Long term flecainide outcome

[Andyb7612]

Hi again , Im just wondering is flecanide OK to stay on long term as in for a few years or so ? Or is it to potent a drug which will cause all sorts of problems if taken for a long period of time .....andy

[pottypete1]

I’ve been taking it for over 30 years now and it has helped to moderate my AF significantly in that time. I don’t have any known side effects so I don’t think you need to worry about it at all.

Pete

[Andyb7612 in reply to pottypete1]

Hi Pete do you ever get any breakthrough episodes of afib at all ? I've only been on it for a week and already forgot to take my dose last tea time and had an afib episode this morning literally 24 hours later ...

[KMRobbo in reply to Andyb7612]

I went on flecainide when my afib progressed. He only time I had Afib between starting it an my ablation was when I forgot my evening dosecon a Saturday. I got up Sunday morning as I started walking downstairs I went into high rate AFIB!

[Andyb7612 in reply to KMRobbo]

Hi kmrobbo , yes that sounds just like me , my afib progressed to small episodes every few days or a bigger one every week ...6 days in on flecanide forgot dose already and small afib episode happens...I need to realise how important it is to get into a regular time and routine of taking it...

[KMRobbo in reply to Andyb7612]

Yep I had an alarm on my phone for pills. However on that Saturday I was in Aldi using my evening meal when the alarm went off. Course by the time e I went home I had forgotten!

[pottypete1 in reply to Andyb7612]

Whilst for many years I continued to have episodes of AF every few weeks and sometimes days a series of ablations over a number of years have alleviated my problems.

I now only have very rare episodes maybe once every 6 months.

These episodes I have been able to terminate with extra Flecainide taken within the recommended daily max dose.

Pete

[Andyb7612 in reply to pottypete1]

Hi Pete so you have stayed on a daily dose of flecainide as well as the pip flec after the abalations then?

[pottypete1 in reply to Andyb7612]

Yes I have. I take 100mgx2 each day and then if I get another AF episode I take another 100mg if I it is near one of my times to take it, thus 200mg at once.

The maximum they say you can take is 300mg in any 24 hour period. Whilst PIP works it does make me feel heavy, nauseous and lethargic for about another 24 hours.

Pete

[wilsond in reply to Andyb7612]

Andy your body is still getting used to the drug and so you got a kickback. It'll settle.

. I do,very occasionally, get a breakthrough but I can add another tablet to counteract.

[Andyb7612 in reply to wilsond]

Thanks for the reply..that's reassuring to know ....all the best

[Palpman]

On its own long term will be fine but if you are taking another long term drug such as antidepressants then it may become problematic. Most antidepressants cause a build-up of the Flecainide in the blood plasma that can lead to ventricular arrhythmia.

A 6 monthly ECG would be required to check for LQTS or Long Q T Syndrome.

[secondtry]

For the majority without comorbidities, other drug interactions, age post 70 or on the maximum dose, Flec is a good bet long term from what I have read & my personal experience on a medium 200mgs dose over 8 years. However successful though, don't give up on the lifestyle changes.

[Andyb7612 in reply to secondtry]

Hi secondtry thanks for the reply...I have only been taking it for 6 days but have felt a big improvement before I was put on this medicine....although last night I forgot to take my dose and 5.30am this morning literally 24 hours after my last dose I had an afib episode so took my dose and it went in 45 mins or so...

[Andyb7612 in reply to Andyb7612]

I meant improvement since being put on flecainide I meant not before...lol excuse my typing error

[Bob56]

I have been taking Flecainide for over 30 years and it has always been my friend in the battle against AF. I’m not aware of any side effects which affect me, but I know that’s not the case for everyone and it may depend on what other drugs you are taking. Generally speaking it’s effectiveness will reduce over time, but that’s more to do with our own ageing process than the drug itself. I eventually had to have an ablation which was generally successful but I still take a modest dose of Flecainide to help keep AF at bay. Good luck with your own journey.

[Brenda-j]

I have had no problems with Flecainide over the last 14 years. I was on 300mg a day for several years before I had ablation. I am now on 50mg for flutter. It has been a great help to me

[dmac4646]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[wilsond]

I've been on it since 2013 no problems both as a PIP and then daily dose. Recently been able to reduce dose by 50 mg as I'm maintaining nsr well.I get regular blood tests to make sure liver n kidneys working well.

Xx

[manabouttown]

Remember to take flecainide on an empty stomach -ie an hour before breakfast and then in the evening 2 hours after dinner.

[TopsyJones in reply to manabouttown]

Can I ask why this is important as I have not been following this regime , and was not aware that I needed to ?

[tunybgur in reply to TopsyJones]

It probably improves absorption and maintenance of steady blood serum levels.

I've been on flec for several years and every flec manufacturer makes the same recommendation, although most recommend just an hour before or after food....read the labels.

Good luck

[Coco51 in reply to tunybgur]

I take the morning dose on an empty stomach. But in the evening it's impossible, I'd be eating too late. So I asked the pharmacist which I should do, take it an hour before dinner at 7pm - only 10/11 hours after previous dose - or leave till 8pm a full 12 hrs. He said go for 8pm. The important thing is to remember to take it.

[Bagrat]

I have been on flecainide since 2011 no beta blocker no other intervention. No problematic side effects. The dose was reduced v slowly to 50 twice a day in 2016 as I was getting shortlived runs of tachycardia for no reason but no obvious AF, by GP. Last year I was, after a lot of insistence on my part re referred to cardiologist after various short lived episodes of arrhythmia . He increased the dose back to 100. I have been much improved generally sine then. I'm 78 btw.

[Andyb7612 in reply to Bagrat]

Glad to hear your doing well on the drug ...all the best

[daysyday1]

Hi, I've been taking flecanide over 10 years and have had absolutely no problems with it. I just get my routine blood test every 3 months to check liver and kidney function (also need it doing due to other meds I am on) and I've never had a problem with the results. I take 100 mg twice a day.

[Andyb7612 in reply to daysyday1]

Thanks for the reply my friend....I hope also to get on well with it if possible and wish you continued success with your treatment....andy