[maxred1]

I went the other way. Off flecainide, and onto Digoxin. A high dose again, blood tests next week to check my Digoxin level in system. Not sure I am feeling that great on it. However, could just be my condition, or my imagination...

[travelbug54 in reply to maxred1]

Thanks for reply maxred1, medication is so hit and miss, hope you feel better very soon, will go back on digoxin if I don't start to feel better soon....

[maxred1]

I should add, this takes me to 15mg bisoprolol, 185 micrograms, and 300 Dabigatran per day, and still not really controlling much. I am seeing an EP tomorrow, the embarrassment of today being that I went to the hospital at 10.30 this morning, yes to be told it is tomorrow. I blamed the drugs....

[travelbug54 in reply to maxred1]

Most of us have been there maxred1 only I was a day early for the hairdressers!

[maxred1]

Yes, as always listen to your body. My CV failed recently, after two days in NSR. I am concerned at the level of meds I am on, and this will form part of the discussion with the EP tomorrow. That and a few other things

[jennydog in reply to maxred1]

Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes.

[travelbug54 in reply to maxred1]

All the Best for tomorrow, maxred, as jennydog said please let us know how you get on...

[maxred1]

Thank you for your kind support. I shall do...

[Spiritji]

I went from Digoxin to Diltiazen and I am not sure but i feel I may have had some type of withdrawal symptoms from the digoxin as i got really tired but then it also could have been the new drug....things are ok now.....people on this website have said positive things about the drug you are taking now......so good luck

I think it was a good move for me to to get off the digoxin even though i was attached to it because it is from a flower

[Hidden in reply to Spiritji]

It makes me smile that you like digoxin because it is a flower. i felt the same way but probably it would be synthetic now. Natural things can be good or bad - even poisonous of course.

[mclbg001]

i went from digoxin to fleccanide after a cardioversion. however I was not taken off digoxin but taken off sotalol. Both fleccanide and digoxin interact with each other as such had a problem wiith digoxin levels being too high and have since come off digoxin and had no problems

[Hidden]

Yes, I have been through all the drugs over years. Just go carefully with flecainide. I'd start with a small dose if I were you. Its powerful. Blessings, Janet

[crustychin]

Flecainide acetate works well for a time, this was my first medication for AF, about 27 years ago, but like so many other medications it becomes less effective with time. My second. some five years ago was Amiodarone, brilliant but for the fact that it causes lungs to lose their elasticity, I was on this for three years and it is only intended for two years use maximum. then I was put on Dronedarone, supposedly a very expensive alternative, to get me off the Amiodarone, and was almost nightly in A&E. Nebivolol, a beta- blocker was also tried but of no use. Now, I am back on Amiodarone taken in the morning, with a nobivolol at night, and have not had a single flutter since, The Cardiologist has told me there is no alternative, my lungs are shot anyway with COPD, and I am 75.

[Mrbill757]

Been on flec for about 5 years. 2 years ago had an attack at 5am. Went to the ER and they gave me a double dose which immediately converted me. So my dose is now 100mg twice a day. Had no trouble since then. I believe that 150mg is the max dose at a time. You might look at dosage levels. Also been supplementing my diet with magnesium oxide which they say might help afib as there is a significant correlation between low mg levels and arrythmia. Make sure its mg oxide and not a mix of Ca and Mg. Check studies done concerning low levels of mg. Most people are deficient.

[Mrbill757]

Sotolol same name for betapace AF. A definite beta blocker. Really slows your heart rate down. After taking it for awhile, my blood pressure began to crash. So switched to flec. Flecainide can have side effects too. Flec not only acts as an anti-arrythmic but also lowers heart rate but not nearly as much as betapace.

[Noidea63 in reply to Mrbill757]

Glad to have read yours as just off Sotalol , kept passing out! Just started Diltiazem so hoping for improvement. Can't take Flecainide as had MI ten years ago.

[Kodaska]

Not only is flecainide powerful, it also suppresses the brain's immune system. You can verify that by doing some research on treatments for multiple sclerosis. The drug websites don't include this information, and I suspect cardiologists also don't know.

This is important because if you have some kind of infectious agent in your brain (perhaps some kind of spirochete), flecainide's immunosuppressant effect will enable it to come out and do damage. Then, when you're off the drug and your immune cells come back on line, they might well take care of the invader, but they can also attack the neuron damage left behind (a la MS). Voila! - instant autoimmune disorder!

I really don't want to scare anyone, but I'm on a crusade to make people aware of the possible consequences of taking flecainide. Sad to say, I speak from experience. It's a beautiful day here in southern Wisconsin, but I can't go biking because I'm too dizzy and fatigued. Maybe tomorrow .....

[BetsyM]

Has anyone had problems with being able to take deep breath and few hrs after taking flecainide?

[nmguy]

I found that I couldnt exercise while on Flecainide, I couldnt get my heartrate up and made my chest feeling uncomfortable.  I have a question about Digoxin. I was put on it and flec when my heart rate jumped to 245 one night. But I got really dizzy and had side effects so after a week the Doctor told me just to stop taking them. Days after I lost my hearing and top of my head was numb. I went on a little trip and then I got cold, body numb and strong flutter in my heart. Passed out. In ER they found nothing, but after this, i became super sensitive! And Im feeling terrible right now..scared.

[travelbug54]

Hi nmguy, so sorry your feeling terrible and scared right now and hope you soon start to feel better. We all react different to drugs, flecainide didn't suit me at all and I only took it for a short time, I didn't have any side effects with Digoxin that I was aware of. We all react differently to drugs, what drugs suit some patients might not suit others. I hope being a Member here helps you as there is so much help, support and advice, I know Members here have given me a better understanding of AF which has helped me tremendously. Wishing you well....Caroline