Hi Folks,has anyone been taken off Flecanide and put on Sotalol and or Amiodarone? I have read some bad press on Both.

[Oscal]

Flecanide compared to Sotalol or Amiodarone grateful for any pointers.

[jeanjeannie50]

It's odd but my EP doesn't really like me taking Flecainide and after my third ablation when AF struck again he changed me to Sotalol, which did nothing at all to stop my AF. I was back on Flecainide a month or so later and all was well.

The thing is there are so many different types and causes of heart arrhythmias, that what suits one person, won't necessarily suit another. Think I had to have two days clear not taking anything before changing from one type of pill to the other.

Jean

[cuore]

I have taken Amiodarone, and I think it did me more harm than good -- all sort of side effect, including probably causing arrhythmia. When switched to Flecainide, I stayed some time in sinus.

[terryw]

Hi Oscal,

In the first year (2004), or so, after getting AF I was tried on both drugs. Sotalol was ineffective but gave me no side issues. Amiodarone was effective (SR) but gave me breathing problems. I would never take it again. I stress that everyone is different, and the same drug can affect each of us in different ways, or not at all. I have been on Flecainide for many years, and dizziness when on the top dosage is my only negative impact. TerryW.

[irene75359]

I have never had Amiodarone but have read enough about it on here for it really to be the drug of last resort for me to take it. Although it is said that Sotalol is not used any more, the cardiac team I was under in London disagreed and said they had many patients taking it. I use flecainide as a PiP and have had no problems at all.

[Clarrie]

I was on Sotalol and changed to Flecainide which didn't suit me at all as it made my heart rate dangerously low so was changed back to Sotalol.

[Oscal]

Thanks Folks for taking the trouble to reply.Most helpful.I have been on Flecainide as a pip for 2 years now I also take bisoprolol5mg daily and BP tablets,Its 11 months since my First Cryoablation which has not worked,shall we say.I still get AF 2/3 times a week,At first Flec was like a wonder drug for me!It worked within hours and rarely did I need to Take the second tablet later in the day.Fast forward to now.When I take flec as a pip I get dizzy and feel like Im about to faint and often have to support myself to stop from falling.

My EP describes as follows"Presyncopal episodes particularly after taking flecainide which may represent conversion pauses" This is in a letter to my GP. last week .My options on offer to consider are Try different antiarrhythmics such as sotalol and amiodarone.(hence my original question yesterday) My other and only option is a n AF-PAF redo . At age 76 I shall try cryoablation one more time methinks,dont know how long it will take for it to happen though. Thanks again for your helpful comments,Oscal out.

[Haymaker42]

Amiodarone is the strongest of those meds. I was on it for sometime while waiting for my first ablation. It was the only medication that would keep me in normal sinus rhythm. I understand that it is not a drug for long term use as it has some ugly side effects. I took it for about 6 months and I had no side effects from it. Hope that helps! Take good care!😀

[Haymaker42]

I also just had my third ablation. Afib seems to get much better after each one. I am hopeful that the third time is the charm.

[Bolander]

The worst people have said is that Sotalol didn't work, whilst others have said that amiodarone does work but like myself have had problems with significant side effects. As JeanJeannie50 says, what suits one does not suit another. so really it is a case of trial and error to find the right drug for you. In my case it was Sotalol.

[Amcech]

Amiodarone did not control my Afib. I take flecainide 100mg twice per day and keeps my af mostly under control. I get an episode of Af about one time per month lasting from a few hours to a couple of days. I’m Ok with that and since my heart rate stays under 100 for the most part, EP is not concerned.

[marcyh]

I was taken off my PIP (propafenone) by my EP while I wait for an ablation. He put me on Sotolol. I was on it a week. My HR went too low, especially at night. And it increased my arrhythmia dramatically. I nearly fainted in a lab while getting an ECG./EKG. I then called my AF clinic and they ok'd my going off of it right away - back on propafenone as needed (PRN). I much prefer being on rhythm control rather than rate control.

[Oscal in reply to marcyh]

Thanks to all who replied.Marcyh,your experience is closest to mine.My HR also goes dangerously low when taking Flec and Bisoprolol 5mg +my 3 other BP meds,I try and space the tablets as it would be unsuitable( for me )to take all together.The almost ,fainting has now become scarier than the episodes of AF and up to now have been very lucky inasmuch as I have bee indoors and sitting down or standing close to a kitchen unit etc which I was able to grab and stop my fall.Until I can speak to my EP (dont know when that will be due to covid/ lockdown) I may try halveing the dose of Flec ie.50 mg. As has been said many times on this excellent forum,everybody reacts differently to meds,surgery,etc,I will keep trying until hopefully I find a combo that works for me.Oscal out,