coincidence or Flecanide

[mjm1971]

so

I had my 2nd ablation back in August and I stayed in NSR with Resting rate 53bpm for 6 weeks . Since then I have been in AF with resting rate 85bpm , after 3 day Holter they said I was permanent AF now and I’m waiting for Ethanol injection .

3 weeks ago I decided to stop taking Flecanide as what’s the point as it clearly doesn’t work .

I’m still on 5mg of bisop per day .

Then 3 days ago I go back into NSR with resting rate 53bpm .

This is only only 6 months after ablation but also only 3 weeks after stopping flecanide .

coincidence or was flec making me worse all along ???

[Spoiler]

there was a long time flecainide helped me tremendously, then we had to change dosage back and forth. The higher dose made me worse, about 2 -3 hours after taking it I would get runs of atrial flutter/fib unpredictable length of time, 30 min/2/4 hours? I took it over a period of 5 years with varying doses from 50-150 twice daily. I am no longer taking it, it stopped working. I have been in afib since 9/11 of last year, using rate control until we decide the next step. I have had one ablation and am high risk as I had complications and a lot of scarring inside the heart I was told. For me it was a great drug overall, but did have issues with dosage amounts. Tricky…

[KMRobbo]

Not medically trained, flecainide can be pro arrhythmic ( it gave me Atrial Flutter post successful PVI ablation) however suspect coincidence. But who cares if you are out of AFib!I also love the way you get told you are permanent, and then the AFib stops!

Best wishes that you stay in NSR!

[CDreamer]

My personal opinion - yes - for what that is worth. Any substance that has capacity to ‘cure’ also has the same capacity to ‘cause’.

Flecainide has known pro-Arrythmia affects.

Well I am so pleased you are back in NSR - don’t knock it - no AF and no toxins circulating your body - Win / Win.

[mjm1971 in reply to CDreamer]

I am happy to be in NSR although won’t hold my breath re how long it will last .

However I will be frustrated if it was the flec as looking back now over the 18 months I’ve been on it , I have clearly got progressively worse since being on it and now 3 weeks of being off it I’m in NSR .

No one ever even tried to adjust the dose or considered it might be the flec etc .

[CDreamer in reply to mjm1971]

I despair! I was told after ablation to stay on the Flec for 12 weeks and then titrate off both. In the end I had to stop both Biso & Flec cold Turkey & started to improve thereafter - heart wise at least.

Hope you get some answers.

[loobylou777]

I'm sorry you're having these issues. Could I ask what the Ethanol injection is for? Is it to help with the permanent af?

[Prince123456]

After suffering with Multifocal PVCs Flecainide gave me my life back worked a miracle for me it started working in the space of 24 Hours I’m so happy I was recommended by my wonderful EP because if the Flecainide didn’t work it was going to be an ablation which I didn’t really fancy.

[Poochmom]

my opinion is it definitely could be the Flec. I was prescribed Flec two years ago. From

The first time I took it it caused me a different arrhythmia don’t even know what it was. I stopped it and they went away. I used it then as a PIP and that worked famously. I had episodes every 5 days and Flec Stopped it within 2 hours. I had AFib RVR. 149-164 hr. I had a Wolf MiniMaze in Houston last June and haven’t had an episode since but Flec worked great as PIP when I needed it.

[Elizka]

I have been taking it for two months and don't seem to have any issues. But everyone is different.

[Hidden]

Hi,

See my reply post to Elizka ! So, my personal take is that Flec wasn't making it worse, it just wasn't doing anything ! The winner in my view is your Bisoprolol. My dose of Bisop is also 5mg.

TBH, my feeling (non scientific) is that Bisoprolol forces a heart to do what it naturally wants to do, i.e. beat steady and regular. There have been times when I've run out of my Bisoprolol or forgotten to take it and my heart has almost instantly surged away beating as fast as it can possibly do.

John

[Shcldavies]

No one can say without further tests, I can say that Flec did cause my condition to worsen requiring CV but many find Flec a life saver

[nikonBlue]

Hi, I stopped taking the Flecainide too as it was instigating episodes and after seeing my E.P. he suggested I stop. I was totally fine without it for about 8/9 months then bang! Back came the bag of worms and some so needed to get back on the flecainide. I am having a radio frequency ablation on the 14th March, terrified already and am more or less taking the Flecainide as a P.I.P. as and when I need to. Not sure what will happen re meds after the procedure though!

stay well

Blue

[FitnessGotFibbed]

I like flecainide as a preventative. But when I get afib I don't take it until I'm back to nsr.