flecainide

[Florenceamelia]

For sometime now I have been able to keep my AFIB under control with Nebivolol but today I have had a very fast and irregular heart beat again, I have taken a flecainide given as a PIP could anyone tell me how long they usually take to slow ones heart down,? with everything going on I have not been able to have my 3 monthly appointment and doubt we will for a good while yet .it is reassuring to have you all for advice.

[irene75359]

What have you been advised to take when using flecainide as a PIP? Please don't forget that the maximum is 300mg in one day. That said, I have experimented (with my doctor's advice). 100mg did work but took a long time, now I take 200mg the minute an episode starts and within about an hour my heart starts slowing down and I am back in NSR within 2 - 3 hours.

Please note not advice - just telling you what works for me. Wishing you well.

[Florenceamelia in reply to irene75359]

Thank you for your post,I take 5 mg nebivolol daily, the flecainide is 50mg only taken as a PIP and not taken for 3months as not needed, yes, it worked last night after 3/4 hours, no idea why it came back ,thank you for your good wishes.

[CDreamer]

Flecainide is an anti- Arrythmic drug, not a rate control drug. What dose were you prescribed and are you still taking a rate control drug as well?

When I used Flec as a PIP I was prescribed the full 300mg max daily dose which usually stopped the AF within 1-2 hours. Once the AF stopped then the HR would come down.

Have you tried some slow breathing techniques? Staying as calm as you can, resting with feet up, but propped up and staying really well hydrated is also really important.

There are also various valsalva manoeuvres which often helped me to return to NSR more quickly - didn’t always work but worth a try?

[Florenceamelia in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your reply.I will look into the valsalva manoeuvres. the flecainide as a PIP is 50mg the beta blocker 5mg daily. I am still learning as it is only 9 months since I was diagnosed,

[CDreamer in reply to Florenceamelia]

So maybe ask your cardiologist if you can up the PIP dose?

This is a continuous learning process for all of us. Every time I think I have AF taped - it morphs & I’m back to the beginning. Best wishes - CD

[afibtennis]

when i was taking flecanide as a PIP, it would kick in within 2 hours ( 100 mg). But as I was getting a-fib more often, I now take 100 mg twice Day and have rarely had any bouts.

[Bahrain22 in reply to afibtennis]

I'm 39, take 50mg Felcainide twice a day. I was told by my doctor to have an ablation so that I didnt need to take Flecainide again (although it seems to be working fine for me). However I'm reading a lot of posts suggesting that even after an ablation people still need to take Flecainide indefinitely? Have you been advised to have an ablation?

[Florenceamelia in reply to Bahrain22]

I have not been advised to have an ablation and will continue to take a flecainide as a PIP but luckily have not needed to take one for a couple of months.

[kookiedough]

It happens to me fast heart rate, I am on Eliquis and high blood pressure bills which also regulate the heart beat. I have flecainide, they tried it in the ER a while back and it worked for me, haven't had to use it again and that was in Oct. 2019.