Flecainide and Blackouts

[President2012]

Hi. last month I posted about having blackouts after converting to NSR having taken Flecainide. Thanks to all the people who responded. Many asked that I let them know what happened when I saw my cardiologist.

I saw him this morning. I had an echocardiogram before seeing him. He told me that the structure of my heart was fine and no problem with the valves. He said the blackouts were caused by the Flecainide. His exact words were " the Flec did what it is meant to do but did it too well". It jolted the heart and caused a gap between the irregular beat and NSR. This gap starved the brain of blood and oxygen for seconds and it shut down. That's the lay man's version.

I am not to take Flec anymore. He offered me an ablation which we discussed but jointly decided to wait a while as my record for the past 20 years has been two or at most three a- fibs per year. I am 78 years old. He wants to see how the heart manages an a-fib on Bisoprolol alone.

He has asked me to buy a Kardia and if I get a 6 lead machine to only use the one lead function when I have an episode and send that to him.

Thanks to all who responded to me. It was good to get the support.

[Paulbounce]

What a shame P2012. It's good news and bad news I guess. The good news is your heart is fine and no problems with your valves. The bad news is flec didn't work for you.

As I'm sure you are aware treating a-fib is often about rhythm and rate control. Bisoprolol might just work for you - I hope it does.

I'm also having 2 -3 episodes (ish) a year after a succesful CV and put on Flec. For me I'm not sure if I would go down the ablation route just yet. That's just for me though and we are all different - it's between you and your EP to decide whats best for you.

Hope it all goes well

Paul

[President2012 in reply to Paulbounce]

Many thanks - I am a bit iffy about an ablation also.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to President2012]

Why not? There is an old saying , "when the pupil is ready the teacher will come." If your AF becomes bad enough, you , like most people would be begging for ablation. Please don't discount it without careful consideration and lots of education.

[President2012 in reply to BobD]

Thanks. I intend to do just that. There are other health conditions to consider also at this time.

[7164 in reply to BobD]

Bob

Well said I am begging for me now. After the flec experience this pupil is ready 😊

Rod

[BobD Volunteer]

all sounds positive to me.

[President2012 in reply to BobD]

Many thanks.

[Buffafly]

Hi, I experienced the same with propafenone (same class as flec). I manage with a very low dose of diltiazem, only problem being that if I have a very fast episode of AF I sometimes have to go to A&E.

[7164 in reply to Buffafly]

Buffafly

We are the same. Wish their was an answer

Rod

[buddje]

No probs with Flec

....bit woosey in the morning but otherwise ok.

Better than AF

[7164]

President

Out of hospital now. It defo shut me down but I was in NSR at the time and kicked me wildly out of it

Rod

[tunybgur]

Did you have a prolonged QT/QTc interval? This is normally shown on your ECG printout, I don't think Flecainide is recommended if you have this condition as it can cause serious problems.

[President2012 in reply to tunybgur]

ECG is fine he says. I have always been a bit of a mystery according to my wife!