Collie dog 1

[colliedog1]

How long do you wait before taking flec às pip .... been going for about 3hrs now at around 112.... don't feel to bad just the wobbly heart feeling.

[BobD Volunteer]

Don't think there is a set time. When I used it I took it as soon as I felt the AF start up. My instructions were to take the full 300mg in one hit and no more for 24hours but some doctors have other ideas and rip feed it which seems counterintuitive to me. .

[Profound15 in reply to BobD]

I’ve been advised by my cardio to take one as soon as af and then another one hour later if no nsr. Take the last one 1 hour later again if no nsr

[jeanjeannie50]

It depends how long your bouts of AF usually last for. If it's just a few hours, then like you and with a rate of 112, I don't think I would have taken the pill immediately. Certainly after 3 hours I wouldn't hesitate to take the dose I've been prescribed, which for me was 100mg Flec, plus a beta blocker.

Please let us know how you get on.

Jean

[colliedog1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jun...just taken one...HR 126 for a while...then drops to 110 ...it's up and down.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to colliedog1]

If my heart rate had been as high as 126 I would have taken a pill as soon as it started. Such a nuisance isn't it and can wear you out.

Hope you're soon ok again.

[Hidden]

The important thing is to follow the instructions as prescribed. In my case I was told to take 300 mgs in one dose if the AF had not stopped within 45 minutes. Worked for me......

[GrannySmithgs5]

I was advised to take the medication as soon as I went into AF.

[Hidden in reply to GrannySmithgs5]

Me too! But last night after I'd taken 100mg of flecainide following AF at 118, my heart rate went up a little though never higher than in the 130s- and then there were odd "unclassified"s which I understand are ectopics and nothing to worry about! It settled down eventually. Just keep calm and carry on!

[meadfoot]

My EP told me to take flecainide pip 100mg when I get an episode of what I recognise as afib immediately and take another 100mg half an hour later if it's not settling. I can take a max of 300mg in 24 Hours. If I get chest pain, fainty or other nasty symptoms or if af doesn't resolve in 24 hours go to a and e. I follow his instructions to the letter. I have to say my rate goes bonkers though, extremely fast way above anything normal and sometimes plummets to high forties and back again. Loath it all. Best wishes for an end to your episode.

[pottypete1]

I’m with Bob BobD & Hidden .

I have found that for me the sooner the better. Since my last ablation I have only had 3 episodes. I took PIP as soon ad I was sure it was AF. In each case I was back in NSR within 5 hours.

The caveat being that we are all different so to generalise is not always a good thing.

Pete

[Stuart87]

i was advised that you should take a beta blocker such as bisprolol wait 10-20 min then take Flec . Beta blocker to slow down so that flec can deal with rhythm. Hope thats of help and you feel better soon

[KMRobbo]

My instructions are 200mg immediately, then another 100mg later if the 200 does not sort it. ( never tried it so far since my ablation).

The other info I picked up pre-ablation on a visit to A&E when I went afib whilst on a 2 x 50mg maintenance dose ( caused by me forgetting to take the previous evenings pill - plonker that I was ) was that if your body is "used" to the flec it reacts slower than if it is a PIP and you are not regularly taking it. I was told to allow 2 hours after taking an extra dose on top of the 2 x 50mg before being concerned it was not working. After 4 hours they admitted to the hospital as it had still not reduced and I went into nsr about 5 hours later whilst waiting for a cardioversion ! Probably nothing to do with the flec!

As the cardiologist said, it was easier to keep me in NSR than to get me back into it once in A Fib!

That small maintenance dose could also be a short term option for you.