Flecainide

[Maisiemay13]

Day four of taking this med took the dog out for a walk flat path not breathless but had to breath harder and little pain around chest guessing this could be a side effect!

I am going to speak to local pharmacist later

[BobD Volunteer]

Or it could just be your AF playing up? There is no reason flecainide should cause chest pain unless maybe you have cardiac artery disease which should have been considered before prescribing.

[Maisiemay13 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob,I went to pharmacy and he said he thought it was possible side effects as what I was explaining was in the book her checked, said to stick with meds for a couple of weeks unless I feel unwell.

[jeanjeannie50]

Maisie, are you in constant AF? If so could that be causing the way you felt when walking the dog. I can get a soreness in my chest when in AF and walking and I believe it's heart muscle strain from the abnormal beat.

When I started taking Flecainide, it took me a while to get used to it and I thought I had all sorts of symptoms, but they all went quite quickly and it soon became my wonder drug. Your dose of 2 x 50mg mentioned in your earlier post is a low one.

[Maisiemay13]

Hi Jeanjeannie,I have PAF but after the first 3 or 4 episodes I didn’t think I was having any until the two week monitor showed I was,so I generally have no idea,the pharmacist did say if I was not having an episode then my heart beat in theory getting used to meds so does sound similar to what you are saying. I really appreciate your post. The other thing I am struggling with is when to take it,due to the fact you have to take in on empty stomach,I am taking the morning one at 7 then have breakfast at 8 but my evening meal we generally eat around 6 to 6.30 depending on what is going on so I take it at 5 which I have to remember if I am at work! I take my Apixaban at 8 then 12 hours after I do not want the meds to rule my life! Guess you can see I am finding this difficult to get my head round.

Sorry for the long post 😬

[Afbiff in reply to Maisiemay13]

Hello Maisie,

I've been on flecainide since May 2019 and eat at the same times as you do. I tried to do what you're doing with timings and eating andI found I was having to think, rejig and cook to fit the tablets. This became tedious and I've now tried taking flecainide (together with anticoagulant and bisoprolol) at 8am and 8pm (or within an hour or so, as advised by a pharmacist) and not worrying about when I eat. I've done this for two months now and I haven't noticed any difference at all and the flecainide is still keeping the AF at bay. I'm a grazer too, by the way.

[Paulbounce]

Maisie - I also try and take Flex before eating. The jury seems to be out though about whether or not you can take it with food. I guess an empty stomach is best but check with your doc. In an ideal world you should take it 12 hours apart.

Paul

[Angie06]

Hi Maisie, I've been on Flecainide 2x50mgs for 11yrs and take one before breakfast about 7.30am then the later one is a bit random as I eat early 5.30 pm so take it a bit later around 8pm and never had any problems. Taking it on an empty stomach isn't easy when you're bit of a grazer and apart from early morning my stomach never seems to be completely empty!

[Maisiemay13 in reply to Angie06]

Hi Angie yes the breakfast one is easy for me apart from when I start work at 7.30 on a Wednesday,I spoke to a pharmacist yesterday who said as long as I leave eating for 30 mins after taking it that would be fine and make sure I haven’t eaten anything for around 2 to 3 hours before evening one so that sounds ok,I graze on dried apricots or fruit that’s my downfall.

Have a good day .

[Pollywaffle10]

Go to your Dr now, or phone the surgery. Flecainide can sometimes not suit everyone. Don’t take chances with your condition, get a proper medical opinion a.s.ap

[Maisiemay13]

Thank you I did go to pharmacist who checked how I was feeling I am always a little odd with any medication think my body takes a long time to adjust but if I still have any symptoms I will see a doctor on Monday