Back in AF and PIP hasn't worked! - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,400 members38,733 posts

Back in AF and PIP hasn't worked!

joebob profile image
9 Replies

I came off Flecainide last Saturday as I was tired of it making me feel twenty years older.

Yesterday evening though I popped back into AF whilst sitting and watching the football, I wasn't overly excited or anything like that though.

Anyway I took 100mg of Flecainide to get back to NSR, like I have done succesfully on a couple of occasions before, and then went to bed. But this morning I'm still in AF so it hasn't worked!!!

I'm not sure what to do now as I really don't want a trip to hospital. I'm not sure how long I need to leave it before trying the Flecainide again or even if I can try a bigger dose. Or should I just leave it and try to sit it out?

This is one of my biggest problems with AFib, the fact that I never know what to do during an episode!

Written by
joebob profile image
joebob
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
9 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Well you know what not to do now anyway.! WE shouldn't give advice about drug dosage as we are not medically trained but I can tell you that when I used Flecainide as PIP I was told to take 300mg when the event started and no more for 24hours. Why not ask a local pharmacist if you can;t speak to a doctor?

I would say your AF is not stable enough. Best course, I'm afraid, is probably advice from a cardiologist either through an overnight stay in hospital or an urgent private appointment. It may be a prudent precaution to request Rivaroxaban or similar as well - the instant anti-coags - as a PIP for when you get home.

There is no need to be too concerned but you need more information and possibly to be more persistent with the Flecainide on a regular basis. I felt all round bad when I was at your stage and now 19 months later on 100mg x2/day and reducing my exercise I feel fine and looking to reduce the Flecainide.

Good luck, hospital is a good place to be at times, you may be lucky like me, they hooked me up to a Flecainide drip that didn't work but the doctor telling me they were going to shock me (the standard Cardioversion procedure) put me straight back to NSR.

joebob profile image
joebob in reply to

I'm on Rivaroxaban already and I've numerous trips to hospital. I've already had the Flecainide Cardioversion in hospital and was put on 50mg flec twice daily but the side effects made me feel really crap.

in reply tojoebob

Ah....maybe talk through with your cardiologist other drug options. I liked Flecainide because I was assured it is a comparatively 'old' drug tried and tested and mostly OK for those under 70 with Lone PAF...and it has worked. But there are other options.

Hope you are feeling a bit better.

Kiwi2 profile image
Kiwi2

Like Bob, I have to take an increased dose of flecanide in one hit for it to work. I take 200mg and it usually works within 2 hours. I had an ablation in January and only 4 episodes of AF since, all stopped with Flecanide. Please check with your doctor before trying this :)

joebob profile image
joebob

I took my usual meds yesterday morning, plus another 50mg of Flecainide and within a couple of hours I was back in NSR. I know Flecainide stays in your blood for 14 hours, so I'm thinking maybe 150mg is the right dose - I will talk to my GP about it during the week.

Meanwhile I'm going to do what my cardiologist suggested and stay on the flec but reduce the bisoprolol and see how I feel.

Rellim296 profile image
Rellim296

I would discuss what dose you need with your EP rather than your GP. It could be said that the dose you need is the dose that works. My most recent advice from my EP - and I don't take flecainide on a daily basis - was to take 50mgs after an hour of AF and if there was no joy an hour later to take another 50mgs. There was no indication of what to do next!

I'm not suggesting what you should do, but bear in mind the fact that a lot of people take 100mgs x 2 per day and a few are on 150mgs x 2 per day routinely.

joebob profile image
joebob in reply toRellim296

I'm under a cardiologist not an EP. Plus I have only seen my cardiologist 3 times in the past year and on the one occasion I actually called for advice he told me off!

This is at Gelnfield Hospital too, which is supposed to be one of the best cardio care hospitals in the UK...!!!

Rellim296 profile image
Rellim296 in reply tojoebob

It's always useful to have a number you can call, but not so good if it doesn't go too well! Perhaps it's back to your GP and see if you can get referred to either an EP direct or a different cardiologist.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

How soon do you take PIP Flecainide once AF starts.

Just wondering what interval you leave between AF starting and taking your PIP Flecainide for those...
Tyson4ever profile image

back in AF

back in AF early hours of this morning, PIP taken,(flecainide). Not worked - never does, but...
Suesouth profile image

silly me back in AF, what PIP dose?

feeling great last 4 months since last CV. Have been in Fiji with my wife and leaving tomorrow but...
OzJames profile image

So frustrated - AF back again

After doing pretty well for quite a while now my AF strikes again, as confirmed by my Kardia. Not...
Drounding profile image

Back in AF

Back in AF this morning (139 bpm) emailed cardiac nurse who quickly replied. Told me to go back on...
stoneyrosed profile image

Moderation team

See all
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.