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Flecainide weaning off

TetManila profile image
19 Replies

Hi any success story on weaning off Flecainide? How di you do it? And what are your pill in a pocket afterwards?

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TetManila
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19 Replies
wilsond profile image
wilsond

Hello

I did this last year as at the time it was felt I could just use as PIP.

I was told to take one tablet less a day for a week then one every other day for a week.

As a PIP I was told to take 100 mg plus another in two hours if needed.

I must stress though that you ought to check out with your prescriber as individual needs vary.

I had no problems with withdrawing xx

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to wilsond

Thank you so much! Will start weaning off this week. Praying it will work. My life is much more normal without meds and deal with SVT when it happens.

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to wilsond

Talked to my EP earlier for my PIP it’s ok to 100mg Flec and 10mg Propanolol. Are we the same. Ever since you stopped the maintenance meds how are you doing! Is your PIP do its work?

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply to TetManila

Hi

I managed very well for a long time on this routine. But in the summer I had another illness which threw my AF into overdrive so I am back on maintainance dose at this time.

I was taking flecanide with food and for some people this is not advised as it stops the drug being absorbed!

Hope it goes back to ' normal' routine when I see Dr next. It is definetly better.

Fingers crossed for you too .

Xx

You must check with you Doctor but I have heard several Cardiologists and EP’s say that it is not normally necessary to wean yourself off if it’s taken as a regular maintenance dose. If you are thinking about taking Flecainide as a PiP then this is something you MUST discuss with you Doctor and they will advise. It is important that a maximum dose of 300 mgs is not exceeded within any 24 hour period.

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to

Thanks! Good thing I have teleconsult later with my EP hopefully I can wean this starting next week.

David1958 profile image
David1958

I weaned myself off of Flecainide and Metoprolol. My cardiologist would not do it. I went to a pill every other day for weeks. Then cut the pill in half and took a half pill every day for weeks. Then a half pill every other day. Than a half pill every third day. When I got down to a half pill every third day, after many weeks of doing that I stopped. PIP is one Flecainide tablet and one Metoprolol Tablet. I have not used that PIP in years.

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to David1958

This is so encouraging! Will discuss this to my EP. Thanks and now I’m very sure I wanted to wean it off.

secondtry profile image
secondtry in reply to TetManila

I am also very keen to wean myself off Flec after 6 years. Please keep us informed how it goes for you.

I would always favour David's way of doing it (common sense to me) and I would probably stretch the weaning period over a year, even though I know some cardio suggest it is OK just to go cold turkey.

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to secondtry

Just takled to my EP and he said I can wean it off cold turkey and treat it as PIP 100g Flec plus 10mg propanolol. Just gathering my strength to take it off probably in a week. Will update you guys! Pray for me!

secondtry profile image
secondtry in reply to TetManila

I'm praying!!!

Bawdy profile image
Bawdy

I went off flecainide cold turkey but was only taking it for 2 months then weaned myself off metoprolol, like David I did it my way, not saying that's right for an instance.

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to Bawdy

That’s how my EP said I can wean off cold turkey. How did it go? How are you?

Achant1 profile image
Achant1

I stopped cold turkey in nov 2017 and was fine. Only just last week did the nasty AF rear it’s ugly head again. Good luck do whatever you feel best, but don’t stop unless your ep says so.

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to Achant1

It took 3 years for relapse is that right? Do you took PIP on that episode? How did it goes?

Achant1 profile image
Achant1 in reply to TetManila

I had two five minute runs in them three years, no I didn’t use PIP because I didn’t have any. Waiting for hospital follow up now.

Thomas45 profile image
Thomas45

At an annual consultant appointment I was found to be in persistent asymptomatic AF. The consultant told me to stop taking Flecainide. I was a bit wary about doing that, after having Flecainide for about twelve years. I saw my GP who is very knowledgeable about AF, he's a Trustee of the Atrial Fibrillation Association, who told me to just stop, not to take any more, so I didn't take any more after being on 150mgs twice a day for ten of those twelve years. I just stopped, no weaning involved.

And nothing happened. Stopping had no effect on me. None whatsoever.

I never took it as PIP, so cannot answer your question about that.

TetManila profile image
TetManila in reply to Thomas45

Thank you so much for the advice. Will definitely wean it off next week. A little anxious but I think I’m ready.

David1958 profile image
David1958

As for the PIP I think I used it twice. One of those times was when I tried to use the blue pill for ED. Big mistake! Of course one of the side effects of the blue pill is AF. I started to feel it coming on and took the PIP. Reverted back to sinus in an hour. Second time was when I did what I said I wouldn't do, I got dehydrated. Took the PIP and went to the hospital. Reverted back to sinus by the time I got to the hospital. It always takes some time for the PIP to work. I really should not have gone to the hospital.

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