Flecainide

[GrannySmithgs5]

Hi All ,

Am having a spot of bother with my GP . Can I ask those of you who have Flecainide as a PIP , how many doses you are allowed to hold / have on prescription ?

Thank you Jean S.

[jennydog]

Some time ago , pre-ablation, I asked my GP if I could increase my daily intake of flecainide from 50 to 100. You would have thought that I'd asked for gold. She insisted that she would have to discuss this with my EP. She did so and he agreed.

I do know that GPs cannot prescribe flecainide in the first place. When I next see my EP I intend to ask him to confirm with my GP in writing that I need flecainide as a pip. I am currently having more frequent AF episodes and cannot work out whether I need the pip or whether it's best to wait until the fibrillation stops by itself. It may be that I should be back on daily flecainide.

I intend to get proper guidance from my EP when I see him in a few month's time.

[Rellim296]

I've taken flecainide as a PIP for almost three years. No problem at first as I had an ample supply and I don't use many. However they eventually went out of date and last summer I think I asked for more by using my surgery's on line repeat prescription service. There's the facility for an 150 character message and I explained that mine had become too old. Anyhow, it worked a treat and my chemist added a pack of 60 x 50mgs of flecainide to my next batch of medication. It's possible that I asked my GP when I saw him, but what came was 60 x 50mgs.

The following month my husband collected my pills and again a pack of flecainide was included with the rest and brought home! I contacted the surgery (again on line) and told them I didn't need flecainide every month. They rang me as they could not work out what I was up to and I explained about pill-in-the-pocket flecainide which was new to the lady who supervises the system.

jennydog , I've been letting the fibrillation stop by itself too, which is usually does, and have not bothered to take the flecainide. If I feel it's going to be a help, I take 100mgs.

[souljacs4 in reply to Rellim296]

Cant get Flecainide here in south wales have been told it wont be available until august or September

[BevCynfelyn in reply to souljacs4]

I've been on flecainide since before Christmas, I live in South Wales. It has to be prescribed by the cardiologist and only after a stress test.

[ILowe in reply to BevCynfelyn]

What strange restrictions. Flecainide is one of the safer medicines, and not that difficult to understand: easy enough even for a GP.

In your case, for good reasons, the cardiologist preferred a stress test first. But not every cardiologist works this way.

[BevCynfelyn in reply to ILowe]

My GP doesn't have any problem understanding flecainide, he's an extremely good GP, there were restrictions on it being prescribed in any primary care setting ie. I couldn't get a repeat prescription for the first couple of months without the intervention of the cardiologist via telephone calls, problem then was sorted out without issue. Health Board regulations.

[GrannySmithgs5 in reply to Rellim296]

Thank you xx

[jennydog in reply to Rellim296]

Rellim296 good to know that I'm doing the same as you! Many thanks!

[GrannySmithgs5]

Thank you Souljac xxx

[pottypete1]

You should always be guided by your EP. The amount you take is an individual matter we are all different. It should be the EP who advises your GP how much you should have prescribed but for me I am always given two months supply at one time.

I have taken Flecainide for 25 years and also take it as a PIP when I get into trouble with my pesky AF.

Pete

[Cadgie]

What does pip mean please , if you don't mind

[Dodie117 in reply to Cadgie]

Pill in pocket. Means take when you need it rather than taking every day.

[Cadgie in reply to Dodie117]

Hi thankyou, I've just been put on them along with my bisoparol, I have to take 50m twice daily

[Rellim296 in reply to Cadgie]

It's pill-in-the-pocket - medication you keep with you to have when needed. Some people take it as an extra to daily medication, others only use it when they have a problem.

[OldSarge]

I get mine from the VA, I get 90 days at a time, 200 mg a day.

[eleanor--1941]

Hello,

I have been on PIP sine 2014.This was prescribed by Cardiologist,300mg 10mins after an episode comes on,usually takes 40mins to a couple of hours for my heart to go back to normal.As I have PAF I only use them when an episode comes on,which is not very often now,they certainly work for me.

Hope they work as well for you,

I only order 28 tablets at a time,as I can get them from surgery within 2days.Keep well.

Eleanor.