weaning of flecainide

[Electricblue1]

hi all, hope you are all good. I’m dropping my evening flecainide and have been feeling light headed , just wondering if anyone else has had this. I’m taking it every other night then going to drop it gradually. My blood pressure yesterday was 117/ 44 not sure if that’s too low. Any advice on dropping flecainide will be much appreciated.

[mjames1]

With the disclaimer I have no medical training, my understanding is that no weaning required for Flecainide. Also, don't know how long you've been on Flecainide, but side effects often get better over time.

That said, if you do decide to reduce your dose, the obvious is you may start getting more afib episodes again.

Assuming that's a concern, I would start by halving my evening dose before going every other day. You should also give each dose reduction at least three days before deciding whether to reduce more. Also consider leaving the evening dose as is and reducing the morning dose, so you be asleep during the higher dose and might feel the side effects less.

Lastly, always a good idea to have your doctor in the loop although most tend not to think out of the box.

FWIW I experimented with several Flecainide dosing strategies, starting at 50mg twice a day up to 100mg, twice a day, as well as having a higher evening vs morning dose. Currently on 25mg, twice a day, which is working well.

Jim

[Electricblue1 in reply to mjames1]

Hi, thank you, I was on 100 mg twice daily but went on to the 50 mg twice daily, no side affects at all on that one. Now want to just do 50 mg once a day and make it morning. After my second ablation the arrhythmia nurse said I could come off all meds but I want to do it slowly. I cut out my evening bisoprolol and had HHR for a month but it settled down after that. I’ve had HHR a few times since but I’ve started to feel lightheaded a little , headaches and low blood pressure, very tired but I was not sure if it was the lowering of the medication or something else.

[mjames1 in reply to Electricblue1]

Sounds like you have the greenlight from your medical team, so really your choice whether you want to wean and see how NSR holds at each step, or just stop completely at once. Again just keep in mind it takes about three days to see the results of a dose change. Personally I like the weaning approach, because if NSR doesn't hold when off completely, you will know what minimum dose does work.

Jim

[Electricblue1 in reply to mjames1]

Thank you, yes I like the weaning approach too. Maybe it’s normal to feel tired a lot with heart problems.

[nikonBlue]

hi there,I have been on 300 dose of Flecainide for a few years now but recently I've been having constant light headedness which you'll know is a bit scary.

My E.P. told me to stop the Flecainide altogether as I did feel the AF episodes were worse after I took it. Very strange I know....the medication to aid the condition actually causes palpitations! Anyway, I am now waiting to have a RF Ablation probably the end of the year so am trying to lose some weight at the moment as I'm having a general....eeeek!

After having 3 lovely weeks with no AF issues when I stopped the Flecainide, wallop!! Back with bang cam the AF. So here I am back on the very medication that's playing havoc with me. Either I take it and hope it does it's work, or I am constantly feeling totally rubbish and thinking I might pass out every half hour or so.

I just thought my experience might be of interest to you.

stay well,

Blue

[Electricblue1 in reply to nikonBlue]

Hi , I know how you feel , I’ve had two ablations my last in January this year. I take flecanide every other day and this week it’s every other two days and so on. I could not come if my morning one as I don’t feel comfortable enough yet even though I’ve been told I can come off all meds . I wish you well and good luck with your ablation when you have it.

[secondtry]

After 8yrs of 200mgs Flecainide I would dearly love to have the courage to stop it. However, currently I believe it is still needed. If I did stop it would be a very slow smoothed out weaning off over a year at least....not medically trained but it just seems to make sense.

[Electricblue1 in reply to secondtry]

Hi , someone told me you don’t have to wean off flecanide but I don’t feel comfortable just stopping abruptly like that. I’m still taking my morning dose .

[July30]

Hi I was on 300mg of flecainide for many years +10mg of bisoprolol. I was took off flec in 1 go on advice of my cardiologist after having fainting spells and was fitted with a pacemaker and now take only 5mg of bisoprolol .I've been off them for 1 year now and are better with out them no fainting now.