flecinide &bisoprolol

[Prosecco1997]

hello does anyone take flecinide 50mg once per day , along with bisoprolol , I have missed my last three evening doses due to feeling unwell and dizzy and feeling sick around 6pm ish , I have been on 50mg flec & 2.5 bisop morning and Eve flecinide 50mg and1.25 bisop ,but after feeling unwell , I have not took my evening doses , just wondering if you can take 50 mg of flec once per day ?

[mjames1]

No rules. If it works, it works. If it doesn't it doesn't. I've also taken it once a day and for a period of time had success with 25 mg (split the pill) twice a day (bid).

Overall, I found it most effective at 50 mg bid, but preferred the side effect profile at 25 mg bid.

I believe dose experimentation with a drug like flecainide is important to find the best combination of effectiveness and tolerability. Of course have your doctor on board.

Jim

[Prosecco1997 in reply to mjames1]

Thankyou been on both pills for 13 yrs , but now finding I’m getting side effects , just worried to change what I’m doing , they did say I can do pill in pocket , but I would be to anxious to do that

[mjames1 in reply to Prosecco1997]

I don't know your history, but if your doctor it's OK with PIP Flecainide, I might give it a try. Especially now since you are getting more side effects from the daily dose.

Jim

[AAJJTt in reply to Prosecco1997]

Hi, I am currently titrating Flecainide in monthly increments. I have been on it for 5 years - 150mg a day; currently at 4 years with no episodes. So far, so good, now down to 100mg, I have slightly extended the time period until I return from a holiday. On my return, i will drop to 50mg and then zero.

After that control will be via PiP - doses of 100mg Flecainide and 2.5mg Bisoprolol - if needed.

I can understand your trepidation, I’ve no desire to have more episodes either; forgot about them in many ways. However, I discussed it with my cardiologist and in my case, we both agree it’s now time to see if I can maintain NSR without it.

I always discuss any alteration to my medication with my doctors first.

[BobD Volunteer]

WE must not advise on such matters which MUST be done in consult with your doctor.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to BobD]

Ok thankyou

[Duckey]

I was on that same dose but started having a low heart rate. I went off the bisprolol and now just take flecanide every 12 hours. If I have afib episode then take bisprolol! So far I feel so much better.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Duckey]

Hello , I was told you have to take a beta blocker with flecinide ? Don’t know if that is the same for everyone, I’m trying everything, just to feel better , I find when I walk then slow down or stop sometimes I feel unwell ?

[Auriculaire in reply to Prosecco1997]

Yes you should probably take the beta blocker (though some here don't) to help stop any pro arrythmic side effect of Flecainide but I would query how much you have to take of the Bisoprolol. Are you sure it is not that which is making you feel unwell? Speak to your doctor about titrating it down to the minimum dose needed alongside Flecainide.

[Bagrat]

Your doctor is the only person who can tell you if it's reasonable in your situation to take flecainide without another med to steady the heart, often a beta blocker. I don't but that DOES NOT mean it's ok for you. Take advice from a medical professional when it comes to pills and potions. Do not rely on us, we only know our situation. Gather information by all means, but take your anecdotal knowledge to your doctor

[Vonnegut in reply to Bagrat]

An EP cardiologist is the one to consult. They are experts in the electrical functioning of the heart and ordinary doctors aren’t! My surgery couldn’t come up with anything after the lowest dose of Bisoprolol brought my heart rate down dangerously low!! An EP we saw privately prescribed Flecainide which works for me so I don’t take the anticoagulants any more as I am no longer at risk of stroke from AF and still here at over 80.

[Bagrat in reply to Vonnegut]

Can I ask why your EP thinks you are no longer at risk of stroke? Have you had interventions as well as flecainide?

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Bagrat]

I’ve had 2ablations , been ok for yrs , so think that’s why I don’t have blood thinners , just feel so ill on medication now never used to bother me

[Bagrat in reply to Prosecco1997]

I do think we get more sensitive to meds as we get older. I now go dizzy with even one cocodamol low dose!!

[Vonnegut in reply to Bagrat]

He told me that you were only at risk of stroke if you had an episode of AF with a high heart rate for a long time like around 12 hours I think and and as I wrote, I have not had an episode for well over a year now and never had such lengthy episodes. The first anticoagulant I was given gave me appalling diarhea (sorry can never get the spelling right) and the next few caused constipation so, as I haven’t had an episode for over a year I am not at risk of stroke (and that last one was stopped in a few hours). I could always tell when my heart went crazy and could check with my Kardia which the EP also introduced me to along with a smart phone which I didn’t have previously and which has become a great companion. I only saw him once and having seen from this site how “interventions” are fairly invasive and often unsuccessful, I decided against it. At 80, I have already outlived both my parents and am not aiming at a century!!

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Vonnegut]

I’m glad you are doing well , gives me a positive feeling a bit more , it’s just so worrying when things change , but I think I have let everything get on top of me , as I can’t go anywhere without feeling ill , realy down at the moment , Thankyou for your reply

[Vonnegut in reply to Prosecco1997]

I wouldn’t say I am “doing well” but still alive and able to manage with my husband’s help, as I got chronic fatigue at the same time as the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after the shingles virus when the pain came before the rash and I wasn’t able to get an antiviral!

[Bagrat in reply to Vonnegut]

Interesting I haven't had an episode like that since 2013 and still on anticoagulants and regular flecainide

[Vonnegut in reply to Bagrat]

But if your AF is controlled and you aren’t having any episodes you don’t need anticoagulants!

[Bagrat in reply to Vonnegut]

Not everyone agrees with that, I don't think. I know research changes all the time though

[Vonnegut in reply to Bagrat]

Guess the drug companies like people to take their drugs and they encourage doctors to prescribe them!

[Mcopt]

I discussed this with my consultant about 6 months ago .Currently on 100mg Flecainide bd and I want to get to pip so far no AF for 18 months 🫰I haven't started the change yet due to stressful life events but hopefully in a couple of months I will reduce to 50mg bd for a couple of weeks then if all ok go to pip for which he has given instructions. I am also working on weight loss and getting back to a healthier lifestyle. I also take bisoprolol 1.25mg once a day.Hope this helps but please take medical advice before changing dosage etc.

[Prosecco1997]

Thankyou , it’s just all to much sometimes, to know what to do for the best

[Bee-Honest]

I'm on 250mg of Flecainide daily and 2.5mg of Bisoprolol. But only after chat with Cardiologist. Side effects wear off after a while.Turned down an offer of Ablation. Hope you are on blood thinners. Stay well.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Bee-Honest]

Hello been on them 13 yrs ? No they took me of blood thinners said not a risk ? I was on them yrs ago , had 2 ablations , just these meds to controll but they couldn’t ablait , been ok for yrs but just a few blips and blops

[Buffafly]

What happens after 6pm? Does the feeling pass? Do you eat anything? I usually feel sick all of a sudden at about 7pm but then it passes off and I feel hungry so I guess to do with my stomach being empty, same during the night. You have posted a number of times about this but I think that by having a ‘bee in your bonnet’ about the meds which you’ve taken with no problem for 13 years you are preventing your GP finding out what the real problem is. It may be that you have a stomach problem which is making it sensitive to the meds, maybe try eating a couple of biscuits before the feeling is due to come on?

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Buffafly]

I feel weak in legs heavy headed , can’t lay down due to dizzyness , I’m taking bisop 2.5 9am flec50 10.am , yesterday I felt my blood pressure rise high around 6 and felt shivery and unwell , it had been normal all day

[Buffafly in reply to Prosecco1997]

Yes, but when did the feelings go?

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Buffafly]

They usualy disappear about 9pm

[Buffafly in reply to Prosecco1997]

And when you were taking the medication in the evening as well did you feel the same for three hours in the morning?

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Buffafly]

No I feel ok in the morning

[Buffafly in reply to Prosecco1997]

So I’m thinking if it’s the meds it should always do it?

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Buffafly]

This morning I feel awful as I took 1.25 last night in bisop , I had stopped doing that for a few days , along with flecinde , I can feel the difference this morning , perhaps I only need 2.5 daily now with one flec

[Vonnegut]

How different we all are! I couldn’t take the lowest dose of Bisoprolol (1.25) daily but now I take 100mg of Flecainide twice daily I haven’t had an episode for well over a year now and that last one must have arrived when I was infected with covid (with no other symptoms but a positive test) when an extra Flecainide put an end to it in a couple of hours. On one occasion when I forgot my morning pill and an episode occurred, taking the pill then ended it. I always take my evening pill before snuggling down to sleep and since taking it then I have never been woken up by my heart going crazy as happened before I was introduced to Flecainide by an EP I saw privately. Hope you find what works for you.

[Stodds]

I think flecainide is usually a 2 x daily, but bisoprolol 1 x ..?

I stopped bisoprolol as felt very tired, apathetic and dozy on it, and am doing a lot better on flecainide alone.

[Prosecco1997]

hello I have to take both , but felt awful today again , been going on for so long now Just want to feel better