Hello, Forum, I have eventually managed to get some serious interest from the medical community after being diagnosed with afib 9 years ago. No one was interested maybe because my resting heart rate is in the low 50s, even though it goes above 210 when running. Anyhow now I'm on Flecainide (50mg x 2) awaiting cardioversion (that could be months away) and, after a couple of weeks of aclimatisation, I beginning to feel like I did in my 40s. I'm in my late 50s and have been feeling 90 years old (apologies to you athletic nonanagenerians out there). I can tolerate exercise much much better and I'm not needing a nap at 5pm every night. Today I forgot to take my pill before a swim and I felt 90 again and I'm now dog tired.
Has anyone else had such a transforming experience of Flecainide? I'm have been thinking there could be a placebo effect but now I think it's real.
Side effects: Initially head aches and dizziness. Now, sleeplessness if taken too close to bedtime and some constipation.
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Speccymagoo
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I started on 50mgs x2 per day but that didn't stop AF so went unto a medium dose of 100mgs x2 per day. I take it religiously the same times on getting up am and pm around 4pm, never less than 3 hours after a meal and then always wait 1 hour before eating. As a generalisation, I think we underestimate how much the heart and the rest of the body likes routine long term.
Stopped my episodes and together with lifestyle changes has been fine for 8 years.
I would scale back the running and swimming by 50% until you have had a year without AF and yes the bowels do move a bit slower.
Thanks, Secondtry. Good advice. I'm struggling to get a routine around taking my pill, mainly because I always seem to have just eaten or I'm about to eat. I was taking one at around 3am at the same same as my nocturnal bathroom visit but it stopped me going back to sleep.
Flecanaide gave me my life back I would add that I learnt something valuable last week, it makes you very very susceptible to sun burn!!! I am Polynesian and was shocked as I have never had an issue in the sun before. Blisters are now coming out Look and weep….
Made me dizzy for a bit but then the dizziness stopped. I also stopped being dizzy on getting up from a chair quickly, which had been an issue for years
Flecanide works well to keep my heart from going into AFIB. I am 83 have a pacemaker and and only have AFIB a couple times a year now. Been on flecanaide 3 years. But I take magnesium, because the flecanaide causes me constipation. It is very uncomfortable. Magnesium doesn't help much.
Yes I had a 'transforming' effect when taking Flecainide but not in a good way. Among other things taking it doubled the length of time of my episodes to 20 hours, increased the frequency of my episodes from every 2 weeks to every few days and affected my vision and balance. It was not for me but then I think I was left too long before getting a chance to try it .
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