Recent continuous AF Update

[Rosarie]

UPDATE

The upshot of my appointment today is that I have been given Flecainide to take for a month. The Bisoprolol has been lowered to 1.25 a day from 3.75 , and 50mg Flecainide twice a day. Fingers crossed this will work. If it doesn’t then he will consider an ablation. He said that Flecainide is generally well tolerated, no one has mentioned it before just the bisoprolol but I see others on this forum take it successfully. I feel a lot less panicky now I have seen someone and looking I’m forward to a better nights sleep. I start my new regime tomorrow.

[Hidden]

Good luck with everything! Lets hope a fib takes a long hike.

[Hidden]

We are all different, but it worked for me for around 9 months while waiting for an ablation.......good luck!

[Hidden]

Works well for me too!

[CDreamer]

It’s great that you feel reassured. There are a few treatment options and lifestyle changes are also an option to consider as taking control can feel very empowering.

Best wishes

[Rosarie]

Just trying to work out when to take Flecainide in the morning. I normally wake up at 7.00am take thyroxine which has to be taken 30 minutes before any food and have breakfast after7.30.

Does anyone know if Flecainide can be taken with thyroxine, or do I have to set the alarm for 6.00?

[Hidden in reply to Rosarie]

Thyroxine must be taken on its own at least an hour from food so I would take your Flecainide with your breakfast. Di

[Hidden in reply to Rosarie]

Don’t know about thyroxine (yet) but I think you will find that Flecainide has to be taken on an empty stomach......always best to check with your pharmacist.....

[Hidden in reply to Rosarie]

You can take flecainide with your breakfast

Taking it on an empty stomach just increases how fast you absorb it but doesnt affect the over all absorbtion. I copied this from a reference book 2020 Physicians Desk Reference:

Administration

Oral Administration

Food decreases the rate, but not the extent of absorption.

Information regarding monitoring of serum flecainide concentrations is provided in the dosage section.

[Rosarie in reply to Hidden]

That would make things so much easier. Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to Rosarie]

Im in the US and my source is a reference from physicians here use, might be different across the pond?

[Rosarie in reply to Hidden]

I’m in the uk. I can check on Monday with the pharmacist, until then I had better do as it says.

[Hidden in reply to Rosarie]

Yes if they wrote that on your bottle, better do what they suggest.

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Mmmm - I became very nauseous when I took Flec within an hour of food so always took mine 2 hours either side of a meal.

[Rosarie in reply to CDreamer]

That would work out very well for me. I could take it at 10am, two hours after breakfast and two hours before lunch, and 10pm, two hours after dinner. Beats an early morning start! I think you have shown me the answer.

[Rosarie]

Unfortunately the Flecainide also says take one hour before food or on an empty stomach so it’s looking like a 6.00 alarm

[Hidden in reply to Rosarie]

Several of us take our thyroxine when we get up for the loo in the night, so that’s one set of pills out of the way!🤓

[Rosarie in reply to Hidden]

Another good idea.

[Hidden in reply to Rosarie]

What with Levo to be taken on their own, some tablets before breakfast , some with, some after, repeat again at night. One could spend the whole day taking pills!!😱

[Hidden]

I

[Angie06]

I also take flecainide with my breakfast at 8am and another after dinner but before bed. I've done this successfully for 12yrs even coping with many trips and time zones to Australia and NZ. Never had a problem just occasionally ectopics.

[Bagrat]

I take my flecainide with morning tea a while before breakfast. Take evening dose with a meal . Have asked 3 different pharmacists and all said it doesn't matter whether with or without food. The last time I asked ( you can tell I'm not easily reassured) pharmacist said " does it work" I said yes and he said " no problem then" I'm in uk.

Agree more important to take on empty stomach if PIP.

[Rosarie]

Started the morning with erratic pulse but not fast then progressed to fast , 130, so no changes so far. How long does it take for Flecainide to start working? I didn’t expect a miracle after one tablet three hours ago but I hope it will start working soon.

[Hidden]

Did your dr not tell you to top it up if you have an episode? I take 100 morning and evening and have a third tablet in hand to take if needed. 300 maximum dose!

[Rosarie]

No, he said just try it for a month then come back and see me. I shall give it time to work but I was wondering how long it would take.

[Hidden]

Works well for me - you might get a few side effects initially e.g. odd visual disturbances - but these pass after a few weeks as the body adjusts. I still have lively, interesting dreams 18 months on, but find that a small price to pay for having my symptoms under control.

Pat x

[Rosarie]

I have had a fast heartbeat for over four hours now. I am now worried because I have just read Flecaiinide is not to be used for Atrial fibrulation. Nothing I have tried has stopped it and my bisoprolol dose was only 1.25 this morning. What is going on!

[Outtheresinger]

I am in exactly the same place as you I was supposed to start Flecainide yesterday but when I picked up my prescription the Pharmacist said it was contra indicated with my Atenolol and I shouldn’t take it before checking with my GP. When I got home I rang the Arrythmia nurse at the hospital and eventually he managed to speak to a Consultant who said it was fine. I have felt a bit dizzy and my heart beat is mid 80’s rather mid 50’s but otherwise so far so good. I hope yours settles down very soon.

[Geonome]

Flecainide is an anti-arrhythmic. The Bisoprolol reduces your heart rate. Although I am not a physician, I think a sudden reduction in a beta-blocker (like Bisoprolol) can result in a temporary increase in heart rate. Perhaps you should check with your pharmacist or family doctor?

[Rosarie in reply to Geonome]

That makes sense.

Yesterday turned out to be a bit of a pantomime. After 6 1/2 hours feeling breathless, exhausted and sweating with a high pulse rate, I rang 999. Just as the ambulance people came through the door, I had a message from the consultant to ‘sit it out’. The ambulance people weren’t having that. They said if I hadn’t had the message they would take someone in my condition to A&E, so off we went. Just as we arrived at A&E, the rhythm reverted. I felt I shouldn’t be there. The doctors persuaded me otherwise so I spent six hours in A&E having tests and observation. Everyone was very supportive.

I have been told that in future, if the same happens again, after two hours, or sooner in I feel unwell, ring 999 and come in by ambulance. The Dr. explained all about AF and different drugs, I feel much happier today and more in control.

Thank you for your reply.

[Rosarie]

Today my bp went very low about 3 hours after taking flecainide, 99 /55. Should I be worried. My heart still has an erratic pulse.