Flecainide (again)

[Afibtastic]

Very interesting post by FraserB earlier. My problem is the opposite. Cardiologist raised my dose to 100mg x2 per day after being on 50mg x2 per day for a year and a half. After the third dose of the 100mg 2 hours before bed I felt terrible. The 2nd dose in morning I felt good with no reaction. Was worried about falling asleep and not waking up. Elevated heart rate and stronger beats. Not pounding heart but more energetic. This morning chest feels a bit tight. Wondering if 75mg x2 might be OK. Has anybody else had this experience? I seem to react to most medications eg 1.25 Bisoprolol OK. 2.5mg bad reaction. Will email my cardiologist and see she says. Background ... Afib approximately 30% of the time lasting one day to three. Was hoping to reduce this but not too confident about ablation. cheers

[mjames1]

I also didn't feel well when my dose was increased from 50 mg 2x/day (bid) to 100 mg bid.

My electrophysiologist did an EKG and then then reduced the dose back down to 50 bid. After a few weeks that held me pretty well and I was even able to get down to 25 BID for a while. Eventually, I decided on an ablation.

At least in the United States the protocol is to take an EKG after every dose increase just to make sure the Heart is tolerating it.

I also did better on Diltiazem versus bisoprolol.

Jim

[Thomas45]

There is no standard human body. I started at 50mg x 2 a day, and over the next 18 months the dose was increased to 150mg X2 a day, reducing episodes to 2 or 2 ten-minute episodes a year.I didn't take a beta blocker as I also am asthmatic.

After 12 years on Flecainide I was found to be in persistent, though asymptomatic, AF, which is now in its 7th or 8th year. There was no defining moment when I went from paroxysmal to persistent. I can only narrow it down to sometime between annual specialist appointments. Flecainide was stopped. Diltiazem was offered, but after consulting other medics I decided it was not for me. I take an anticoagulant, Warfarin, and that is all I take for AF . On other medication for asthma.

[Afbiff]

I became dizzy and disorientated when my Flecainide dose was increased from 2x50mg to 2x100 mg per day. I now take 100mg in the morning and 50mg at night and that works for me. My GP suggested this as I had more episodes during the day than at night.

[Afibtastic in reply to Afbiff]

I was thinking of this as well. Will go back to 50mg for a few days and then try your way. Cheers

[mobradley]

Be careful. The same happenned to me when my dose was increased and I was rushed into hospital. My EP said to report any side affects immediately which I did. The EP in the hospital said many people cannot tolerate high doses and he took me off it immediately. Reduce your intake and ask the EP again to re-assess.

[Afibtastic in reply to mobradley]

Interesting. Thanks

[Bni29]

hello there, I started taking Bisoprolol 5 mg in 2017. Of course the side effect are tiredness and weight gain but it controls my tachycardia. Then in 2019 my doctor added a 2.5 mg in the evening. This seems to regulate my blood pressure and keep it stabil. One has to take into account that certain medications don’t go too well together. For example, if taking antibiotics. Or even antihistamines! I have a fructose and histamine intolerance which makes it important to watch my diet and the types of medication I can take. If not careful then I have an AF episode and have been instructed to add an additional 1.5 mg in that case.

The range of pulse would then be between 45 and 125 bpm. I used to be frighted a lot before but now I simply up my water intake and rest for an hour. Seems to help stabilise it.