Change of medication

[Koladog]

Had AF for years well controlled on Flecainide New arrhythmic developed so Must stop Flec & start Digoxin. Has anyone experience of this please. I take Bisoprolol which has been increased to 5mg am & pm. Am apprehensive as have been stable for a long time. Would appreciate help. Thanks ☺️

[etheral]

Digoxin in no way replaces Flecinide. It's certainly not new. Maybe there is some other reason your doc wants you off Flecinide. Ask him/her. etheral

[jeanjeannie50]

I had been taking flecainide for years, but often felt very tired when walking up hills. My cardiologist took one look at my ECG and said re flec - you need to stop that as it's not helping at all and could be causing problems.

I have a friend who takes Digoxin and thinks it marvellous as it's really helped her. It didn't help me when I took it many years ago, but we are all so different in physical make up and heart rhythms, so there's no way of saying if it will suit you until you try it.

Oh yes, I must say that since coming off flecainide I feel a lot more alive. Just take Bisoprolol at the moment 1 x 2.5mg morning and night.

Jean

[DawnTX in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I was put on digoxin in December. It worked fast to get my heart rate below 100. I actually had it down around 80 at one point but my body tends to reject everything. I had no issues with side effects, etc. and actually liked it.

[BobD Volunteer]

Flecainide can cause flutter which may well be why you have been taken off it. You say you have a new arrhythmia now?

We are not medically trained here nor have all you medical details so best to be proactive and ask you doctor as anything else is guesswork..

[Koladog]

I was just interested to hear if anyone had changed from Flecainide to digoxin & had any problems

I have been changed as Flecainide is thought to be responsible for this different arrhythmia

[DawnTX]

I was put on digoxin in December after my second cardioversion failed. Within days, I found a difference in my heart rate from the 122 around 80 which was great for me. Unfortunately my body has rejected everything tried. Within two weeks. It stopped working so my EP doubled it but then it stopped working again. We had already been making plans for a pacemaker. So a month ago. I had that done.

You mentioned being on a medication for quite a while and unfortunately, I think that is usually our problem with them. Our body gets used to them so they no longer work as they did. That is my opinion anyway. It is lousy because we finally find some thing that works and the side effects are not all that bad, and then it stops working. 😵‍💫😔

[Koladog]

Thank you everyone - will embrace this new part of AF journey & hope it helps me. I have a face to face appointment tomorrow but a pacemaker has been mentioned

This made worse as I’m not allowed to fly & I was due to fly next Tuesday & have a daughter in USA & I’m in UK. Not a good start to my 80th year

From stability to problem needs time for adjustment- we never know what AF has in store for us l

[DawnTX in reply to Koladog]

I just celebrated my first month with a pacemaker, and I do mean celebrate. The difference in how I feel overall is amazing. Nothing else worked any length of time for me, which is why we went with the pacemaker. I was against it in the beginning now I wish everyone had one because of the difference it can make without taking pills and having all kinds of procedures. Do not worry if your doctor suggests it. You will have some soreness nothing major that Tylenol cannot fix for the most part. The worst part is remembering about not using your left arm, lifting it up, etc. you will get instructions on that. I have no regrets and I am amazed at the things I can already do that. I could not do a month ago. Just remember you have to heal, just like anything else. I’ve had a couple of bumps in the road but oh my goodness to feel normal again overall is incredible. I also had my AV node done FYI.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Increasing Bisoprolol did not control my day H/Rate.

I went to a private heart specialist recommended by a Locum dr

who had experienced AF,. Her ablation in Aussie stopped her AF.

I was started on 1/2 dose of CCB Diltiazem 180mg. H/R fell 105 in 2 hours.

Reduced to 120mg AM and 2.5mg PM Bisoprolol.

Now controlled.

CCB brings down my Day H/R, some BP and helps change my Rhymn.

BB brings down BP mainly. Not enough control on my Day H/R. Helps rhymn.

Never had or presented with Flecinide. Enlarged heart chamber and no to ablation.

Take care, JOY

[Tapanac]

I have found flecainide my miracle pill snd have been on it since 2018

After reading so many notes on here about it being a black box/toxic drug and shouldn’t be given unless the heart is structurally sound as I have a hole in the heart which hasn’t healed caused through an ablation, all bleeding valves, dilated left atrium, pulmonary hypertension, etc, I asked both my EP and cardiologist about this and they both replied that it was only if a patient had coronary artery disease would they not prescribe it

Why such a high dose of bisoprolol? Do you have tachycardia and high BP?

So if you are doing well on your present medication personally I would be loathe to change however as I’m not a doctor this is just my personal opinion

All the best

[solarjdo69]

I'm with Jeanjeanie on this. It may help you. I was on Digoxin but felt it made my heart be too strong so I have discontinued it. Instead I take Hawthorne root which works like Digoxin. In fact if one is taking Digoxin may websites / Dr. suggest you wathc how much Digoxin you take as it enhances it's effects. With the Hawthorne root you can adjust more easily what works for your bdy AND it's all natural.