Flecainide

[Hambo444]

Need convincing. I have been on 10mg bisoprolol down to 7.5. Now specialist wants to go to 5mg and 50mg bd flecainide. Just got my new presciption through but since seeing specialist (it was a few weeks after cardioversion and I was having some minor runs) rhythm been pretty good so questioning whether I need the flecainide.

[pottypete1]

Your specialist probably has very good reason to adjust your meds. I would suggest that you should go along with it after all we are not medically trained on this forum. (With some notable exceptions). Without knowing your medical background and having the qualifications we can not advise you.

However I can tell you the following information:

Bisoprolol is a Beta Blocker and controls heart rate.

Flecainide is a heart rhythm control drug.

Normally the physical side effects of Flecainide are less than Bisporolol. Bisoprolol can make you very lethargic and many cannot get on with it.

I take 100mg x 2 Flecainide and have done for over 20 years. I am not aware of any side effects.

I took Bisoprolol 1. 25 per day for about 20 years but it was stopped as I had heart block and my rate was too slow because of bad conductivity.

Pete

[Hidden]

Hello Hambo,

Obviously it would be wrong for any of us “non medically trained” folk to comment or interfere with medication as prescribed by your doctor. Just to be sure, I assume you are referring to a proposed reduction to 5 mgs Bisoprolol. Most people would jump at the chance of having this drug reduced but I can understand your concern particularly if your doctor did not explain their reasons for making the change. Bisoprolol is primarily used to reduce the heart rate and it also helps to reduce blood pressure. If your blood pressure is currently erring on the low side and similarly, your heart rate is less than 60, this might be the reason for the reduction in dose.

Flecainide is designed to keep your heart in rhythm and the daily maintenance dose is normally 2 x 50 mgs a day. In my case, about a year after a CV I started to get runs if AF which were quickly halted using Flecainide as a PiP, but after a while, the episodes become more frequent and I was put on the daily maintenance as described and this kept me in NSR right up to the time of my ablation. The theory being that if any rogue impulses got a hold, it could cause some re-modelling of the heart. Your doctor may prefer a smaller dose, clearly they have their reasons based on patient circumstances. I never had any problems taking Flecainide although I was naturally pleased when it was stopped sometime after my ablation. Hope this helps as I read from your earlier post that you are waiting for an ablation?

[RonSym]

I've been on 3.75mg Bisoprolol for about 5 years and 2 years ago started with 100mg x 2 Flecainide per day, with no side effects.

I can't have a systemic tablet for toe-nail fungus because it conflicts with the Flecainide.

[Bertiedette]

Hello Hambo444. I am currently taking 5 mgs Bisoprolol .

I find that it does slow me down on trying.exersise but it is keeping me in sr and a heart Rate of 54/65.So it's doing its job for me.

[rjr681]

I was on Bisoprolol for some years all it did for me was to limit everything I tried physically to do. My AF just stayed the same. 3 cardioversions and still in AF all the time. Goodness knows how long I have had it, only found when I was feeling bad for no apparent reason and Dr gave me an ECG. I was put on anticoagulants Bisoprolol and Ramipril,

Seeing I was not getting any better they took me off Bisoprolol and I an now on Digoxin which has improved my ability a bit. Your case I would say just do as the Dr recommends and see what happens, if it changes anything tell him. Maybe it could improve. I'm convinced there is some trial and error in the treatment of AF as everyone has different side effect to most of the drugs used