Is Tambocor no longer available?

[Faure_74]

Is it true that the anti-arrhythmia drug Tambocor has been discontinued? If so, does anyone know why, and is there a suitable alternative?

[Jalia]

Tambocor (Flecainide) is available in UK. Which country are you in ?

[Faure_74 in reply to Jalia]

Cannot use Flecainide as effects wear off after a few days, only Tambacor is effective.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Faure_74]

Tambocor IS flecainide under different name. Google it!

[Faure_74 in reply to BobD]

Thank you for your reply. While what you have written appears to be the case, the effects of Tambocor and the generic brands of flecainide that have been tried are quite different. The generic brands prescribed in the past have been markedly inferior in achieving what is required, and our GP practice has continued to prescribe Tambocor for that reason.

[betsea in reply to Faure_74]

drugs.com/mtm/tambocor.html

[CDreamer in reply to Faure_74]

Could be that the pharmacy or their wholesaler have discontinued so it’s unavailable. I’ve had that problem with several branded drugs and had to find a pharmacy using an independant wholesaler who was able to supply - but the script had to specify the branded not the generic name.

At the GP end, the surgeries sometimes come under a lot of pressure to avoid specifying a branded product as they are so much more expensive so you may need to ask questions of both Pharmacy and GP practice.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Faure_74]

I have had a similar issue with eye drops. No problem until pharmacy gave me a different brand of the same drop and I started to get blurred vision in one eye. One of the first things the optician and hospital asked was, had I been given a different brand of my drops. Apparently, it's the inactive ingredients that can cause the issue and although different brands have to have the same active ingredient, the inactive ones can be what they decide.

I was told that could be the same for other meds I take as well, including Amiodarone.

[CDreamer in reply to Ducky2003]

Exactly my experience.

[LaceyLady in reply to Faure_74]

Interesting information when you have to increase dose! Some of my pills change brand regularly 😡

[Coco51 in reply to Faure_74]

Tambocor is a slow release version of Flecainide I think.

[Tako2009 in reply to Faure_74]

Good morning- just seen this - like a few others on this forum I can’t tolerate most of the generic brands of Flecainide- they just don’t work for me so I need to find a pharmacy supplying the branded version (Accord in my case). This has not been a problem until recently when I was informed it was ‘out of stock’. At the moment I am ok as I have a small stash for emergencies (I have had problems/delays sourcing the branded version in the past). If it goes on for long then I may be in trouble!!

[terryw]

Hi Faure_74. Get your G.P. to put Tambocor on the prescription form and not Flecainide otherwise the Chemist will supply a generic brand. I used to have this problem until I got Tambocor named on the prescription. TerryW

[NoFib]

Flecainide is sold under the trade name Tambocor (manufactured by 3M pharmaceuticals). Flecainide went off-patent on February 10, 2004. In addition to being marketed as Tambocor, it is also available in generic version and under the trade names Almarytm, Apocard, Ecrinal, and Flécaine.