Thanks for everyone’s recent help. I’m due to start taking 2 x 50mg of flecainide per day tomorrow. Just read through the leaflet and information to prepare myself, and read up some stuff online.
I keep reading that the first dose should be given in hospital to monitor how it effects you. Is this true?? My EP didn’t say anything about this. I just have a follow up ECG booked for a week after I start.
I have gone into a panic now about starting it, which isn’t the best frame of mind when starting something new! Has anyone else taken it on their own and not under hospital conditions?
Thanks in advance - again! 😩
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Apple88
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I took my 1st dose under medical supervision for about 3 hours after taking it but in my GP surgery but that was 13 years ago from what I can gather from this forum - I seem to have been in the minority.
The only time I had any problems was when I took a dose about an hour after eating but I was taking 300mg as PIP. - I felt very nauseous for about an hour. I don’t recall ever having a problem when taking a daily dose - because by then I had learned my lesson!
Like any substance which has the capacity to stop something - Flecainide has the potential to cause arrythmia - which is why the advice is to have under medical supervision - but I understand the risk potential for this happening is very low. If you do feel unusual rate or rhythm change just after taking Flec you should call for help but the nausea however was uncomfortable but not serious and passed pretty quickly.
If you are concerned then do double check with your cardiologist or speak to your GP about your concerns and see if they will allow you to take your first dose in the surgery. I jus sat in an unused room and a nurse checked in on me about every 15 mins.
I started Flecainide 2 x 100mg at home without any problems. Trust your EP and don’t panic - you have been prescribed a low dose and there is the safety net of your ECG after having taken the drug for one week.
By all means get a friend to stay as that will reassure you and allow you to stay calm. Flecainide has been my friend for nearly six AF-free years and I hope it helps you too. Best wishes with it.
Thank you so much! That’s very reassuring. I think it was just a surprise to read about taking it in hospital so I thought I’d check.
Here’s hoping it’s good for me. 🤞🏼
I took my first dose at home, no problems. Flecainide didnt cause me any issues at all. Cannot say that for a few others, lol. It is natural to be unsure if new drugs but try to relax snd trust the medication to b your new friend, your a fib buster!
When I started taking it I felt a bit strange for a few months, then took Mg compound & CoQ10 supplements and started feeling better - coincidence or not can't say.
AF free 4 years I have been signed off by Cardiologist until I get another episode or if I do fingers crossed, I don’t like taking tablets, but the results are great
Hi I started taking 2x50mgs about 11yrs ago . Although I was in hospital at the time I knew nothing about flecainide or side effects and no one asked how I felt before discharging me a couple of hours later. I've been taking it ever since with absolutely no problem that I'm aware of.
It's been a real plus for me as I haven't had another episode since starting on it.
I started flec in 2011. I was in hospital after my second episode which had stopped, but was just given the prescription and started it at home. At the time I didn't think that much (unusual for me as I overthink everything) although I had read it should be started "under supervision" . I was on 50mg twice a day and told to increase to 100 if I was ok ( no clue to what not ok would be!) after a week. Have been fine though did get dose reduced a couple of years ago due to occasional sudden runs of fast heartbeat not AF. Have only had one episode since.
Hi, started same dose of Flec. on my own, no supervision. Been on current dose for a long while. All previous symptoms under control - absolutely no problems.
No problems ,just started taking it after prescribed, first as a PIP then 50mg twice a day , now 100mg twice a day, started 2008, so you will be fine, I react badly to some medications, it took me 5 different tablets to get the right one for my BP. Good luck Jo.
I started Flec in November after digoxin stopped controlling my AF. It was prescribed in hospital but dispensed by my local pharmacist who monitored me by phoning a couple of times over the next 2 weeks. I had no problem and it worked well. I now have the opposite dilemma after my ablation last week I have to take Flec for one month then stop. I’m wondering if there are any concerns about going cold turkey or should I taper off over the last few days. Anyone any advice for me?
I just want to say how wonderful it was to get up this morning and see all these messages. I feel very reassured now and will just go fo it!
Thank you all for your help & advice. I’m still signed off work at the moment and it can feel isolating, so it was brilliant to read the wisdom of others who share the condition.
Yes I did and it was fine. No side effects. Had the ecg 7 days after starting it. Problem was it didn’t make any difference it didn’t stop or prevent any attacks. So now I am off it again and have to take 2x50mg when an attack comes on but I haven’t tried that yet
Just to add to the comments. As with many medications things can go wrong if you don’t follow instructions. With Flecainide it would most likely be overdosing. This would occur if someone was using it as a pill in the pocket and kept on taking it beyond the recommended maximum dose to try and alleviate their symptoms. I’m sure you will be fine. I’ve been on Flecainide for 30 years and I’m still here. For many AF sufferers it’s been a very good friend!
When I was prescribed them the cardiologist told me to make sure someone was with me when I took them for the first time as they may make me feel dizzy. So I made sure my husband was there and thought it best to lay on the settee as soon as I took them. Luckily I had no problems.
I'm sure you'll be fine, it is worrying when you take them for the first time though. I remember it well.
I’m sure you will be fine & you have read the leaflet so you know what to look out for. I started the same dose on my own at home 18 months or so ago & experienced some odd visual disturbances which are quite common, but these disappeared after a few weeks.
Many people take a beta blocker in conjunction with the Flecainide, but I’m unable to tolerate them as they drop my BP & HR too low. I believe because of this it took my heart about 6 months to ‘settle’ on the Flecainide as I had some runs of SVT and frequent ectopics but feel fine now.
They just gave it to me. 150 every morning.......i am happy with it. Nobody said I had to be with someone. I think50 and then 50 later is a lowish dose, as they say 300 is maximum.
Sue
Been on it 2 years and started it at home, unless you have heart disease it's a safe drug. I worried about taking it at first but if you combine it with lifestyle changes it works pretty well
Yes I took it on my own. Prescribed by my consultant and just went home and started the tablets (100 mg twice a day). No side effects at all and feeling my heart is more stable.
Hi Apple I recently had a discussion with my GP (who specialises in Cardiology patients ) about the recomendations for taking Flecainide including taking the first dose under medical supervision.
I am probably going to be taking it myself as a PIP but it can only be prescribed by a Consultant here and I will have a long wait to get that permission (estimated at 90 days) .I am assuming he will give instructions on how to take it.
The GP said it used to be the case that the first dose was administered under supervison but that advise has become 'relaxed'. I am not convinced particularly as my HR is low in the 50s so if I do decide to take it I will make sure someone is with me when I take the first dose.
Flecainide should not affect the rate, only the rhythm.
Forgot to mention in my first post that I adjusted the time I take mine as I got some scary nightmares at first, so I now never take it after 6 pm. Still have vivid dreams, but more interesting than scary.
Like many others it seems, I started it at home after being advised to take it by a cardiologist. I started 50mg daily for three days then 50mg bd, increasing gradually to 150mg bd. I had no side effects and it has been very effective, with only the occasional short run of AF. I’ve been on it for 20 months now and hope it will continue to do its job. Though I had no initial side effects, I have noticed some mild headaches recently with no obvious cause. I don’t know whether flecainide is responsible - has anyone else had anything similar?
Hi , I was nervous when 8 months or so I was moved onto Flecainide, I asked my EP a great doc called Ben Brown about doing the first dose under medical supervision. He said for me it was not needed as I only had Afib nothing else on my health agenda, I was genuinely nervous for the first dose, but taken on an empty stomach it was a complete non event. I would not worry but suggest a morning first pill so if you doo feel anything that unsettles you the world is awake Good luck it works!
Hi Appple, I’m in the same situation,I saw cardiologist for the first time yesterday, he gave me a prescription for Flecanide 50mgs twice daily and told me to stop Bisoprolol, but no ECG follow up suggested. 3rd dose in now and self monitoring,
If anything worrying occurs I will call GP but all seems fine so far.
I feel a bit like I’ve had a drink at the moment! Can tell I’ve taken it but I think I’m okay so far. 🤞🏼
Have you got anything in place re a treatment plan? My cardiologist suggest ablation almost immediately last week. Although it was my third time seeing him in the past year.
Cardiologist is referring me to EP, and spoke about ablation. Went into afib this PM for a couple of hours but that’s not unusual, so feel lightheaded which I didn’t on the Bisoprolol. Just going to stick at it and see what the next few days bring.
I've been on it for three years. Took me a couple days to get use to it. Be patient. They originally started it in hospitals but not now. Good luck and God Bless!
I am in the US, I initially was started in the hospital and was monitored for 3 days, but I was prescribed 100 twice a day, now I am taking 150 mg twice daily. I have been on this dose 11 months with no trips back to the hospital for cardioversions. I have had 17 cardioversions in 5 years, so it is working great for me. Tried all other antiarrhymics, Flecainide was the final one.
I did not know about the guidelines when I started with the same dosage about 18 months ago, and EP never suggested any supervision. I was fine, and it really put my af under control. Try to remain calm. You will be fine.
I started taking Flecanide 50mg x 2 daily without medical supervision. However, I was first prescribed the drug when in hospital having just received a large intravenous dose of it to bring my heart out of AF.
i started about 2 years ago on flecanaide 100 mg and felt extremely sluggish and out of breath after a few steps, then talking to my doctor he said come down to 50mg 2x a day and what a difference, i was started on it at home, if you are in rhythm it should help you stay in rhythm , down the road i may have to go back up or try a different medication. I'm out of rhythm now but very mild, nothing that affects my work out....goodluck, you will be ok..
I think that warning is a bit outdated and they should probably remove it. I started 3-4 years ago at home with never a problem. I think most people follow their doctor's instructions.
Hi apple 88.....I started flecainide at home, no problem, no side effects...I could tell the difference in my AFib the second day, it felt relaxed. Try not to worry..I'm a big worrier when it comes to taking new meds and you read all the warnings and precautions. Let us know how you fare!
Hi bit late to the party but just be careful taking around mealtimes,it made me nauseous. I have taken it both as a PIP and as regular dose with no problems.xx
I started on flecainide after ablation Nov last year and had to stay in hospital for a couple of nights after. Then no problems for 6 weeks then took myself off them because of awful hallucinations. Mind you my body seems to carry on about most medications. Good luck.
I took my first dose at home. I take 100mg twice a day with a 50mg pill in the pocket. I can take 300mg a day if needed. I swear by this tablet, it has been absolutely brilliant for me. I have had my bisoprolol reduced from 10 mg to 2.5mg over the last three months. Don’t be worried about it, it may be the one for you like me. good luck. Gill. Ps how are you feeling today,
I didn’t know whether to start a new thread or not, but as this is an update on what I wrote before, I’ll put it here.
Woke up this morning on day 4 of the flecainide and was immediately in AF. Took Kardia reading and was 150 HR on waking & very erratic.
I took periodic readings for the next couple of hours - all of which showed AF but rate did come down to around 100. I didn’t need the readings to be honest - it was really banging.
Anyway, I was hoping to draw on all of your experience. Do you think that this is to do with the flecainide? Or just another episode of my PAF. Or maybe to do with stopping bisoprolol?
My ECG isn’t until Wednesday now. They weren’t sure about letting me go for it at the clinic until I persuaded them that I didn’t have any Coronavirus symptoms. I think it’s going to be difficult to raise other health concerns whilst this is going on.
Thanks in advance if anyone can share any similar experiences.
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I recently had a discussion with my GP (who specialises in Cardiology patients ) about the recomendations for taking Flecainide including taking the first dose under medical supervision. 
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