Hi , I’m on flecainide and I’ve been put up to 100 mg since I’ve been on it I’ve had flashing in the eyes when I look at lights is this norm

[Electricblue1]

Flashing in the eyes

[meadfoot]

Yes i had exactly the same for the first few weeks of taking it but it settled down and stopped thereafter.

[Electricblue1 in reply to meadfoot]

Hi, thank you, I thought it was something else wrong with me. I hope it settles.

[meadfoot in reply to Electricblue1]

It will settle give it a few weeks and those symptoms will lessen and disappear.

[Hidden in reply to Electricblue1]

It would be prudent to have this checked-it could be something like a detached vitreous (not generally a serious condition). You could have a check under the NHS’s Minor Eye Conditions service at a high street opticians.

[mobradley]

I could not tolerate the higher dose and the hospital took me off it immediately when I ended up there with different symptoms. The higher dose is not suitable for everyone and my cardiologist made me aware that I should have a check up after a week of starting the increased dose to make sure it suited me. Get checked out especially if you have any further symptoms.

[baba]

Please get medical advice from whoever prescribed the medication. Flecainide can have very serious side effects for some people.

[Guitar335]

Ive been on Flec a coupe of years and had this happen a couple of times. Passed in 20 mins and fine otherwise

[rosyG]

I had this when took first low dose as pip when in recovery after surgery I asked a nurse if the lights were faulty! I shan’t take it again as it can cause serious side effects and I felt it was unsuitable fior me. I would discuss with your cardiologist

[Snowgirl65]

I had vision disturbances about an hour after taking my meds (Flec.) every morning, then would dissipate. If you're just starting Flecainide, perhaps your body will adjust.

[Amcech]

I had similar when I first started Flec. It went away after a few weeks.

[willec49]

I am on 150 mg daily and when I first started on Flecainide, I had a similar sensitivity to light, especially when I went outside. That settled down as my body acclimated to it. If it doesn't resolve in a few weeks, I would contact my doctor.

[Hidden in reply to willec49]

Does it prevent episodes? Taking 50mg twice daily failed to stop mine so I’ve returned to just taking it as a PIP but the episodes are occurring more frequently and can’t think of what might be triggering them as mostly occur when going to sleep or worn by them in the early hours! And now have an acid reflux problem and damaged oesophagus so cannot eat as many of the fruits I used to enjoy!! So much for having a healthy diet etc etc for years!! I’d love to find a dosage that actually stopped episodes without these unpleasant side effects!! Hope you get yours settled.

[Electricblue1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Sandibee, I’ve had break through since being on 100 mg twice a day and it’s frustrating me , the flashing in the eyes is easing a bit so hopefully soon it will stop.

[Hidden in reply to Electricblue1]

And have your episodes stopped? I wonder if that dose would work for me rather than having to take 100-150 mg often with some low dose bisoprolol to stop episodes that usually start just as I’m going to sleep or waking me up in the early hours as happened last night continuing for a few hours!

[willec49]

I started on 100 mg. Of Flecainide, 50 in the morning and 50 before bed. I was having breakthroughs so the night dose was increased to 100 mg. Which helped a lot. I take Protonix (pantoprazole) 40 mg for acid reflux which, over time, healed my esophagus. Do you find no difference between the frequency of episodes with the 100mg daily and then he PIP?

[Electricblue1 in reply to willec49]

Hi , since being on the 100mg twice a day I have had break through a few times.

[Hidden in reply to Electricblue1]

Oh dear! That’s not so encouraging! So sorry to hear that/ I remember I still got them when I took 50 in the morning and 100 in the evening and the fatigue increased in the day!

[Hidden in reply to willec49]

Hello, I’ve recently been diagnosed with a damaged oesophagus though hadn’t been aware I had acid reflux the way people usually seem to experience it/ I’ve been put on a different drug from yours - first a tablet which I prefer as the capsule form the GP changed it to has capsules made of gelatine which I don’t want so I discard them and have the contents with vegan yogurt and have arranged to get the tablet form in future to avoid animals being involved ( it’s more expensive!) Has your drug helped? I wonder if this is in any way connected to our AF and the vagus nerve being involved!

[Hidden in reply to willec49]

I was given a different anti acid drug at the hospital where the acid reflux thing was diagnosed - a 20 mg dose daily but nothing has improved though I’ve cut out all the stuff like citrus fruit and tomatoes and dark chocolate which is a blow- I see in the bumph that my dose should have been upped to 40mg after two months with no improvement but have been unable to get help from my surgery who the hospital doc said would monitor me! Not our surgery sadly! I started taking 2 a day today and have sent an email to the surgery hoping to get a reply before I reach the end of the pack! I might suggest the stuff you took to my lot as I’m on Omeprazole. Thanks my holy for your post

[Hidden in reply to willec49]

I replied to you to thank you muchly but the predictive text changed that and my post seems to below my previous post!! Thanks a lot and hope you can see my reply to you lower down!

[dedeottie]

I had some very strange visual disturbances while on 100g flecanide x2. They were particularly bad when going from dark into a light room. I had my eyes checked and nothing wrong so I continued with tablets as they stopped the AF. When I changed to sotolol for other reasons , the visuals stopped. It probably is the flecanide but I would also get checked out by a medical professional just to be sure. X

[willec49 in reply to dedeottie]

I had some visual disturbances on Flecainide at first but they resolved and, like you, appreciated that it kept the Afib at bay for so long. However, I didn't know what it was doing to my heart functioning which is why it had to be stopped.

How are you doing on the Sotolol otherwise! What is your daily dosage? It's making me very tired and unstable and hope my body acclimates to it and these effects dissipate.