Unsure

On flecinaide 50mg morning & 100 mg at night. Metropol morning & night.Still waking up at night with palpitations. Xeralto as well.🤔

[Hidden]

Is your heart doc aware? Might need an increase in flec dose

[karl1524]

Hi, how effective are ablations for palpitations/ ectopic beats rather than AF, do you know? Cheers

[Bob56 in reply to karl1524]

According to my EP and further chats with cardiologists there is a general reluctance to suggest ablation as a way of trying to alleviate ectopic beats. This is partly based on the view that ectopics, whilst debilitating in their own right, are not considered harmful and partly because they are difficult to isolate. My EP offered to “have a go” at trying to fix them, but only if they were constant and frequent, to give him a chance of finding the right place to burn/freeze.

[karl1524 in reply to Bob56]

Thanks Bob, that makes sense, in honesty my ectopics bother me more than my AF, I am aware that they are harmless but they can sometimes bring on AF and are there most days, some days just the odd beat or other times they are every other beat- I have had an ablation for AF but never anything to target the ectopic beats, it would be lovely to think that this could be done and rid me of this problem but as you state it can be difficult to see them at the time of the operation and the whole thing could be a risky waste of time.

[Bob56 in reply to karl1524]

I’m in a very similar position. My ablation has certainly helped with my AF episodes but not the ectopics, and although I have Bisoprolol and Flecainide to help they do little to reduce them. I find them more difficult to deal with as they do come and go and often for no apparent reason. I could write a book on things I have tried to alleviate them. In time, we may find ablation techniques improve to the extent that they become more enthusiastic to try and treat ectopics, but without the same life threatening consequences as AF I suspect it will be a while before they get the attention they deserve.

[Hidden]

My cardiologist has said that I don't need an ablation that my medications are adequate to control it.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ablation is extremely unlikely to stop ectopic beats. Risk far outweighs any likely benefit so very few EPs will even consider it.

[F-M-C-MM]

I found an imbalance of Flecanide doses 100mg morning , 50mg evening was a disaster. I reverted to 50mg morning and evening and I improved somewhat. However Flecainide didn't solve my problem so ended up having an ablation. two and a half years later and no AFib , no medication at all. Hope it will last. Very glad I had the procedure done.

[Bagrat]

I'm interested that you take uneven doses of flecainide. I thought the heart might find that confusing. I've only ever had episodes very late evening early morning but am on tbe same dose twice a day. Did reduce dose and while that was happening was on uneven dose for a while

[tunybgur in reply to Bagrat]

Flecainide is only available in 50mg pills.

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

My cardiologist adjusted the dosage.

[tunybgur]

I think the objective is to keep the blood serum levels of flecainide as even as possible.

I was on 50mg am and 100mg pm but was still going into AF quite often.

I took my tablets at about 7am and 9pm, this meant the 50mg dose was having to last 2hrs longer than the 100mg dose.

I changed to 100mg am and 50mg pm and have so far not suffered any periods of AF, in fact I have changed to 75mg am (using a pill splitter) and 50mg pm still with no AF attacks.

Remember it is supposed to be taken on an empty stomach, although I only manage my am dose about 1/2 hr before breakfast.

Good luck

[Hidden in reply to tunybgur]

Did you change the dosage yourself or with your DRS approval first?Did not know it had to be taken on an empty stomach.Morning dose fine but evening dose a bit iffy 🤔

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

I take am dose on empty stomach 7am. Evening dose about 5 mins before evening meal!! 3 pharmacists I've consulted at various times say it is ok with or without food. The third when I said that one data sheet said empty stomach replied " does it work? In which case don't concern yourself.

[tunybgur]

I changed the dosage myself, I want to minimise dosage as it will probably increase over time and I don't want to reach the higher doses too soon.....I'm still a 72 year old spring chicken!

I think the empty stomach thing is probably because a full stomach will slow distribution into the bloodstream, but probably not essential.

[Hidden in reply to tunybgur]

I am 64 so maybe ir would be a good idea to halve my nightly doasge of 100 to 50 mg. I will keep you posted 👍