Flecainide: Pill in the pocket!

[F-M-C-MM]

Has anyone experienced a blood rush to the head after taking up to the maximum dose of 300mg of Flecainide ( within 12 hours) to promote a return to sinus rhythm. It's accompanied by a level of anxiety and a feeling that one could faint.

[Rellim296]

Do you take flecainide on an empty stomach?

Is this reaction accompanied by a return to normal rhythm?

[F-M-C-MM in reply to Rellim296]

Hi Rellim296 I may have taken it on an empty stomach. It tends to precede return to sinus rhythm. It may be an action of the Flecainide to correct the irregular rhythm. Have you had a similar experience?

[Rellim296 in reply to F-M-C-MM]

According to the leaflet, it is best to take flecainide on an empty stomach or an hour before food.

I used to sense a return to normal with a slight a blood rush to the head when I had tachycardia but that was some years ago and before I took flecainide.

[F-M-C-MM in reply to Rellim296]

Do you still take Flecainide or have you had an ablation?

[Rellim296 in reply to F-M-C-MM]

I've had three ablations and was able to give up flecainide on a daily basis a few months after the second one. I take it now as a pill in the pocket if I really need to.

[F-M-C-MM in reply to Rellim296]

Did you have permanent A Fib prior to the ablations? How many ablations can one actually have. Surprised you are still experiencing episodes.

[CDreamer in reply to F-M-C-MM]

Permanent AF means it cannot be converted by drugs, electrical Cardiio version or ablation. Persistent means you may be in AF all the time but you could be converted and Paroxymal means you go in and out of AF.

Many people have episodes after ablation but they are usually milder and less frequent but ablation is not a one off cure, many people need follow up procedures.

I don't think there is a limit as such as to how many ablations you could have, as long as it would be thought to have a chance of being successful. Everyone is very different.

Anxiety comes with the territory - suggest you read my post on Vagal AF.

[Rellim296 in reply to F-M-C-MM]

I had and still have paroxysmal AF. I don't have many episodes - maybe one in six weeks alhough they can be more frequent - and they are not particularly troublesome. I have been offered a fourth ablation and have not said yes, Mine have all been fairly short and lasted a couple of hours.at the most. Some people have much longer ablations and some have had five or six of them. I am really very much better now than I was three years ago when I was taking 300mgs of flecainide a day,

[F-M-C-MM in reply to Rellim296]

Rellim296 do you take any other drugs for example anti coagulation ?

[Rellim296 in reply to F-M-C-MM]

Yes I take Rivaroxaban. Also Atenolol and Losartan for blood pressure control. Nothing else.

[Seppo_K in reply to F-M-C-MM]

Yes, it was the change to the normal rythm!

[Vony]

I used to be to get this sensation when I was on propafenone. Flecainide caused me generally to have symptoms of vertigo and brain fog but it was different to the rush of blood to the head feeling which you describe. I find I generally experience a pause before returning to normal sinus rhythm. This makes me feel momentarily about to faint as if the blood is not getting to my head properly. But when I was on propafenone I could physically feel a strange upwards rush now and again which I didn't like. It never did me any harm though.

[dmac4646]

Yes, just before i revert to NSR , its like a warm feeling comes over your body and then bingo NSR.. can make you feel as if you are going to keel over..

[Tricia239]

Definitely. I had to stop taking because of that. It was very frightening.

[F-M-C-MM]

Hi Tricia239, sorry to hear you also experienced the same blood rush to the head. When you gave up the Flecainide what did you take instead to promote SR ? I may have to consider taking an alternative medication. I also take Bisoprolol and an antiplatelet.

[gorpo59]

I had 400mg flecainide in 12 hrs and 10mg bisoprolol - overdosed at hospital to return to NSR from AF. Did return to sinus rhythm but collapsed at home after discharge some hours later resulting in paramedics, oxygen etc. Was ok but very unpleasant experience.

[pottypete1 in reply to gorpo59]

400 in 24 hours - absolute max and definitely not all at the same time.

No wonder you felt bad.

Pete

[dmac4646 in reply to gorpo59]

Prob the combination of bisoporol caused that....

[Jacqui12]

Hi F-M-C-MM I've had a similar feeling when i go back into sinus rhythm...the longer I'm in AF the more dramatic the feeling is when it goes back. I get a tingling sensation in my chest which seems to go to my head almost like I'm going to faint. I've taken 200mg flecainide over a 4/5 hours when it doesn't go back, plus 7.5 mg of bisoporol. It's a horrible feeling and it scares me as I feel out of control. Sorry to say I feel comforted to hear you have had a similar experience, felt I was alone with this.