hey all,
been on flecanide for about 18 months now, all nice and steady, no real issues.
The cardiologist has decided I also need to take Diltiazem and prevent any other arrhythmia caused by prolonged flecanide use.
Now I read that the Diltiazem has its own possible side effects just like the Flecanide did, and my anxiety is all building up again!
does anyone else have experience of taking flecanide and Diltiazem together at all?
I took Propafenone, same class as Flecainide. At first on its own and then diltiazem was added after I had a bad episode of flutter to prevent that happening again. Your cardiologist is right and is protecting you from something unpleasant and dangerous. I have only the most minor problems with diltiazem and many others say the same.
It’s a perfectly normal precaution to prescribe a calcium antagonist like Diltiazem or a beta blocker like Bisoprolol with Flecainide, to avoid other arrhythmic effects than AF. If the Diltiazem should have bothersome side effects, -which I do not expect- there are many other meds that have a comparable effect. So… not to worry!
I always understood that Ca++ antagonist drugs like diltiazem were rather safe, like beta-blockers? I am soon to go onto flecainide, too, if tests are okay.
Steve
It is usually essential to take some kind of betablocker when on daily maintainable dose, as Atrial Flutter( a type of regular extremely fast arrhythmia) is likely to be provoked.I can verify that as I was put on daily flecanide ( 200mg a day) without betablocker,within a week was blue lighted in with AFlutter.
Very scary and worse for me than AFib.
Diltiazem or bisoprolol ,usually quite a low dose is required.
Ps don't read the leaflets, we'd never take anything if we did!
Hi
Um.
Whilst Bisoprolol is a Beta Blocker BB. Diltiazem is a Calcium Channel Blocker CBB!
I take these two. The NZ Heart Foundation Nurse asked me to separate them so CCB AM and BB PM. See above my doses.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
Hope the cardiologist is an EP, the guys who specialise in electrical problems in the heart, rather than one who tends to tick boxes not realising we are all different. Flecainide has worked very well at preventing episodes of AF for me and the possible side effects aren’t too bad though I’d rather not have them!!
Hi
I can't take flec.... or have an ablation.
BBs did not control my rapid AF and persistent.
It was a private heart specialist who introduced CCB Diltiazem. Started on 180mg TOO MUCH.
Tweaked to 120mg Diltiazem AM for control H/Rate
2.5mg Bisoprolol PM for control BP.
I would separate them as Diltiazem has an anti-arryhmnic effect.
You may be able to drop the flec....
No side effects. Only have ankle swelling on very hot days travelling long periods. I raise them at night. I would have this happen anyway.
Start Diltiazen slowly. I had a drastic drop from 156 on bisoprolol 5mg to 51 on 180mg in 2 hours.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
I have taken 180 mg Diltiazem for about 1 year. I don't get any side affects that I notice.
I do think I had 30-60 days of adjustment when I first took it, I think the lowered HR made me feel uncomfortable, for a brief time I thought about reducing the dosage. But now I like where I am at, maybe it relaxes me to some degree?
My Resting is between 55-65. And at night I am between 43-60.
"Flecainide, a class IC antiarrhythmic agent, can be used to convert atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm or to maintain sinus rhythm in patients with AF who have no structural heart disease. Because flecainide can cause atrial flutter with rapid conduction, combined therapy with a β-blocker, verapamil, or diltiazem is recommended to maintain rate control when AF recurs."
We're all different so I wouldn't rely heavily on the experience of others to determine whether diltiazem will cause any problems for you.
AF medications are generally tailored to your specific circumstances i.e. other health conditions, their efficacy and how well tolerated (side effects, if any). If diltiazem does cause problems there are several other rate control drugs you might be able to use instead.
You should also note there are members who take Flecainide without a rate control drug - probably because they can't tolerate any of the rate control drugs. You might want to seek their input if taking rate control drug is an issue for you.
Yes I did for the first 12 mths then everything seemed to settle down.That was my experience now the Cardiologist has taken me off the Flecainide and I’m only on a rate control tablet.
I take both as I had an awful time on just Flecainide. I don't have any problems with dilitiazem apart from being a bit wearier at times. Hope this helps.
I would ask if all stable why this is now recommended and why not at the start. Depending on the answers I would seek a second opinion.
More frequent palpatations
No more appointments 
Drugs
Drugs
Change of drugs
