I get an Afib attack every few months. For the last few years now. Originally my gp gave me 12 bisoprol to take as a pip. But my near beat is very irregular and all over the place never really fast though. Wonder if flecainade is a better choice ?
My attacks always seem to last 3 or 4 days then back to Normal
Bisoprolol is a rate control drug, Flecainide is a rhythm control drug.
I would suggest that you ask your GP for a referral to an EP - a cardiologist who specialises in heart rhythm problems.
Pete
I think you still need to see a cardiac physiologist or cardiologist to be given Flecainide.
Oyster is correct - you do need a specialist to prescribe flecainide. I use it as a pip and it's very effective. My EP has written to my GP outlining how to proceed with flecainide if I deteriorate. Hence, if pip is no longer effective and I have more than 2 episodes each week then I am to progress to 2x50 per day, then on to 2x 100 per day. He did indicate that 2x150 per day was possible. Max is 300/day.
Bear in mind I cannot have a second ablation and may eventually need pace & ablate. I do not have a rate problem, merely arrhythmia. I take 2.5 bisoprolol daily which cuts my rate from 80ish to 65ish.
I read recently that bisoprolol does help with arrhythmia. It's apparently the first betablocker prescribed to most people. Flecainide is a sodium channel blocker which is inexpensive and relatively old so its use is well documented.
Best wishes.
Flecainide has been my saviour I take it twice a day. My cardiologist put me on it as I had been hospitalised twive in 3 weeks and was soooo stressed anout it. See your cardiologist if you can. Best wishes Chris
Yes , you need to see a cardiologist as if not everyone can have Flecanaide..
I would discuss Jennydog's reply with your cardiologist. My cardiologist is not in favour of Flecainide on PIP as it is too much of a roller coaster for the heart. The important thing with drugs and other lifestyle you get the episodes stopped as a commonly accepted theory is that AF begets more AF.
as everyone says - see a cardiologist. mine preferred I took flec daily to keep me in sinus rhythm. It's not usually prescribed by GP
Flecainide has been my PIP for about 15 years now. I take 2 100mg tablets as soon as I notice I am in AFib. I have always converted within 3 hours since I was prescribed the Flecinide. Prior to that, I used Verapamil, but it was not nearly as effective for me.
I had my 6 month check up yesterday. Doc was very pleased - only 2 A Fib episodes in 6 months. I asked what I should do if for some reason it does not convert. He said to wait a minimum of 12 hours and then take 2 more of the 100 mg tablets. If that doesn't work within 3 hours of the second dose, then it is off to the Emergency Room for me.
We discussed the cardio-gastro connection and also how the very low carb diet and avoiding allergens and lectins has helped me cut the A Fib episodes from every few weeks to once every 3 months. Since I started writing down what I eat it has been so easy to pinpoint what causes the episodes. For me it is corn products, dairy products and beans because of the gas produced and anything high carb. I had allergy and food sensitivity testing done and was definitely allergic to casein (dairy) and have a delayed sensitivity reaction to corn. I have been off gluten for 12 years due to a Celiac diagnosis. Before that, I had weekly episodes in spite of being on Diogoxin and Quinidine daily. We also discussed how adding Mg has helped tremendously.
My weight was also down another 10 pounds (down 46 pounds thus far) and my BP was the best it has ever been at the doctor's office, and without any BP meds. Triglycerides are down nicely, HDL is up and LDL the same in spite of the high fat content of the diet. His comment was, "If you don't eat cholesterol, your body will make it. And, at our age it is so important for brain health."
He checked my leg that had a DVT exactly one year ago and all is well, even without the Xarelto. He has been doing research since I complained to him about knee pain and memory issues while on Xarelto and agrees that microbleeds were probably the culprit. Both have improved tremendously in the past 3 months since I quit the Xarelto. We also discussed the latest on Aspirin and he admitted that he and many other doctors were blindsided by that one. He is not happy with any of the blood thinning choices, except those given in a clinical setting with emergency help available immediately. He agreed that one definitely has to do a risk/benefit analysis before starting any drug. I have to be particularly careful due to my MTHFR mutation that deters meds from clearing from my body. He is only the 2nd doctor I have had who took the time to research the MTHFR mutation. The others just blew it off as it it meant nothing and prescribed away.
Sadly, this was our last visit as he is retiring next week. He recommended some new cardiologists who practice with the same philosophy and he will explain my 33 year journey with A Fib to my new doctor. He and his office staff have recently started on Keto and he is hoping to replicate my good results. We had a great hour long visit and I will miss him.
Great story mollybear. Cheers. I’ve made an appointment to see my gp next week and will ask to be referred to a cardiologist. My attacks aware about 3 or 4 a year. But last about 3 days.
I have had A Fib since 1986. In the beginning, they lasted for 3 or 4 days and I was kept in the hospital the entire time. And, I had to go to the hospital over EVERY episode. It was a very expensive nuisance.
In 1999 they gave me Verapamil at the doctor's office. I was on my way to the airport when I noticed the attack starting. I was very close to the doctor's office so I went there instead of the ER. After I took the Verapamil they sent me home. By the time I got home, I was back in sinus rhythm, so I changed my airline ticket to the night flight and was able to make the business trip.
In 2003 I had an episode where the Verapamil did not work and went to the hospital after 3 hours of A Fib. They tried several drugs to convert me and all failed. Then, in walked my cardiologist and he said,"Let's try 200 mg of Flecainide." It worked like a charm. I was discharged with a prescription for 100 mg of Flecanide daily, but could not take it because it dropped my heart rate to 40 or below. So, they said only take it for an episode of A Fib. 100 mg does not work - it takes 2 of them.
Aside from the old A Fib episodes that landed me in the hospital, I have not had an episode last more than 3 hours in the past 16 years. I have always been advised to go to the nearest ER if it does not convert in 3 hours, until today when he told me I could wait 12 hours and take another 200 mg of Flecainide. For that reason I have avoided long flights or going places where medical care was not readily available. Next thing you know, my wife will have me on a transatlantic flight now that she knows I can take a second dose if necessary. It was always the card I played to get out of travel!
I was not prescribed Flecainide till I had been given a test called a Nuclear Perfusion Study which raises your heart rate and measures changes in the heart under stress. It is to see if you have ischaemic heart disease. If you have that I was told you can't take Flecainide. Fortunately I can take it and it works pretty well for me most of the time. I had digestive problems with it at first, but they seem to have cleared with the help of Omeprazole.
Flecainide as PIP
Flecainide as PIP
Anticoagulant as a PIP? Is this possible?
Flecainide daily or as PIP???
