Maybe returning to normal heart rhythm. But weak pulse?

[OscarN]

hi all. Welcome your advice. Been taking Flecainide since going into AF 4 days ago. Upped the dose with Cardio’s guidance from 2x50mg as a PIP (which didn’t work) to taking 100 twice a day. This afternoon (day 4) something shifted and it feels much more regular. I don’t want to speak too soon because although feels regular my pulse feels quite weak.

Has anyone had an experience of a weak pulse after returning to “normal” when the pulse is steady but feels harder to find vs previously. I’m sure my pulse was much easier to feel before! Could this be the Flecainide?

Welcome any guidance from this amazing community. You have really gotten me through these tough days. Thank you so much.

[Matthewbh]

Did you check your blood pressure? A weak pulse generally means low blood pressure

[OscarN in reply to Matthewbh]

I will do that. Thank you.

[OscarN in reply to OscarN]

Happy to say my pulse has strengthened during the day and my bad mood lifted. Most of all I’m still in NSR after taking 150mg flec yesterday morning after 3 days at 100mg twice a day. I had an MRI 3 hours later and I’m hoping I’d reverted by then because I felt very different by that time. I guess I know what my threshold is now. Thank you for your advice.

[secondtry]

I wouldn't worry too much unless of course you feel feint. I was put on 100mgs x2 Flec many years ago. It took 3 months to feel normal and then, maybe coincidentally, only after I started taking Magnesium and CoQ10.

Later I have had times of hard to find pulse, one in particular I recall which panicked me a bit, subsequently told if you feel OK otherwise, relax.

You could be on a winner as when my dose was upped to your level it has kept me out of AF for 10 yrs bar 2 under one hour episodes, one due to a common trigger.

[OscarN in reply to secondtry]

Thanks that’s very encouraging

[OscarN in reply to secondtry]

Happy to say my pulse has strengthened during the day and my bad mood lifted. Most of all I’m still in NSR after taking 150mg flec yesterday morning after 3 days at 100mg twice a day. I had an MRI 3 hours later and I’m hoping I’d reverted by then because I felt very different by that time. I guess I know what my threshold is now. Thank you for your advice.

[OscarN in reply to secondtry]

what is CoQ10?

[wilsond]

Yes,I have a hard to find pulse now and as a result of hypertension meds and 100 x 2 Flecanide a lower heart rate. I average 50 /55.Once you get used to it,it's fine and keeps AF at bay!

I'm hoping to come off Flec in the next few months but we will see.

( had an ablation as eventually it had stopped being effective, but after a breakthrough return of AF back on to retrain nsr)

Best regards

[OscarN in reply to wilsond]

Thank you. Much appreciated

[wilsond in reply to OscarN]

You're welcome. One thing I forgot to say I was told to take flecanide on an empty stomach so it gets into the system well. So I take mine when I wake up and when I go to bed.

[OscarN in reply to wilsond]

Yes definitely

[patience12]

Hi - I started flecainide 2x 50mg in July 2023. It stopped AF after 3 days. On seeing cardiologist he upped it to 2x 100mg per day saying the 50mg x2 was ‘sub therapeutic’. I wasn’t thrilled to be on an increased dose as I was staying in NSR on lower dose but listened to the expert ( the message being I could go into AF anytime I I really really don’t want that!). I’m not a fan of taking the drugs but I have to say so far 4 months in I’ve been fine on the flecainide and bisoprolol. (Touch wood). Check up at the end of this November to assess progress. I do remember one of the cardiologists saying that there’s a synergistic effect between flecainide and bisoprolol which overall calms and slows the heart?

Resting HR is 55 ish. It was before AF though. I do feel a more pronounced heart beat at night before sleeping but I think this is because I am listening to it more as head on pillow with ear pressed to pillow means it seems louder than getting in with stuff during the day. I now sometimes listen to an podcast to distract myself so I can fall asleep. Other than that I’m not conscious of HR unless running around. I was conscious of AF all the time and found it stressful. Hoping Flecainide continues to work 🤞 . Good luck with it.

[OscarN in reply to patience12]

Thank you. Good to hear it’s working for you.

[Hidden]

50mgs of Flecainide as a PiP seems awfully low. Most people on a daily dose are taking 50mgs x 2 or 100mgs x 2 even. As a PiP it's generally 200-300mgs....?

I take 200mgs as PiP and (touch wood) it's always stopped the AF in about an hour. I talked my cardiologist into giving me the Flec in 100mgs pills rather than the 200 mgs pills he wanted to give me because I always figure I'd rather try a lower dose first, but experience has showed that every time I start with only 100mgs I always end up having to take a second one an hour later because it hasn't worked, so I may as well just go straight to the 200mgs in the first place and have it stop sooner.

Glad to hear you're feeling better 🙂

[OscarN in reply to Hidden]

Fully agree with going straight to the threshold dose first up