Flecainide stopped working

[Koladog]

I have been on Flecainide for years & my AF well controlled. Now it has started to cause other arrhythmias so I have to stop it This happened a few years ago & as soon as it was stopped my AF occurred regularly & made me feel very unwell I was able then to restart it but this time it’s not possible I am having AF at least every other day so it’s been suggested that I have a pacemaker & av node ablation I am a soon to be 80 year old female who was very active travelling a lot as our daughter lives in the US

So would like some help from those of you who have taken this path- your experiences & how it’s affected your life At present am now taking Digoxin 0.250 Bisoprolol 10mg & Apixiban - the digoxin is obviously not helping like Flecainide

I must also add that at the same time I have had iron deficiency anaemia which no cause has been found & now a liver function test which is above normal Dedpite this if I am in sinus rhythm I am still active & want to remain so

Thanks for reading

[Paulbounce]

Hi Kola.

I had the same problem with Flec. My cardio put me on Sotopol and I am now in sinus - I suggest you discuss Sotopal with your medic.

Paul

[Koladog in reply to Paulbounce]

I think you mean Sotalol - I started on that but didn’t respond well - Flec was a wonder drug for me. Also I believe it’s not approved by NICE in UK

[Paulbounce in reply to Koladog]

Yes I did mean Sotalol not Sotolol - typo. It is now approved by NICE but wasn't a few years ago.

Paul

[Millbrook]

Hi Kola,

My husband had afib for 2 years and it was well managed by flecanide and concor. Then last year started to get abit erratic and was started on xeralto an anticoagulant .

January this year started to have atrial flutter and flecanide did not help anymore or maybe it made the flutter worse. Moved to digoxin to try and lower heart rate then to concor again while awaiting pulse field ablation.

Just had ablation 3 weeks ago to fix flutter and afib.

All is well. So relieved.

[mjames1]

Did they give you a reason for ablating the av node with a pacemaker? From your history, sounds like you would be a good candidate for a regular afib ablation, which would not require a pacemaker and would keep the av node intact. But maybe I'm missing something?

Jim

[Bidart17 in reply to mjames1]

I guess maybe it’s my age & that off Flecainide AF makes my life a misery - I am close to 80 & there’s no reason ablation would work first time. Pacemaker & av node all about quality of life I feel

[mjames1 in reply to Bidart17]

I am close to your age and having a Cryo ablation in a few weeks. People have ablations well into their 80's. I would ask why you are not being offered one and seek a second opinion if it's just about age. PS My life off Flecainide is also miserable and that's why I'm having an ablation.

Jim