Flecainide

[Thomas29]

Anyone know anything about the long term effects of flecainide? I mean over a 10 year period perhaps!

[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. When I do get an AF episode then I take a larger PIP dose and that usually does the trick. The larger dose does leave me feeling quite queasy, and it is at those larger doses, 200mg and above, that you might well experience more side effects. Like many others I have a small beta blocker dose alongside the Flecainide which is usually advised, but again it depends on your own cardiologists assessment. I generally get my heart health reviewed every couple of years and we review my medication at the same time. Good luck with your own journey.

[CDreamer]

As everyone metabolises every substance very differently it’s almost impossible to say as some will tolerate it much better than others.

For me it was very harmful and I wish I had never taken it but at the time, it did stop my AF episodes and when taken daily prevented them for a while - about 2 years.

Like any substance that cures it also has the capacity to cause and Flec can cause changes in both rhythm and rate and can cause other arrythmias such as Flutter unless taken with a Beta Blocker.

IMHO (not medically trained so speaking purely from experience). It is effective at controlling AF for some however, you do need to be carefully monitored in my opinion, regular ECGs and Bloods every 6-12 months.

All drugs have affects - it’s knowing what and how to spot them and then balancing the benefits against the possible risks. Do your homework and then decide if the benefits would outweigh the possible risks - in dialogue with your doctor.

[Brenda-j]

I have been on Flecainide for about 13 years. I take it with verapamil. For a while I was on 300gm a day then I had an ablation over 4 years ago which was successful. I now take 50gm twice a day for a flutter which I don’t notice but the AF has gone so far. I have had no problem with Flecainide it has been a great help. I had to gradually increase the Flecainide until the AF was so bad I had an ablation. Everybody is different but has been a great help to me.

[Thomas45]

I took Flecainide for 12 years. It had no side effects. I wasn't prescribed a beta blocker. For 10 of those years I was on the maximum dose of 300mg s day. During those 10 years I only had one or two short episodes a year. After those 10 years I was found to be in Persistent though silent and asymptomatic AF, so I was told to stop taking them and did.I had other ailments before I started with AF, and I still have other ailments, plus a further one, Foot Drop which was caused by fracturing my right fibula and damaging the peroneal nerve.

For what is now permanent AF I take only an AntiCoagulant.

[MoyB]

I was on Flecainide for quite a few years but was then taken off that and put on Diltiazem as I was told it would 'work better' for me. I was not as medically clued up then so didn't ask why, just accepted it. I was also taking Clopidogrel for years and that was changed a year ago to Apixaban as I was again told that it was now the drug of choice and 'more effective'. I was not aware of any side effects at all with the Flecainide or the Clopidogrel when I was taking them.xx Moy

[paulalex1313]

I have also been taking Flecainide Acetate 100 g for 30 years and I am not aware of any negative side effects. I have had three ablation procedures and have been free of AF symptoms since 2016, but I was advised to continue to take 2 Flecainide tabs per day and, initially Warfarin, but now changed to Edoxaban, for the rest of my life.

[secondtry]

Done 8yrs at 200mgs for vagally mediated Lone PAF with no comorbidities, starting at 60yo; no known side effects.

[Bagrat]

I've been on it for11 years. I'm now 78. Works well for me