Afib & Flecainide

[francesturpin]

I will need a 2nd ablation but in the mean time I am taking 100mg of Flecainide twice a day and it is working great. Can you tell how long this will last.

[BobD Volunteer]

Who knows? There are no receptors in the body for flecainide the way narcotics do so the drug doesn't stop working although if your AF progresses it may overwhelm the drug.

[Singwell]

I've been on Flecainide for over a year - 50mg X 2. I get on well with it though I still had AF once every couple of months. I'm 10 weeks post ablation now and still on the meds but beginning to cut down. We can't tell how long meds will be effective but quite a few on the forum get on well with Flecainide and I believe have been on it for some time. 🤞🤞 For you things stay stable till your next procedure.

[francesturpin in reply to Singwell]

Thank you for your reply. When you have Afib how long does it last and do you have a high heart.

[Singwell in reply to francesturpin]

Pre ablation - AF lasted 12-16 hours unless I took extra meds. On advice from my EP I could take up to an extra 100mg. However, always felt knocked out afterwards, though it did stop the AF. I've had no AF now for almost 8 weeks. Immediately post ablation I had several episodes a day and some lasting 4 hours and needing extra meds. Had a rough start! About a week later I still got AF episodes but they didn't last long and went away on their own, sometimes only lasting 10 minutes. That had never happened before, so felt hopeful. Today's been a rough day in fact - high heart rates and feeling very tired. But still no AF. Previous to ablation BPM could go up to 144 and nearly always over 100. Post ablation BPM in AF typically lower, almost always below 100. So less symptomatic, more bearable. Hope this tells you what you wanted to know.

[willec49]

Is this your first time on Flecainide? I was on it for 2 years and it controlled my AFib episodes very well with a breakthrough occasionally, maybe on the average of every couple of months. I have heard people on here say they've been on it for 9 or 10 years and doing well. Unfortunately, for me, an ECG revealed that it had caused my QRS Interval to widen at an unacceptable rate so I was just switched to Sotolol yesterday. It will probably take my body a while to readjust to this new medication. The point is that flecainide could be a faithful ally and work for you for a long time. Good luck!

[dedeottie in reply to willec49]

My experience was exactly the same as yours. I have been on sotolol now for 2 years but AF now overwhelming that so on list for pace and ablate. Flecanide was a good friend for 5 years. X

[francesturpin in reply to willec49]

I have just started taking Flecainide as I wait for a 2nd ablation. Just want to get back to a normal life with AF. Hopefully, I can continue on Flecainide, I do have a bit of shortness of breath as a side effect. I hope Sotolol continues to work for you. All the best!

[secondtry]

I was 60yo generally active and told I had Lone PAF and offered an ablation but requested 200mgs/day Flecainide (was on 100mgs but that didn't stop the AF). This dose has worked well for 7+ years with only 2 very short (20mins) episodes due to triggers subsequently identified. nb in the first few months I still felt very strange but followed a wide ranging regime of Lifestyle changes, still on-going today, and for several years now feel very good. The only downside is that I dare not have the Covid vaccine in case it takes me back to the bad old days! Good luck.

[sdweller in reply to secondtry]

Can I ask, do you think the vaccine will cause you afib? For what it is worth, there is NO evidence or track record for this to be true. It did not effect me at all, and of all my friends with afib nobody had any issues with the vaccine.

[secondtry in reply to sdweller]

I am not against the vaccine, just delaying until there is more data available on side effects. Very grateful for all reports on this Forum. Following reports elsewhere as well. In the meantime, I am being extra careful not to get infected or infect others.

[francesturpin in reply to sdweller]

I am a little nervous about the 2nd dose fingers crossed I have no a-fib.

[sdweller in reply to francesturpin]

You may get a little sick after 2nd dose...I did, but it was no big deal. But it's MUCH better then getting Covid, especially the new variant.

[Flyer2820]

Hi fracesturpin,The simple answer to that question is, how long is a piece of string?

Eventually as your af progresses you will have to up your tablets. I ended up on 100mg of flechanide three times a day before I had my successful ablation.

Each person is different so no-one can say. Af is a scourge that doctors are still finding out about.

I'm afraid you have to just go with the flow.

Good luck for the future.

Regards Flyer.

[1xrower]

Hi - very active here, and on flec for about 3 years now and hoping for many more. Occasional episode, usually due to dehydration (stupid me). Started it before I was supposed to have a second ablation, and never had the second. And, btw, no issues with Covid vaccine.

[francesturpin in reply to 1xrower]

Thank you for your reply. I'm hoping to shed a few pounds and hopefully I can get by with just taking Flec and I will not have a 2nd ablation. Also I will have my 2nd dose of vaccine this week so glad you mentioned that, I feel better going forward.

[sdweller]

Nobody can tell you how long Flec will last for you. There are many who have been on it for years, even decades. Many progress so that it becomes less effective, but many can take it for long to indefinite periods. I've been on it for a year with no issues. Lifestyle changes along with Flec work.

[robster68]

I am also on 100mg Flecanaide twice a day and with my other meds...Bisoprolol, Rivaroxaban and Losartan Potassium, it has brought my AF episodes down from 2/3 a week to 1 every 2/3 weeks. I do get side effects from the condition and the medication and I'm possibly in the early stages of cardiac failure.

I have been put forward for an Ablation and an currently waiting to get on a waiting list.

[listerines]

Like many of the replies above there is no guaranteed timeline for how long flecainide will keep working. Though many have had good results for many years on this med without alot of complications (of course everyone is different). I do believe that lifestyle factors also play a role while taking any med so keep these factors in mind moving forward.

For myself I am looking at a second ablation as the first one did not hold without medication. That said I am back on flecainide 75mg x 2 and since the 1st ablation my episodes are much farther apart at this stage. Dont know if this is due to the increased flec (was on 50mg x 2), the ablation or a combination of the two (likely a combo of the two) . If I come off the flecainide my afib starts to come back with a vengeance and my pacs/ectopics increase substantially as well.

Wishing you long periods of stability on flec and greater success with 2nd ablation (research does show improved outcome rates with 2nd ablation). Keep safe