A month ftom my cryo-ablation i csn stop flecainide a nebivolol. I know the powers that be will say yes, no need to gradually reduce etc etc.
However, does anyone have any experiences or advice about to stopping these two medications? Is it ok to just stop or do I gradually reduce?
I am feeling good so far after Monday’s op, and am also taking it slow, resting, letting others look after me.
Hi, I can tell you of my experience of reducing Flecainide; it’s an ongoing saga.
I had a heart attack 5 years ago caused by Paroxysmal Afib (that was the conclusion). Since then I have been very stable on medication, with no episodes of Afib for nearly 4 years. At the beginning of the year following another 12 months of stability and maintaining high exercise tolerance, it was decided on review that I could start to titrate the Flecainide and see if I can maintain NSR without it; I do have a PiP plan as backup.
I was instructed to do it gradually. Reduce from 150mg a day (50-am, 100-pm) to:
1) 50-am, 50-pm - for one month
2) 50-pm - for one month
3) Then zero.
Generally speaking, i think it is logical to reduce over a period of time but it all instances I will discuss with my cardiologist and follow his instructions.
It’s not going quite to plan though. I was fine on 50/50 and extended it to 2 months due to some foreign holidays. I didn’t fancy relying on an untested PiP plan in a remote location.
On my return, last week, I dropped to step 2). This coincided with a clinical follow up appointment later in the week. I was fine all week, however while my ECG was being done my heart was like a ‘rock in a tumble dryer’ - not Afib but PVCs my arch- nemesis.
The result is I am back on 50/50 for 3 months to see how it goes.
Not entirely sure where this came from, probably a combination of sleep deprivation (travel), back to work, over exercising and “cardiac anxiety/white coat syndrome” - I am my own worst enemy sometimes; thought I had a grip of that. Time for some more work on me, I think. I got home an hour later, checked on my Kardiamobile- normal trace - NSR - 60 bpm.
Apart from following your Doctor’s guidance, I would try to relax and not over think it, something I struggle to do sometimes.
Hope your ablation works out for you.
I am on 50mg twice a day of flecainide, looking forward to stopping it
I took Flecainide for 12 years, the last 10 of them at 300mg a day. When I was found to be in persistent though asymptomatic AF, I was told to stop taking them. I thought something catastrophic might happen if I just stopped and sought a 2nd opinion from a GP who has specialist knowledge of AF. He confirmed that I should just stop. I didn't take any more after seeing him, and nothing untoward happened.
I was only on a beta blocker for 11 weeks, before I started with painful urticaria.
I was on 2.5mg a day. I was told to take the remaining tablets I had at ,2.5mg, ( about a week's worth), then to take none for 4 weeks, followed by 1.25mg for 4 weeks, and then no more.
During the time I was weaning off the deya blocker I suffered sudden onset of asthma and chest pains
By sudden, it took about five minutes from breathing normally to getting chest pain and fighting for breath. Fortunately I was in a pharmacy at the time. An ambulance was called and I spent 3 days in hospital.
The urticaria was treated by the GP with Ceterizine, which I continued to take for 5 years before I was rid of urticaria.
I’m not on those drugs, but I’ve been told to stop my Sotalol now. It’s 6 months since my ablation. I am doing it very slowly. I was on 80 mg twice daily and I stopped 20 mg in the morning for 2 weeks, then did that with the evening dose etc. I am now on 40 mg and just plucking up the courage to reduce it further and then stop it. I have been on it for years, so am nervous about stopping it completely. I think the best way to do it, is slowly, so your body gradually gets used to it. Good luck stopping your medication. It will be so much better not being on these drugs.
I will reduce slowly, probably one at a time. I may have a chat with the pharmacist first. I will still need to take the anticoagulant as I had a TiA ages before I was diagnosed with AF. 😊
I have to stay on my anticoagulant, as well, as I score 2 on the CHADSVASc chart.
After ablation I just stopped flecainide with no problems. Never been on nebivolol so can't say but I would follow the advice of your cardio team whether to stop this drug or wean off. They know which drugs cause problems. Its scary but trust what they say.
When I was in bisoprolol, I was told I could stop it without weaning myself off - that was a mistake for me, personally. I had to start taking it again and gradually reduce.
I feel quite good on the flecainide, but my episodes were too frequent, and given my age along with that, my cardiologist advised I was a good candidate for an ablation. 😊 the flecainide helps with thespian from fibromyalgia, so am not sure what will happen with that when I stop it. 🤪
Stopping Sotalol suddenly
Stopping meds
stopping Amiodrone 
Coming off meds advice please
Stopping Bisoprolol
