Flecainide PIP - how often

[HatsOn]

Hi - I have the Flec as PIP but I felt very unwell with an episode on Sunday so went to hospital. I had 200 flec. I am popping in and out again but feel okay so just want to take another 200 mg but wondering if it’s too soon after yesterday’s dose ? Any advice ? Thanks

[pottypete1]

I would discuss this with your EP.

We are all different.

I take a regular dose of 100mg x 2 each day. I also take PIP but never more than a total of 300mg in a day which includes my regular dose.

The extra Flecainide dose can make you feel lathargic, nauseous and heavy so it is very important to be guided by your specialist heart rhythm doctor.

Pete

[Drounding in reply to pottypete1]

pottypete Hi Pete - I am also now on a maintenance dose of 100/100 Flec and do sometimes feel pretty awful if I take it with food. Did you find that you put on weight as well after going onto a regular am/pm dose? I've put on about 3kg and I'm still eating the same, nothing else seems to have changed.

[Drounding in reply to Drounding]

I guess this answers my question: healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[pottypete1 in reply to Drounding]

I have been taking Flecainide for about 27 years so cannot remember if I put on weight. I have managed to maintain a weight just over idea but by no means too over weight.

I understand that you should take Flecainide at least an hour either side of food but for me I only read that recently and it has never been an issue.

As with all these things we are all different and some cannot tolerate it at all. Others want to stop taking it as soon as they have an ablation. My EP has kept me on the medication on the premise that "if it ain't broke don't fix it". My incidences of AF whist not completely stopped are shorter and now not so frequent as in the past before my ablations.

Pete

[sleeksheep in reply to Drounding]

Did you find that you put on weight as well after going onto a regular am/pm dose?

I have been on regular am / pm doses for over three and a half years , I did blame Flec. originally for weight gain but soon as I stopped atorvastatin I have lost 22lbs and my metabolism has returned to normal , so I guess it could react with other drugs and slow your metabolism down but my money would be on another prescription causing weight gain. I,m on 50mg x 2 with 240mg Diltiazem CD

[HatsOn in reply to pottypete1]

Thanks for the response. I waited a while longer before doing anything and I returned to sinus eventually just before going to bed. However, I have been really unwell the past few days and wonder if it is the flec as I see others mention side effects.

[pottypete1 in reply to HatsOn]

As I said you MUST talk to your EP as side effects of taking Flecainide can affect some folks very badly, others like me it has no effect on.

Pete

[BobD Volunteer]

Maximum dose in any 24 hours is 300mg DO NOT TAKE MORE!!!!!! If you are within that time then anothe r100mg is permitted but add that into the next period of course. Whoever gave you the flecainide should have told you this ia it is very important.

[HatsOn in reply to BobD]

BobD thank you. My EP may have told me but it was a while ago he gave me it so I can't be sure.

[Hidden]

If episodes are occurring that regularly you should make your EP aware because he may decide to put you on a daily maintenance dose......

[dmac4646 in reply to Hidden]

Thats exactly what happened with me it takes a lot more to get me out of an attack than 2 prevent it - i.e 300mg as a PIP or 2X50mg per day as maintenance - go back and ask what you should do. BUT do not exceed the 300mg dose

[HatsOn in reply to Hidden]

Hi - My EP is aware and I have a follow up in a few weeks. I'm not keen on a daily dose of this especially as I've been feeling awful the past few days - nausea etc. Only the third time I've had it and was fine previously.

[Drounding]

Just to confirm what others have said. Firstly speak with your doctor, we can only give you comments on own circumstances which may be different to yours.

I was also told not to exceed 300mg Flecainide in any 24 hour period. My Cardio started me on a maintenance dose recently of 100mg am and pm and said that if episodes still break through then I should take additional Bisoprolol (if more than 4/5 hours since the last Bisoprolol dose) and then wait rather than just take more Flecainide.

The dose limit seems to be consistent with everyone but the management of the condition can vary person to person.

[HatsOn in reply to Drounding]

Thanks appreciate the reply.

[Hidden]

I have been using Flecainide as my PIP for the past 15 years. My cardiologist said to take no more than 200 mg and give it 3 hrs to work. If it does not convert within 3 hours, I am supposed to go to the nearest ER. Thankfully, never had it not work in all these years. However, the rest of the day after taking it I do feel groggy. I have never had back to back episodes and suppose I would call my cardiologist to see if it was OK to take it again the next day. I am feeling great since I stopped the Xarelto. I feel like my brain fog is lifting. Also, no episodes of A Fib either. They seemed to completely stop when I quit taking the Amlodipine for my BP. Losing weight has been the ticket to normal BP. I never looked heavy, but now that I am down 35 pounds, my BP is normal. Also, my knees stopped hurting since I quit the Xarelto. I chalked that up to age, but I think now it was the Xarelto.

[HatsOn in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mollybear.

[bikergurl]

Literature says no more than 300mg/ day. Just had an episode of rapid A flutter. I took Flecanide to convert. Once in NSR, 100 mg Flecanide twice a day for 2 days, then 50 mg twice a day for 2 days to wean off, per my cardiologist. Hope this helps!

[HatsOn in reply to bikergurl]

Thank you, yes, all info is helpful.