I got Flecanide for a breakthrough Episode last week and it worked really fast. I was in NSR in no time so they decided to keep me on a maintenance dose of 200 mg per day.
I have had the worst stomach problems I have ever experienced. Nausea off the charts and I just can’t fuc room. I feel like I’m seaksick. The nurse practitioner tells me I’m unusual. From what I have read, I’m not that unusual and a lot of people get very ill from this drug.
I’m stopping it tonight and going back to diltiazem, until my ablation and will take it for breakthrough AF. I literally thought I was going to die for 5 days. I’m still feeling like death. Omg.
Anyone else?
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Amurray77
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So sorry you are having such a rough patch with Flecainide. Everyone reacts differently to drugs. I didn’t tolerate first rhythm drug my doc started me on and was later switched to flecainide. It didn’t bother me, lucky I guess. Hope everything settles down soon for you. When is your ablation?
June. But I only get AF every 2 to three months. So not sure why they put me on this daily. That didn’t work out. I’m still feeling sick. My last dose was yesterday am at 50mg. I’m just starting to get an appetite back. Absolutely horrendous. The dose to get me out of AF was fine it was continuing that caused the problem.
I'm having an ablation on the 12th, about 2 months ago my EP asked me to start taking flecanide. That evening I took the first tablet, I woke the next morning thinking I was about to die. I felt nauseous, I had a headache worse than any migraine I suffered as a kid and my eyes felt like they were being pushed out of there sockets. I don't take to my bed if I'm ill but this time I didn't get up for 2 days. After just one tablet I decided not to take anymore.
It's the first time I've ever had a reaction to any medication and was surprised as most people on here swear by it. I have no problems with my other meds, Bisoprolol, Digoxin, Ramapril and Rivaroxaban.
Sorry to hear flecainide has caused you such a horrible experience and hope your change of drug resolves things for you.
This is a bit difficult because for people it is important that NSR is maintained before and after an ablation as it can make a massive contribution to the recovery period. The side effects you mention are a bit unusual so are you sure nothing else could be causing the nausea. I suggest you discuss maybe reducing the dose to 50mgs x 2 per day with your doctor or maybe ask to try an alternative but it’s unwise to stop without first consulting him/her......
Maybe, but as you say they are significantly less if taken as prescribed, ie on an empty stomach. My experience was very different but as we say “we are all different”.
Your first experience of taking the drug? Or you weren’t warned about it? Or just never experienced it? If the latter, be very, very grateful - the most ill I’ve ever felt!
I was told to follow the prescribed instructions which I did and I was fine. It was not administered under medical supervision as such but was prescribed by a Cardiologist who had carried out extensive tests. Apart from when used as a PiP, I was taking 50mg x 2 a day on an empty stomach an fortunately experienced no side effects so yes, I was fortunate, however, considering how may thousands of people take Flecainide we actually get very few posts like Amurray77’s. It’s encouraging to hear that your problems were not repeated for 2 years and hopefully Amurray will benefit from our replies....enjoy the sun, John
Yes I’m sure. I was just fine before my last episode. Living an active healthy happy life style. I took that pill and my world turned upside down. They told me to stop it. Haven’t taken one since yesterday and I still feel awful. I’m just starting to get me appetite back. Ugh this was hell on earth.
Horrible experience but it is a well known one which I was warned about so I wouldn’t believe your nurse, it is more likely they haven’t come across it before. In fact the first time I took Flec was under medical supervision - GP & practice nurses - to check I didn’t have any adverse reactions.
Had you eaten anything within 2-3 hours of taking it? That would do it. The only time I had nausea - which I agree is the worst I have ever had and I’ve had a lot of sea sickness which paled in comparison - was when I took Flec about an hour after I had eaten.
I wouln’t diss it if this was the case. The instructions state very clearly that you must take on an empty stomach.
Symptoms pass quite quickly though and there are no long term affects and I continued to take Flec both as PIP & then daily for 2 years and never had the problem again.
Your right about the box Amurray but in BOLD RED TYPE it advises you to read the information leaflet that’s in the box and in BOLD BLACK TYPE the leaflet tells you to take Flecainide on an empty stomach and NOT to eat after taking for at least an hour. Almost all AF medication is serious stuff and needs to be taken with great care and maybe this accounts for your recent discomfort.....
Interesting; the instructions in the US for flec say take with or without food -- and I've done both with no nausea whatsoever. Does the UK get different flecainide than the US?
Not medically trained, so what do I know but I would of thought 200mg was quite high for a maintenance dose. I was on 50mg twice a day for many years and took up to 100mg extra if I had an episode. Hope your ablation sorts you out for good.
I was on 200mg - 100 x2 daily. Maximum is 300mg daily so if I had a breakthrough episode I could take another 100mg - but then had to wait another 24 hours before taking more.
I took it for a long time and didn’t have any problems but I just wanted to reassure you regarding ablation, I have not been advised to take flecainide post ablation and I’m sure your EP won’t want you to take it post ablation if you have had a really bad reaction to it.
It might take a few days to get over it. I took Bisoprolol for just 3 weeks and it was the worst thing I’ve ever taken, when I stopped taking it I didn’t feel better for a while. At least you’ve managed some food, go steady and get well soon 😊
Flecainide did not bother me but my maintenance dose was only 50mg x 2 daily, so perhaps you could reduce to that and see if you felt ok?
Also did you follow the directions? If I recall it was with a glass of water before food?
Finally what is the manufacturer?. We are all becoming aware that the fillers included in the tabs are often causing more problems than the drug. You could try a different manufacturer who may use different fillers.
By the way, i used to take diltiazem 200mg with the flec. In my case i had side effects with the diltiazem nit ghe flec!
The good thing about flec has you have found is that it keeps you in nsr. Diltiazem does not, it just keeps your rate low which is not as good as you can still be in afib.
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How AF is effecting my life
My ablation that never was
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Post-ablation (just out)
11 nights AF free on 50mg Flecainide 
