First time user of Flecanide

[Lamplight37]

Hi havn’t been on here for quite some time, I had a year of looking after my husband with Alzheimer’s he eventually died in January...my AF has returned unfortunately, GP in consultation with Cardiologist put me on Flecanide, had the worst dose Of A F that I can remember, I have had two ablation, one nearly two years ago. I stopped taking the Flecanide, and am now back on Bisoprolol...anyone had a similar experience with Flecanide? Would be interested to know

[rosyG]

Sorry to hear about your husband. Flecanide works well for some people. I think they will post to tell you. I took my first dose while in hospital for something else in August and saw fairy lights in the ceiling for about an hour! I shan’t be using it at home!! I don’t think it causes af but you might have had one of the rare side effects with it. Had you had an echo to show normal heart etc

[Finvola]

Hello Lamplight - I'm sorry to read about the death of your husband and the shock of the loss.

Flecainide has been a real friend to me, stopping my AF episodes completely for the last 7 years. But, Flecainide is capable of causing other arrythmias such as Atrial Flutter in certain people - fast, regular rate, usually 110-130 or 220-240 depending on conduction of the signals. Or, it could be that Flecainide doesn't agree with you.

Do talk it over with your consultant and I hope you can get some relief.

[Paulbounce]

Hi Lamp.

Sorry to read about your husband.

Flec can work for some but not for everyone. For me personally it's worked very well (so far) - however we are all different.

I find it worrying your ablations were not succesful. I'm almost at the point of asking for a referral to an EP to have one. The more I read on the forum the more doubts I have. My view changes daily - I would certainly wanting 'mapping' though should I have one.

I hope your afib resolves soon.

Paul

[jeanjeannie50]

So sorry to hear about the loss of your husband.

Flecainide is usually taken alongside a small dose of beta blocker to stop atrial flutter happening, were you taking your Bisoprolol then? When I first started taking Flecainide I was in hospital and was told to go to my doctors surgery a few days later for an ECG to see how my heart was coping with it. I had read all the side effects and thought I had blurry eyesight and was all for giving up on it, but thank goodness I didn't as it's been my wonder pill - the only one that actually worked.

Jean

[Hidden]

I only took one tablet of flecainide as pill in pocket for my paroxysmal AFib. Within 2 hours my heart rate had doubled. And yes it was atrial flutter, which is a known side effect of flecainide. Bisoprolol won’t stop you having AFib, but it will slow the episode down.

Do you think there comes a time when ancient ones like yourself might consider that for many of us, developing permanent AFib comes as a welcome relief from the nerve racking conveyor belt of toxic rhythm control drugs, cardio versions and ablations. Of course very symptomatic episodes of fast and prolonged AFib demand attention, and a pace and ablate helps many in that situation.

Compared to you I am a mere spring chicken of 72, but I took on a new lease of life at 69 after ten years of anxiety inducing PAFib when I became a convert to “permanentism”. Along the way I had one pacemaker taken out after 8 weeks, after developing septicaemic shock: problems with flecainide and propafenone, and finally two ablations with a total of 13 hours of general anaesthesia the second GA sending me totally doolally for 12 hours after coming back from radiology where they had sent me for a CT scan because they thought I’d had a TIA. For me being an AFib permie is a walk, or even a jog, in the park.

Your earlier description of yourself as the “ancient one”, made me laugh. My teenage boys flatly refuse to come with me to our local M&S cafe - they tell me witheringly it’s full of “olds”, but that I should fit right in.

[Jalia]

I found some years ago that Flecainide actually promoted arrhythmia s for me.

[Sheepbreeder]

More than twenty years ago and living on my own after losing my lovely wife to a cancer, my Cardiologist decided I should try Flecainide alongside Bisoprolol. On the morning of day two I remember seeing 220 bpm on my Polar watch before passing out. Not sure how long I was out for but managed to dial the 9's and eventually got a blue light ride followed again eventually by a DCCV. The very friendly Cardiologist came to see me on the ward following the DCCV and kindly apologised saying "I'm sorry, I think I nearly killed you" followed by "I think I'm going to refer you to an EP" I always thought that this one was a close call.

[Clarrie]

Sorry about your husband. Flecainide made my heart rate go dangerously low so sent back to Sotalol.

[bassets]

I'm taking a low does of Flec - when a doctor doubled it I was ill for a while. It seems a bit hit and miss whether it suits or now.