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Weaning off fkecainide

Equish profile image
17 Replies

Hello everyone. Hope you are all staying safe. It’s 3 months now since my first ablation. The first 7 weeks post ablate I had AF everyday. The 8 th week only on 3 days. From week 8 until now I have not had AF at all.

I was told by the cardiac surgeon in a 2 minute review after the ablation , to stop the flecainide and bisoprolol after 12 weeks. I could wean off for a few days if I wanted. Although I’m feeling great I’ve been dreading this time when I will stop my meds. Fear of a bad return of AF still a trauma in my mind. However I got my big girl pants on and reduced from 100 mgs to 50 mgs yesterday and today. Last night at rest in bed my heart rate increased to about 90 and was pounding. No AF and although 90 is not high it’s almost doubled from my usual 50-60. I just wondered if this is something that happens when you are reducing?

Does anyone have any thoughts please?

I have a telephone review with the cardiac nurse at end of March.

Also I have not stopped the bisoprolol yet. It’s only 1.25 and I thought I’d stop it after I’d sorted the flecainide wean.

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Equish profile image
Equish
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17 Replies

Hi Equish, I’m not medically trained but its my understanding from what I have heard many EP’s and Cardiologist’s say that unlike beta blockers, it’s not necessary to wean off Flecainide. However, like you I was nervous about just stopping six months after my first ablation so for a few days, I dropped from 50 mg x 2 to just one. If you are only taking 1.25 mg Bisoprolol, because it’s the lowest dose available, it’s going to be difficult to wean of that!

Equish profile image
Equish in reply to

Ok. Did you just feel normal when you stopped or did you experience any withdrawal symptoms.

Yes the bisoprolol I will just stop in a few days. I’m kind of glad I hadn’t stopped it as last nights rate may have been much higher.

in reply to Equish

It was a while ago but I don’t recall having any problems.....

Equish profile image
Equish in reply to

Ok thank you x

FancyPants54 profile image
FancyPants54 in reply to Equish

I wouldn't just stop that Equish. I'd get a pill cutter and cut the pill into 4 pieces and reduce by 1 quarter for a couple of weeks until settled. Then reduce by another quarter and hold until settled. Even doing that caused me unbearable issues so that I went back onto it.

Equish profile image
Equish in reply to FancyPants54

I’ve cut the 100 mg in half and been doing that twice a day. I’ll go slow I think ☺️

irene75359 profile image
irene75359

I didn't have any side effects when I stopped regular flecainide (I now use it as a PiP) but my heart raced for a long time (months) after stopping bisoprolol, despite being told that I was on such a low dose at 1.25mg I shouldn't have any side effects stopping. But we are all different and that was just me. Best of luck.

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply to irene75359

Wasn’t just you Irene a lot of people including me find withdrawal from 1.25mg bisoprolol very difficult and unpleasant

irene75359 profile image
irene75359 in reply to Peony4575

That's interesting. I nearly gave up as I thought I need this bisoprolol to keep my heart rate down, but then I googled 'coming off bisoprolol side effects' and was shocked to find many accounts of the difficulties people faced. Are you completely off now?

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply to irene75359

I failed coming off twice the second time after 10 days off because the tachycardias were so bad. Changed to atenolol at suggestion of cardiologist side effect profile better and weaned off slowly. Now been off completely 35 days. It would need to be an imminent life or death situation to get me near another beta blocker . And I had only been on 1.25mg bisoprolol for a short time, we’ talking a couple of months

irene75359 profile image
irene75359 in reply to Peony4575

I take 1.25mg bisoprolol alongside flecainide as a PiP (advised by my doctor) and I haven't suffered anything remotely like the effects of coming off a regular dose. I share your feelings about regular beta blockers!

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply to irene75359

Good to know . Maybe I will risk it as a PIP if needed then thank you for info . I think a lot of people get unpleasant side effects on bisoprolol and worse coming off them but it’s not widely acknowledged by doctors

Equish profile image
Equish in reply to Peony4575

That’s interesting I wasn’t concerned about coming off the bisoprolol. Didn’t realise there can be issues.

Equish profile image
Equish

Thank you for all your replies. I was going to go cold turkey today but I think I’ll wean off slowly now x

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575

I really really would advise it. Some people can just stop but it’s one helluva way to find out you can’t x

Steve_ profile image
Steve_

I found I had to step off Flecanide very slowly. I would get bad ectopics if I stepped down too quickly. It took me several weeks.

Equish profile image
Equish in reply to Steve_

Thanks Steve.

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