Side effects of Flecainide?

[SuziElley]

So I've been on flecainide for two and a half weeks now and finding I'm becoming breathless again. Wondering if this is a side effect. I've had my diltiazem halved so don't think it's that..... Anyone else finding this?

[Paulbounce]

Hi Suzi.

I can't say I felt that way on flec personally but we are all different. It can take a while for your body to adjust to a new med also (I know this only to well at the moment).

If you have just started I assume you'll be on a 50mg dose twice a day ?

Paul

[SuziElley in reply to Paulbounce]

Yes, 50mg twice a day

[Paulbounce in reply to SuziElley]

I can't give you advice on the dose or med that is best for you. I can say this though - chase up your ECG and make sure your doc is aware of the situation. Personally I started on the same dose and then they increased it to 100 mg twice a day. Worked well and ticked all the boxes for a few years (that's just for me - it doesn't mean it will for you).

Flec works wonders for many but not everyone. It's strong drug but the dose you are on is the 'starter' to see if it affects you. Maybe a call to your doc to explain how you feel is a good idea ? They might reduce it or try something else - I can't answer that.

So that's what I would do. Request a call back from your GP and chase up your ECG.

Good luck.

Paul

[jeanjeannie50]

I dithered about whether to stay on Flecainide when I first started taking it, it appeared at times to be giving me hazy eye sight. However, I continued and it's been the best drug to keep my AF at an acceptable level. I had tried plenty of others before.

What dose are you taking and have you had an ECG, as is recommended, since starting it?

Jean

[SuziElley in reply to jeanjeannie50]

50mg twice a day. Still waiting to hear about an ECG.....🙄

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to SuziElley]

That's quite a low dose. When I was first prescribed Flecainide I was told to book an ECG with my doctor's surgery a few days later. Flec can sometimes cause odd arrhythmias and is more often than not, prescribed along with a small dose of beta blocker. Are you taking a beta blocker as well? If this is your first time on Flec I would call your GP and ask about having an ECG?

Jean

[SuziElley in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I can't tolerate beta blockers so on diltiazen. I've got a telephone appointment with my GP at the end of next week so will be collecting a list of questions for him

[Globe-J]

Hi Suzi,

Unfortunately, Flecinite does have potentially adverse side effects. Pasted below is a link which provides more information.

As suggested earlier, we may all react differently. Do not give up, investigate, look for a solution. If your adverse reactions do not settle down, conciser other option.

Best wishes

J (-:

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

[Globe-J]

Hi Suzi,

Unfortunately, Flecinite does have potentially adverse side effects. Pasted below is a link which provides more information.

As suggested earlier, we may all react differently. Do not give up, investigate, look for a solution. If your adverse reactions do not settle down, conciser other option.

Best wishes

J (-:

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

[KMRobbo]

I am not medically trained and everyone is different, but I was on flecainide/ Diltiazem combination for 10 months and it was definitely the diltiazem that caused my breathlessness. I was also advised by a cardiologist that it would be the diltiazem as I complained about the breathlessness and the reduced dose I got did improve things but not massively. Before my 3 months post ablation appointment we stopped the flecainide a few weeks before the diltiazem ( I think the EP wanted to see if i still had afib issues so we could discuss at the appointment) and I retained the breathlessness.

As I say everyone is different but maybe you just dont get on with diltiazem. Are you taking it because you also don't tolerate beta blockers( I did not)?

[SuziElley in reply to KMRobbo]

I can't tolerate beta blockers so on diltiazem. Sounds as though it could be this that's causing the breathlessness. Thanks for your input.

[Windlepoons]

It had that effect on me too. Same dose. Tried halving it but I was still very breathless. Im now on Soltalol which isn't as bad but our stairs get me still!

[KMRobbo]

Prior to being on diltiazem I was on Verapamil another CCB. When I was PUt on flecainide I was moved to Diltiazem now I don't know whether it was because the cardiologists thought verapamil was not controlling my rate when in afib or whether it was contraindicated with flecainide , or just whether it was that diltiazem was the cardiologists favourite Calcium channel blocker! However if it is 1 or 3 then I had NO side effects with Verapamil on the minimum dose of 120mg mod release I was taking. ( unlike the diltiazem which had many. I only stopped on diltiazem I was heading for an ablation that was forecast to be succesful or else i would have been pushing for a change.) So it could be an option.The other unknown for me was I did not get on ( very badly) with bisoprolol or Atenolol . However i did not try any of the cardio specific beta blockers.

These may be another option.

I am not medically trained just what I have picked up.

Best wishes

[SuziElley in reply to KMRobbo]

I can't tolerate beta blockers - hence the diltiazem. I've got a telephone appointment with my GP next Friday and a letter has just been sent to my local cardiologist for ECG and another 24 hour tape, so hopefully I'll get somewhere after all that.