Flecanaide

[trixie100]

I have been prescribed flecanaide by my new E P.

Can any members say if they prefer to use it as a twice a day medication or as a pip.

Would appreciate any imput.

[BobD Volunteer]

Depends which works for you and what your instructions are from your EP. If your AF is infrequent you may find that PIP works well for you otherwise a maintainance dose is the norm.

[Speed]

It works well for me as a maintenance dose. After a 2nd successful Ablation for AFlut Nov ‘21, I acquired PAF soon after, being symptomatic every fortnight initially. I was put on Flec, 50mg 2 x daily with additional PIP doses as and when, rarely needing more than an additional 100mg to get me back in NSR. The frequency has slowly reduced and its’s now (Oct ‘22) 9 weeks since my last episode. I’ve no side effects I’m aware of. If I continue to be none symptomatic, I may ask my EP if can switch to just PIP and see, if I then become symptomatic, what the frequency is and if it would then be better to stay as PIP or return to maintenance.

Separately, I have previously also been on Beta Blockers but I found the suppression of my HR meant that I could no longer exercise at any meaningful level and so had -ve impact on QOL. As a result, I Agreed with EP to come off the BBs. I’m now able to exercise freely (within reason) and happy to run half marathons etc. but will be watching for any increase in frequency of symptoms however.

[zxal0000 in reply to Speed]

Hi Speed,

So you are now on Flec 50mg 2 x daily, without  Beta Blockers?

[Speed in reply to zxal0000]

Yes that’s right, dropped the Beta Blockers after consultation with my EP. My HR in low 50s so not keen on lowering further. I believe there is some concern as to whether Flecainide should be taken without a Beta Blocker as without it, Flecainide MAY result in worsening arrhythmia. Mine however appears to be well controlled currently and in consultation with my EP, I would have the option of a 3rd Ablation We each have to personalise our medication to what works / suits our circumstances / priorities.

[Achant1]

I used it twice a day, and it made me feel the best out of any drug I’ve ever used, absolutely no side effects except for making me feel human again.

[zxal0000 in reply to Achant1]

Are you using Flecanaide all by itself or with Beta Blockers or any other medicine?

[Achant1 in reply to zxal0000]

No flecainide now, just bisoprolol for pvcs.

[Tototcx]

I am taking a maintenance dose twice a day. My EP said at my last appointment that sometimes with pill in the pocket it can cause anxiety because you think " should I or shouldn't I " all the time. But it's a decision you make with your prescriber tbh.

[secondtry]

My cardiologist recommended I took it daily as PIP would have been too much of a roller coaster for my heart encouraging more AF; this has been successful. However, if I was only getting one episode every 6 months or less I think I might have tried PIP first.

[Builderpete]

Hi

I’ve been using flecainide for 6 years taking it twice a day, find it works well for me. Everyone is different though, what works for one may not work for another.

[KMRobbo]

When I was on flec pre ablation, i was on 2 x 50mg maintenance dose Reason was my AFIB was always high rate , typical 165 resting, and I was spending longer in afib, the last attack being 8 days , terminated only by IV flecainide infusion in my local Coronary care unit. The cardiologists advised better to keep out of AFib rather than having to try to get out of it when in it.

It may be as well to consider that for your situation.

That attack was the one that made me request an ablation, and put me on flecainide in the meanwhile.

I only had one more Afib attack when on flec, and that was the morning after forgetting to take the evening dose , so my own fault.

Best wishes.

[Suesouth]

didn’t work for me as a PIP, so take 50mg twice a day, along with, rivaroxoban, Bisoprolol, candesartan!, but I can still 100mg as a PIP if necessary!

[TheProf]

I take slow release flec twice a day. No problems. I live in France tho. Medicaments are easier to get prescribed.

[Jgc61]

Hi

I take a Flecainide 100mg twice a day & also have 50mg as my pip,

It appears to be working well now the bisoprolol has been lowered, I have paroxysmal afib.

I definitely feel a lot more “normal” taking the flecainide like this.

[custard1]

I take it twice a day late at night and when I wake up (most of my afib came on overnight) works well for me , no side effects.

[Quilafizz]

I LOVED Flecainide when I was on it. It was the only drug that actually stopped my AF without any side effects at all. I was on 50mg twice daily until my ablation in 2018 and have been AF free since. I do have episodes of irregular beats that occur 4-5 beats in a row then convert, especially if I am very stressed at work. If these occur more than a few times in a span of hours, I will take a 25mg dose and the episodes stop.

[SuziElley]

Go with what your EP told you

[Afibflipper]

I’m prescribed 100mg twice a day

[Tapanac]

Yes I'm on 50mgs twice a day and I called it a miracle drug as although it would appears from my latest ecg that my heart rate varied on occasion from 41-103 unlike before flecainide I have never noticed.

Good luck.

Oh when I asked if I could take it as and when I needed it, I was told that it could cause flutter because the heart see-sawed from on/off doses.

[southkorea]

I always use it as PiP . When AF starts I take 150 mg of flecainide and two 2.5 mg bisoporol . AF goes quickly after that

[Cos56]

hi!

Everyone is different, of course, but pip with my EP never came up. I guess because my AF became more frequent, twice a month. My magic cocktail is Flecainide 50 twice a day, Eliquis 5 twice a day, metoprolol 25 in am and 12.5 in the evening. I’ve been doing this since January without issue. Talk to your EP about options. I wish you the best ❤️

[Sacstate]

At the age of 75 late last year, I had my first experiences with AFib, a couple weeks apart and lasting several hours each. After the third episode, my cardiologist talked me into taking 25 mg timed release metoprolol per day. A couple of weeks after that, I had another hours-long AFib episode, so I started taking 50 mg Flecainide twice per day in addition to the metoprolol. That was in January, nine months ago. Not a single episode since. While one or both of those drugs cause me to feel as if I have a mild case of the flu constantly, I believe the Flecainide has miraculously prevented any AFib episodes, and the beta blocker is necessary to prevent possible arrhythmic adverse effects of the Flecainide. I am working persistently on lifestyle improvements—diet, exercise, anxiety reduction—to discourage more AFib, and I know my cardiologist will agree with any way I choose to take either drug, including stopping both. However, before trying PIP when I’m ready to make a change, I will reduce dosage of both meds for a while to see what happens.

[Afib_girl]

it works but caused me major weight gain. Talking over 20 lbs in 3 months.

[AussieHeart in reply to Afib_girl]

I went the opposite way. Lost 7kg in less than six months. If prescribed a PPI that was the cause of weight gain for me (4kg in a month). I refuse reflux meds to the annoyance of my EP two days post ablation and apart from heavy chest low dose 25mg FLEC morning and half that at night is helping

[ColbyLH]

I have taken Flec. 50x2 for nearly 6 years..it reduced my 26,000 pvcs/day to almost zero when nothing else would work. There are side effects over time…some numbness in hands and feet, a bit if dizziness and a bit of tremor occasionally, but otherwise okay…would like to stop taking it but am afraid to do so….for fear my heart has adapted to it and it might trigger another arrhythmia…wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation and has tried to taper off successfully?

[Hairem]

Hello,

I use flecinade twice a day. It works like a charm. I have been on it for 1.5 years.

🤓

[AAJJTt]

PAF (which caused an NSTEMI II) - I take Flecainide twice a day (50mg -am & 100mg - pm) as a maintenance dose since onset 3 years ago. I have the option of PIP too, in case an episode occurs - an extra 100mg plus a small dose beta blocker. The AFib has been pretty stable now for over 2+ years - no sustained arrhythmia, the odd ectopic - I have never had to use the PIP. On my recent consultation, it was decided to persist with the maintenance dose for the next 12 months. If it is still stable then it will be removed in favour of the PIP only approach.

You can see from the other replies that one solution doesn't fit all. You, along with your consultant need to work out the best approach for you.

My preference is to reduce the medication I take, if I can do safely (the anti coagulant was also withdrawn recently). For my part, I am doing all I can to help achieve this - healthy lifestyle and high exercise level.

[Elsie1955]

I use it 2x a day and it seems to work very well for me at that dose, though we have discussed pip, for right now, its daily.

[DawnTX]

Did your doctor tell you how to take it

[Roger555]

My first cardiologist told me twice a day and this was reiterated on a second opinion

2x 25mg

[Afib_girl]

flecainde worked for me but horrible side effects I gained 20 lbs in 3 months and I had zero energy to do anything…. Wasn’t worth it for me stopped taking it.

[Speed in reply to Afib_girl]

Flecainide has no perceptible impact on my energy levels and in fact, at 57, I’ve recently run a half marathon in a decent time, run 3 x a week and cycle twice. Were you taking beta blockers too as these previously had a severe impact on my energy levels and I certainly couldn’t do half what I do now that I’m just on the Flecainide.

[DebbiB28]

I'm currently trying to decide between pp or daily dose of 50mg. It's encouraging to see so many people being helped by this drug. However in my case it is for ectopics rather than af. Is anyone else in this situation please? Also is it a short-term fix as lots seem to want to come off it? Thanks.