Pill in the pocket

[trixie100]

I have never been prescribed any of these. What experience have others had?

[bantam12]

I prefer to take a med regularly rather than just when I have a problem. I was prescribed Verapamil as a pip but now take daily Bisoprolol.

[Hidden]

Hello trixie, PiP medication is often useful for people who have very occasional episodes of AF. It can either be a beta blocker/calcium channel blocker for slowing the rate or a rhythm drug such as Flecainide for getting the patient back into rhythm. I have used Flecainide several times and it has been quite effective but I have had a couple of ablations.

What has prompted you to ask the question, if it’s something you think could be helpful, you obviously need to discuss with your Doctor because this regime is not suitable for everyone......

[heartmatters1]

Hi Trixie

I totally echo with what flapjack says. Flecainide PIP works for me, (touch wood at the moment), as on average I have approximately 3 bouts of AF per year (which I am aware of) I take 2 x 100 mg at the onset and within a couple of hours I am back in NSR. Of course this could change & if this was the case I would need to go on regular medication.

Best wishes Ally

[ramblerbaz3 in reply to heartmatters1]

Hi,For me this is exactly the same !!!

[DevonHubby1]

My wife asked about a PiP for her paroxymal AF but was told it was not suitable for her. She does however take regular Bisoprolol.

I think the refusal of a PiP may come from her one and only cardioversion which did not work and put her in a dangerous flutter for a while.

[Bennera513]

I trialed Flecainide up to max daily dose but it didn't touch my premature beats. It changed their morphology slightly and they felt different but were still there (I was a fringe case wherein EP prescribed this reluctantly only for the ectopics....I'd been on Atenolol for years).

I ultimately opted for PiP for the ectopics. A year later I went into A-fib. Luckily I had the Flecainide on hand and I converted with 100mg while waiting in A&E. I was so thankful I had that pill ready to go. Then 15 months later A-fib came a ringing again. 150mg PiP and 50 minutes later back in NSR with no visit to ER. Strip captured on iWatch and sent to EP who confirmed.

For me this strategy is nearly perfect. I am confident it will work and with only yearly episodes it makes no sense to be on it full time. I do continue with the Beta Blocker, however. So, the rate side of things is already covered should I need the PiP. In my own mind I figure I'd be willing to continue on PiP up to about one episode every 2-3 months. Any more than this and I'd consider full time Flecainide or Ablation, which the EP has said would be the next step.