Starting on Flecainide

[GordonNZ]

Hi guys

I have been put on Flecainide 100mg once a day and to go to twice a day as soon as I can handle it. The 100mg already makes me very dizzy and scared that 200mg is going to be real bad. How has it affected you?

Secondly, it seems that when I do some cardio a feel bad quickly, is this so or just me? I am 47

Thank you

[mjames1]

I assume we are talking about Flecainide tabs, not capsules?

If so, who prescribed it like this? Was it a GP or a cardiologist or electrophysiologist (ep)?

When you get to flecainide, best to see an ep. Flecainide is fast and short acting so a starter dose might be 50mg, every 12 hours. Never heard of starting at 100mg as a single dose. The way they prescribed it, you may have too much in your system at one time and not enough at another time.

And having too much in your system, may be why you're feel badly doing cardio. That happened to me as well. And if they gave you other new drugs with it, like bisoprolol or diltiazem, that could also affect how you feel.

No medical training, but my suggestion is to lay off, or really tone down the cardio, until you get the flecainide situation straighten out. It may be you just need to get used to it, or it just might be too high a dose. When I felt badly exercising on Flecainide, my ep put me on a treadmill and did an ekg and then lowered the dose.

I also wouldn't rush to increase the dose, until you've adjusted to the lower dose. Also, protocol is to do an ekg after every dose increase to make sure your heart can handle it.

Jim

[GordonNZ in reply to mjames1]

Thanks, it is capsules and it was a cardiologist.

[mjames1 in reply to GordonNZ]

Not familiar with capsule dosing. Most take the tablets. If it's not working out, maybe see an electrophysiologist (ep).

[KiwiBlake]

Kia ora Gogo

I hace been 100mg Flecainide controlled release capsule for the past 2 years. I can't say I've had any side effects, no dizzy spells. I had a cryo ablation at Waikato hospital last September. I do a physical job, farming, and the Flecainide (and 120 Diltiazem) hasn't slowed me down at all (51 year old male).

I'm still on the daily meds. Under advice I tried weaning off the Flec but had a couple of break throughs AF episodes lasting a couple of hours. I may need a touch up ablation, time will tell.

Re your dizzy spells, whats your blood pressure, is it a bit on the low side since going on the meds? The only thing I noticed is the Flec slows my heart beat to approx 60 bpm.

Cheers Blake

[GordonNZ in reply to KiwiBlake]

Thank you Blake. Nice to chat to another NZ

[Cadelvento]

For me it was dizziness, tachycardia and tremors and it was a smaller dose just once a day. I quit

[Dippy22]

For me I became grossly dehydrated virtually from day one. I was only on 50mg twice a day. Was advised to take a further 100mg as a ‘pill in pocket’ approach when in AFib, but had horrific double vision and lightheadedness!

Suffice to say the Doc took me straight off it. 😟

[Elizka]

I do 50mg twice day of Flecainide and don't push it during cardio. The goal for me is to get off the drug after my ablation this month. I don't notice any difference, but I was told by doctor not to get to a training heart rate.

[GordonNZ in reply to Elizka]

Thank you,

[Afib_girl]

I could not handle Flecainde at all.. I went from running 3 miles no problem to barely being able to run a few mins. Also gained 30lbs in a short time.. sad I had so many bad side effects bc only drug that worked for me

[GordonNZ in reply to Afib_girl]

O wow. Hoping I will adjust

[Daisy2908]

I took 50mg flecainide (tablets not capsules) twice a day for over a year with no issues. I do a very high amount of cardio with no issues while taking it. Agree with some of the other comments on here that you should go back to your cardiologist and let them know you are experiencing some issues with current dose. Hope you get it sorted out.

[Singwell]

Am also not familiar with the capsules. Dizziness and nausea nor uncommon whilst uploading Flecainide though. Maybe adjusting time of day would help? I'm.guessing these are slow release and therefore take with food.

[Thomas45]

I started on 50mg x 2 a day and subsequently my dose increased to 150mg x , 2 a day. I had no side effects.

[Mcopt]

Hi I have been on it 100mg 2x day since early November it stopped my afib in 3 days and so far so good my ED is keeping me on it for another 6 months then will try it as a pill in the pocket. Can't say I had any issues adapting to it I go to the gym but a bit calmer now as I am nearly 68 and walk a lot I do take bisoprolol with it and I know a lot of people do need to ask if you should be taking that as well perhaps.

[GordonNZ in reply to Mcopt]

Thanks for the response. I was on Bisoprolol but the cardiologist took me off.

[secondtry]

I have taken 200mgs Flec in tablet form per day for 9+ yrs. I remember the first 4 months I felt pretty weird but all was new so I just pushed on including seeing a London Naturopath who put his patients on just a Magnesium compound and Co Q10; so I doubled down and took that as well.Including other lifestyle changes, it has all worked remarkably well.

[MeganMN in reply to secondtry]

I am taking 100mg once daily for Atrial Tachycardia and wondered about the Heart Calm. I bought some but wasnt sure if it was okay to take with the Flecainide. Sounds like it is.

[secondtry in reply to MeganMN]

I treat supplements similar to medicines and I would always start with half the recommended dose and go from there. Heartcalm looks very similar to the Mg compound I take nutriadvanced.co.uk/megamag...

[bassets]

I was put up from 50mg to 100mg twice a day after an attack and made to drop dilimiazem too I was feeling really unwell for a month after that. When I went back to dilitiazem and just 50 mg of flecainide I found I could tolerate it much better and I am still on this dose now.

[Tapanac]

normally EPs start flecainide at 50mgs night and morning

I’ve found it a miracle drug

Good luck

[GordonNZ in reply to Tapanac]

Thank you

[1xrower]

Hi! good luck. I was on Flec for about 4 years. No real side effects, and I do cardio, high intensity, and found that flecanide kind of 'dulled' my heart's ability to respond to higher stresses. HR didn't respond like it should (or used to), and took forever to reach higher heart rates. But better than having AF. Finally had an ablation, and six months later feel like I have a new heart. Amen.

[GordonNZ in reply to 1xrower]

Glad you are feeling better. Thanks for the response.

[Brandue]

I am on Flecainide 125 mg a day. 50 mg tabs. It was making me very dizzy so, I cut the tablets in half and dose it at 25 mg 5 times a day with no side effects. A bit of a pain to take like this, but it works for me. Taking 50 mg at once will make me very lightheaded and kinda numb feeling. Also try Heart Calm. You can get it on Amazon. This helps a lot. I am Proximal afib.

[Smileyian]

I take twice a day now. However I also progressed to a higher mg but after a month all is fine. No great side effects.

[GordonNZ in reply to Smileyian]

Thanks. So it can take up to a month to work?