Flecainide again!!

[Bagrat]

I have taken Flecainide since 2011. First 100 mg bd and now 50 mg twice a day. In all that time I've had one episode during a flu type virus and that was when I was 100 twice a day. Not wanting or hoping for medical advice.

Does anyone take 25 mg twice a day or an uneven dose e.g. 50 mg at night which I would have thought a bit strange and are there 25 mg tabs even available.

Should I just be content in spite of odd runs of tachycardia lasting a couple of minutes only maybe twice a month. I lost touch with cardiologist in 2013

[Geonome]

Hi. Not giving medical advice, just my experience.

I was prescribed 50 mg flecainide twice a day, by my EP. I couldn't tolerate this, extremely dizzy and brain fog. So I cut down to 50 mg in a.m. and 25 mg p.m. Still dizzy. Went down to 25 mg twice a day. Still dizzy. Then down to 25 mg in the mornings only. (My pharmacist only has 100 mg tabs, so I cut them into quarters).

So far, no afib. I'm not sure this will work long-term, may have to go back to 25 mg twice/day. I was also prescribed diltiazem 120 mg once/day. Can't tolerate this either, so I open the capsule, and dump out half the tiny beads, and reclose the capsule. So I'm taking about 60 mg/day.

I see my EP again in about a month. Not sure what he'll say about these med reductions??

[Bagrat in reply to Geonome]

I think sometimes common sense is as good as anything when it comes to meds. Thanks for your reply very useful

[Summer60]

Hi, I have been taking 50mg Flecainide Twice a day (9am and 9pm) for a year now with no noticeable side effects. I was originally told to take 100mg twice a day but they made me feel awful so went down to 50mg x 2. No AF during this time btw

[secondtry]

Hi Bagrat, I would stick with 50mgs/day because of your monthly tachycardia events. If you did reduce my cardiologist favours an even dose rather than more in the evening. Good luck either way.

[Bagrat in reply to secondtry]

Thank you. The dose was originally reduced because of the episodes of tachy. When all else fails I could talk to GP!! She's very "nice"

[secondtry in reply to Bagrat]

Oh that's different then I withdraw my 'advice'!

[Bagrat in reply to secondtry]

No worries I should have been more specific. They also tried to reintroduce 1.25 bisoprolol but again pulse dropped so just flec for me.

[Afbiff]

No medical advice, just how I've got on. I have taken flecainide since March. The cardiologist started me on 50mg twice a day but I got weekly breakthroughs and my GP upped the dose to 100mg twice a day for two weeks at which I experienced double vision and felt dizzy. My GP reduced the dose to 100mg am and 50mg pm - I've been on this uneven dose for 7 weeks now and so far it's working well.

[Bagrat in reply to Afbiff]

Thanks. I remember siomeone else on tbe forum because all episodes in the evening took two smaller doses at something like 4pm and 8pm which I tbought might confuse the'ol ticker.

[jwsonoma]

I take 75mg twice a day by cutting a 150 in two. I cut Bisprolo into 1/4s +/-. I had a single break through on 50 2x a day and my Dr. wanted to put me 100 2x a day. I asked for 75 as 100 seemed to be overkill. He didn't know they made 150s and didn't want me cutting 50 and 100 in half every day. I checked with a pharmacy and found 150s. I read the 1/2 life for Flecainide is all over the place 12 to 27 hrs. You might want to talk to a chemist about t h e effects of uneven dosages. Cheers

[Bagrat in reply to jwsonoma]

Good advice. Chemists always a great help

[Afbiff in reply to jwsonoma]

Thanks, I will check with pharmacist about the uneven dose.

[Hidden]

Interesting to read of all the different dose combinations. I started on 200 once a day, not good then 100 once a day still not good now on 50 a day and seem to be a happy chappy. I had a complete break off meds after the 100 dose caused me a lot of grief but a bad bout of AF resulting in ambulance/hospital combo while on holiday saw a return to the cautious 50 per day which seems to be doing the trick.

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

Is that slow release or sustained release not the bog standard tablet?

[Hidden]

Gélules à libération prolongée or according to Google Translate prolonged-release capsules

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

Thanks.I will have a root about in online British National Formulary