I’ve been on flecainide for almost 3 weeks. I had some kidney and liver bloods run and all the liver functions are now outside of normal range. Has anyone experienced this? This has been the only change so presume it has to be flec. Bloods to be run again in 4 weeks.
I am also due for a DC Cardioversion in 10 days so not sure what the EP was planning post CV but may need to rethink continuing with flec post CV if it’s causing a change in my liver function. Any words of wisdom.
Sorry not heard this side effect before so maybe assumptions are not a good idea. Best see what the future brings.
Not with Flec but I have with anticoagulants a friend of mine found out she hadn’t been taking the meds as they should have been and so the meds were not absorbed & metabalised so liver and kidney became overloaded. They changed how they were taken and went back to normal within a week.
As Bob said - never assume and consult your Dr as to the possible cause.
I have been taking apixaban since 2017 and no change in my readings. This is the first time and coincides with starting flec. This was actually the GPs opinion when I spoke with him yesterday. Let’s see what the EP says about it. Thank you
Hello Re-enacts, I’m very new to Flec & began taking it this Tues on day of my third DC cardioversion. I’ve been on Rivaroxaban for approx 18months & have had a few new struggles with my evening meds because the Flec requires empty stomach & the Riv requires food. Sounds simple enough but for me it’s one more opportunity to forget or get it wrong, I have a terrible memory / attention span.....
Assuming your Apixaban requires food, could this cause a change if you’re taking the two together with opposing requirements? I believe Riv can wreak havoc if taken without food.
Good luck. Hope you get this sorted soon.
I have never been told to take the flec on an empty stomach. Did your EP inform you of this? The apixaban is slightly different to the riv and can be taken on an empty stomach. Hope you are feeling better after the CV
Feeling fine, thank you.
I didn’t realise Apixaban was different that way, sounds better to me. The information leaflet states to take on an empty stomach or at least 1hour before meals. I did read on this site last week that people had issues if they didn’t adhere to this instruction. I’ve been reading everything to do with Flec on here in the last few weeks in the knowledge I would be taking it now. This site has been very handy to be fair - thanks all.
I changed from Rivaroxaban to Apixaban because of the food issue, I have bowel problems which sometimes require me to fast so Apixaban was better and I have found it better all round than Rivaroxaban.
Thanks, that’s good info. I have to have a check up / meds review with my local health centre soon. I think I may ask if it’s possible for me to switch to Apixaban as I know it’s a matter of time before I mess it up & probably quite regularly. Like many things, it’s about better managing the idiot....
Has your consultant mentioned how long they think you will be on the flecainide?
Not yet, I’ll ask at my follow up consultation. I have a feeling that it will be until it stops working & I opt for an ablation? Really wanted to get this latest cardioversion as at least a stop-gap before we have another lockdown situation. Last time I struggled for 4 months after changing to Sotalol (which it turned out I couldn’t tolerate due to developing approx 12 ectopics/min & losing almost all emotions - really awful) without being able to contact my cardiologist and not knowing whether to seek help from my GP. In the end I got an appointment as soon as my cardiologist could return to practice & switched back to Bisoprolol, quickly felt much better & ectopics reduced but after around a week I went back into AF. When he offered me another CV and said my heart had repaired enough to take Flec I jumped at the chance after the rough time I’d had. I see my long term plan as trying an ablation rather than medication but until Covid settles I’ll be happy if the Flec works for me.
I’m glad you are feeling better. Booked in for my cardioversion next week and really anxious as it’s my first time.
Reena, I’ve had 3 now & can honestly say that there’s nothing to worry about. I’m reasonably nervous with some things, so much that I suffer white coat syndrome when having my BP tested unless familiar with the tester. The anaesthetic they use hasn’t even made me drowsy afterwards it’s that light. I’ve never experienced bruising or tenderness, you just wake up and feel instantly a little better than when you went in. One week later I’m more frustrated at holding myself back from doing things because my fatigue problem (My main symptom) has simply gone.
Good luck, I know it’s easy to say but - try not to worry. I’m sure you’ll be fine. I wondered what all the fuss was about after my first.....
Thank you. Did you rest for a couple of days after the CV? When did you start resuming normal activities. I normally go out for an hours walk every morning but presume should give it a couple of days before I start again?
From time too time people here taking Flecainide do not wait 3+ hours after a meal to take Flec and then after taking it 1 hour before eating.
Does flec need to be taken on an empty stomach? I have been taking it straight after breakfast with my beta blocker and roughly 1.5 hours after dinner?
Yes 3-4 hrs after a meal, small print on leaflet said this when I read it 6 yrs ago and you must then give it an hour to dissolve into your system before eating again. I have done this consistently since 2014 without any problems.
Very important to take on empty stomach as otherwise you may not absorb it properly . See my warning post ...xx
I thought empty stomach was due to not absorbing properly and therefore not being as effective rather than causing issues with the liver? Do you think this could be the cause of it? I will take Bisoporol so will need to take the two together on an empty stomach. Thanks for your help
Thank you Wilsond, that post came in very handy for myself. I always take my evening meds after tea and knew I was about to start Flec this Tues so have been reading every post about it - you prevented a definite error there!
Everyone should go to drugs.com to see all side effects of these meds we take. Don't rely on the Drs to tell you. Most don't know all the side effects and there are many more than what there is listed on any papers the Drs might hand you. Drugs.com will also give drug interactions if you're concerned about other drugs you may be taking. And also how to take the meds. And posts of people who take these meds. Good luck.
Thanks. It doesn’t tell you how to take them which is my main question - with or without food.
Sorry. Thought it gave that info somewhere in there. I've seen people on here say on an empty stomach or with food. If you Google it, most will say the same thing. I take Eliquis and it's the same. With or without food. But I take with food since it causes me stomach upset. Do you have a pharmacist you can ask? It's all kind of confusing when there aren't more specific instructions on how to take some of these meds. If it says with or without food seems to me it must not matter that much. If you can't get an answer do what seems best for you. Best of luck. Hoping someone else can post their experience for you.
No worries and thanks for being so helpful. I think you can take with or without food but it may absorb better if on empty stomach. I’m just trying to understand whether having with food can cause liver function changes.
I would think the only way to find out if it affects the liver is to be tested. Whether or not it's taken with food or not it's still going to go through the liver. Just my thinking. Hope you are lucky enough to have a Dr who will do what is needed. Take care. Maybe someone else will still see your post and offer more information.
Was on flecanide for 8 years never had any changes in kidney or liver function but did gain about 12 lbs. Came off 6 months ago and shed 8lbs almost immediately
I have no probs with liver or kidneys on Flecainide or any drugs I am prescribed so far, 5 years down the line.🤞🤞🤞
I take the Flecainide on an empty stomach in the morning an hour before breakfast - easy. But in the evening if I am fastidious about taking it after 12 hours, it's impossible. So I take it about 20 mins before supper. Tbh your stomach won't be that empty before the evening meal anyway.
When I first started Flecainide it gave me a bad stomach - I am prone to gastritis - so the EP said take it with food! I raised the point about the empty stomach to which he replied, "What's important is that you take it, never mind if it's with food or without food. It just acts more quickly if the stomach is empty., that's all". So that was his view. (It doesn't seem to affect my stomach now so I think I must have got used to it).
I hope you get sorted. Are readings way off normal or only slightly off? Too much protein can mess with kidneys if you are susceptible in this way, so diet is important. Another example is that grapefruit can stop drugs metabolising and they can build up in your liver. But any drug can have an effect for some people. That's why a yearly blood test is recommended.
Good luck.
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