Flecanide

[Jctga]

I get out of breath easily on exercising, even lightly. I have suspected carvedilol and/or Flecanide as the cause. Fatigue and shortness of breath seem to be getting worse so I’m changing from carvedilol to propranolol which I’ve taken in the past with no problem. Any suggestions for an alternative to Flecanide? I’ve reduced dosage to 25 mg a.m./50 mg p.m. but no change. I’m getting desperate to feel better as I feel so limited on activities and exercise. Changing cardiologist in late October since current one is disinterested and unavailable.

[BobD Volunteer]

Propafanone is a similar anti arrhythmic drug to flecainide but has its own beta blocking facility so doesn't need a beta blocker alongside.

[Jctga in reply to BobD]

thanks so much. I’ll ask about that.

[mjames1]

You are going about this correctly. Sometime you have to play Sherlock Holmes to figure out what is causing what symptom. Changing beta blockers is a good start. You could also try a different class of drug such as Diltiazem, which serves a similar function to a beta blocker, but many of us tolerate it better.

If that doesn't work, you can try 25/25 with the Flecinide and see if that helps. It worked pretty well for me. At that low dose, your ep might even let you off the beta blocker completely. In any event, you should have an ekg anytime you experience these types of symptons on Flecainide. It is a drug that needs ekg monitoring.

Lastly, you can try another anti-arrythmic. If you still have shortness of breath (SOB), then you may need a full workup. It could be anything from COPD to GERD to low Hgb or Ferritin, to heart failure or even long Covid. I also have had some shortness of breath, but stopping Flecainide hasn't helped. Still trying to figure it out.

Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

Jim

[Jctga in reply to mjames1]

thanks so much for your reply. You gave me more options to try.

[kitenski in reply to mjames1]

Jim - seems a real shame that the UK isn't monitoring flec usage with regular ECGs, wonder if it would have caught the fact it was making me worse?

[etheral]

Ask your cardiologist about Tikosyn. Haven't had an Afib episode since started on it five years ago. No side effects. Well worth the 3 days you have to spend in the hospital so they can monitor your heart when it is started.

[Jctga in reply to etheral]

thanks. That’s one I’ve never heard of. I’ll ask.

[Dodie117]

my doctor has put me on 1.25 nebivolol as bisoprolol made me breathless when walking. So far seems fine.

He said often given to asthmatics as doesn’t impact the lungs.

[Jctga in reply to Dodie117]

thanks for the reply.

[kitenski]

I recently stopped flecainide for the same getting out of breath/feeling dizzy reason and feel loads better! I've kept on bisoprolol and awaiting an appointment with cardiologist on 1st August lots of info here - healthunlocked.com/afassoci...