I have had a bit of a stomach bug for the last day or 2 and was just waiting for it to trigger my Afib. Lo and behold it happened this morning. Woke up fine and then boom Afib as soon as I moved my bowels. I have pill in the pocket and took it almost straight away. Normally this sorts me out in about an hour. Today it was nearly 5 hours before I clicked back into sinus rhythm. Just by chance I had a cardio appointment and the consultant asked if I had eaten immediately before or after taking the flecanide. I had my normal muesli with banana and berries and natural yogurt (a lot). So it turns out that you shouldn't eat for at least an hour after taking flecanide as it slows absorption. Particularly bad for this are meals involving dairy products. As a precaution he did a full blood work up on me and they along with my BP and heart trace were first class. Lesson well and truly learned.
Oooops!!! : I have had a bit of a... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Oooops!!!
Glad it got sorted out. Curious, how much flec do you take for PIP and do you take it alone or with a nodal blocker like bisoprolol or diltiazem?
200mg on its own mate
Thanks
Max in any 24 hour period is 300mg.
Spot on mate, cardiologist said that too. My Afib has been more frequent of late so they are toying with putting me on 100mg of flecainide twice a day. This is to steady the ship until I get an ablation. Apparently as a very fit 53 year old man with no heart defects I am a perfect candidate for ablation.
Recently I read this- had been eating 2 bananas/day for the potassium.
Stopped bananas and don’t get as sick feeling later in the day (that is brought on with AF and without or before palpitations- just a general sick feeling that is also brought on by too much exertion, red wine, certain types of cheese and chocolste. (Esp dark)
Lo and behold I found this:
Researchers believe that foods rich in tyramine, such as cheese, dried yeast, red wine, bananas, and chocolate,may cause atrial fibrillation and a rapid heart rate after eating.
Could banana be a contributing factor?
That's interesting to hear Chrissy. I love bananas and have one with my morning kefir. They have never made me feel sick, but walking after eating a big lunch used to kick off my AF making me feel dreadful.
.. finding out I may have sensitivity/intolerance to tyramine. It is actually in all kinds of pickled and fermented food and over ripe fruits and vegetables.. so in fact over ripe bananas may be problematic for some while freshly ripened are not.. who knew it was a thing. And May be why I can’t tolerate red wine … and dark chocolate …pickles etc.
Hi,You mention 'stomach bug'.....I was gonna ask if you were sure, and sure that it wasn't a food intolerance or allergy? Then later your man answered the question. Yoghurt will do it to me everytime - along with a range of other foods.
John
Wasn't the yogurt mate - the whole family has had this 48 hour thing
I have always appreciated your advice John for telling me about yogurts causing stomach problems. Mine used to be really sore until your suggestion. Who would have thought that a natural yogurt would do that, but it was certainly making mine sore. No problems since stopping eating them.
Jean
Hiya Jean,
Yep, Jean, I know. The one thing I have learned over the years is to always challenge something .... things are never ever as they seem. A good many folk I have come into contact with over time have the same reaction as you .............. "who would have though it" ??
Stay safe,
John
When to take your Flecainide was the topic of a conversation on this forum a few weeks ago. It was discovered that people had been told a lot of conflicting ways. I take Accord Flecainide and the instruction leaflet in mine says to take an hour before food, so that's what I always do.
Jean
Right on. The UK brands label say empty stomach. The US label says with or without food.
Jim
They must both be made in a different way I guess. My Flec is Flecainide Acetate. Is yours called the same?
Yes, Flecainide Acetate. The coating could be different but my guess it has to do with a different review process with perhaps different testing. I believe even with your brand, it was noted in that thread that one of the UK pharmacists said with or without food even though the label said without. I was taking it with food for awhile because of other meds but now I'm taking it without.
Jim
Are you better for taking it without food?
Same. If I need to take extra PiP I wait 1.5 hours after eating.
My flecainide is flecainide acetate manufacturer Milpharm. Are there different types of flecainide then??
Hope you’re completely recovered from your gallstones op now. I had mine when I was 27 in 1971 huge big scars and tube holes in those days
All the best
Pat
I think I've seen a different Flecainide, other than acetate mentioned on this forum. Not in this country though, think it's a slow release one. There are lots of different makers of Flecainide Acetate in this country.
I've done really well after my gallbladder removal, didn't have any pain at all just a little soreness for a few days, so there was no need for painkillers. My youngest daughter said if anyone talks about gallbladder removal she's going to brag about me. Two of her friends at the hospital where she works took 6 weeks off work after theirs. Me (11 days after op) - I'm going to go to the supermarket today, will take lots of bags so that none of them are heavy. Got to test drive myself in the car first, slightest worry and I wont go. It's the seat belt I'm worried about as it may go too close to one of the entry sites. You know I'm almost talking myself out of going. Lol
Jean
Take care
Wow that’s good. You are going well and hope you’ve managed to drive ok
I remember I was in hospital for 2 weeks and every time they did something, no behind curtains it was moved to sit on a chair on the centre of the ward to remove tubes etc. before the op it was chair in the middle of the ward again and the tube up nose through to stomach with everyone watching whilst gagging!! Then to top it all when I went to theatre gave me anaesthetic which just completely paralysed me but I was still awake. I could move my eyes and I was absolutely terrified and kept wiggling my eyes around. Eventually it was noted and I was put under. Terrifying experience. Then a week later got an infection in the wound. In between then it was after new year and I kept saying to my husband how itchy and sore I was - the sheets had been starched and not rinsed. He went home and bought our flowered sheets in, then everyone else in the ward followed suit. Can you imagine that these days!!!!
What no one told you in those days what to do afterwards. We went away for a little holiday and my parents looked after the children and we met friends ate and drank all the time unhealthy stuff of course but all was fine in the end
Not one of my better reminiscing moments
Take care keep well
Pat
You poor thing, my treatment in hospital was exceptionally good.
I drove to the supermarket today with no problems. Asked for help checking it through the till and then it was loaded into my car for me. The young girl who helped me was lovely and so willing to help. I realised after I had a loaded trolley that it was all a bit much really. I'd taken loads of shopping bags so that they weren't going to be heavy for me to lift. Thank goodness that my procedure was micro surgery, cant bear to think how awful it must have been for you.
Jean
Horrible at the time but it was a long time ago (1971) and the hospital was still the old war Nissan huts
For my brain tumour I went to St. George’s 5 years ago and they were good.
It’s been lots of ops over the years and now the beast of afib/tachycardia!!
Glad you managed your shopping well. Rest now
So if you are on morning night dose, can you take it 1 hr after eating say at night?
Yes - I also take my son to work at 0645 so I can take it well before my brekkie
I'd wait 1.5 hours for the digestive process to get under way.
Absolutely
I take x2 100mgs per day, which has stopped my AF episodes completely. The drug brand is Accord and I have always taken it 3/4 hrs after a meal and then not eat for one hour after taking. No problems. On the rare occasion when I have taken it only 2 hrs after a meal I have felt nauseous.
You mention you are 'very fit', I would dial down the training to half intensity until you get the episodes stopped.
Cheers - good advice
I suspect the taking on empty stomach is more important when used as a PIP and needing a quick boost. I take my regular doses 100mg about an hour before food am and my evening dose minutes before evening meal as we eat early and like to keep 11-12 hours apart. Several pharmacists ( I am not a trusting soul) have searched their 'bibles' and said whatever works for you
Thanks for sharing Kenny, as easily done for those using Flecainide as PiP. I've been caught out in the past using it as extra PiP and wondering why it didn't work. And then taking another pill (within limits of course) and feeling absolutely rubbish as a result for the next couple of days. Hope that stomach bug has now passed - literally 😉
All good mate thanks!
Yes I was told that too ,after a sustained breakthrough of flutter and AF over several weeks,that I was actually inhibiting the take up of the flecanide and Bisoprolol by eating around dosage time. Apparently it can reduce the effectiveness to 1/4!
Not sure if it affects everyone the same,some people feel sick taking on empty stomach.
Hope you feel better now x
All good - doctor reckoned dairy coukd cut it by half!
Hi someone mentioned taking it an hour after food. Would this be sufficient. I thought it took the stomach 3 hours to empty after eating. Its probably old biology which has been now disproved! 🤣🤣
I take my morning dose of 50 mg as soon as I wake up,eat breakfast two hours later or so.I take 150 mg at 9 pm,as we tend to eat supper at 6,and not a big meal usually.
It has made a big difference over the past year,although I have had breakthrough arrthymias due to a recent infection.
This happened before for same reason but otherwise regime works great for me.
Great stuff - thanks
I take it before breakfast. However I need yoghurt to take with my anti coagulants ( Pradaxa) so I take it separately 30" after breakfast. The other day I threw caution to the wind and had it with my other meds and a cup of tea ( first cup of tea in 5 yearsI avoid caffeine and teinne). Boy did I pay! It played havoc with my insides and thank goodness there was a loo nearby the supermarket!!It really is a fine art when you take more than a couple of meds.
Take care.
Oh no!!!!!
My episodes have become more frequent too and I have pm'd more experienced members to have their views on ablation ( you know who you are ☺️) My Afib got worse suddenly last month and I wonder whether my meds are having a negative effect too. For some people the meds don't work as well ( my case)after a while , but many members have successful control with medication. Take care.
Hey Kenny, hope you’re better. So, no particular advice, just a comment to those of us with a milk product sensitivity. What other animal on earth ingests the milk or milk products of another? It’s a human only thing right? I eat yogurt too for the gut but avoid the rest. Seems like it only invites trouble for the GI system.
Well it's mammals 😉
Of a different mammal. What other mammal ingests milk from a different mammal (or any animal)
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