Stopping Flecainide

[Debjimmay]

Is it ok to stop taking Flecainide suddenly or do you have to taper off of it gradually? I’ve been on 50mg twice a day for 35 days. It’s not helping at all. In fact it’s making it worse. I’m thinking some people take it as a PIP so they go on and off Flecainide when needed. It’s a long weekend so I can’t call the doctor until Momday.

[DrBook]

Hi, Debjimmay, I'm considering taking Flecainide so I can't address your concern directly but I recall other forum members asking a similar question previously. If you enter "stopping flecainide" in the search box at the top of the page you can read those previous posts which I'm sure will be helpful. I'm sure others will also speak to your question here.

Brian

[Debjimmay in reply to DrBook]

Brian, thank you! I didn’t realize you could search like that. 😊

[DrBook in reply to Debjimmay]

I'm glad I could help!

Brian

[mjames1]

My ep told me I could stop it right away. Some suggest a taper. I think the taper is more to keep people in rhythm then a concern about withdrawal. But your case, it's not working at all.

Have you talked to your doctor about increasing the dose? Many people require more than 50 mg twice a day.

Jim

[Debjimmay in reply to mjames1]

I started out taking 100 mg of Flecainide twice a day but was having side effects like dizziness, blurred vision, and It seems the Afib and palpitations were worse. The doctor cut me back to 50 mg twice a day and there was still no help with Afib or palpitations so put me back on 100 mg. Still no relief from Afib or palpitations so he put me back on 50 mg. Didn’t help at all so I stopped taking 2 days ago. I will call the doctor today and let him know.

[Jonathan_C]

I can't remember what dose I used to take, but when i stopped taking it i didn't taper, just went cold turkey (with no problems)

[Morzine]

my cardio did me from 100 to then 50 to thrn nothing

[OzJames]

you need to check with your cardiologist but I have gone off it a couple of times first time after 6 weeks then second time after a month. No problems though I tapered off both times over a 10 day period the doctor suggested I could stop immediately on that dose. I still went down to 25mg twice a day after a few days 25mg at night for a few days then halved it for a day then went alternate days for 2 days and stopped

[CDreamer in reply to OzJames]

My understanding of tapering off is useful WHEN Flecainide is prescribed following treatment such as CV & Ablation or if you haven’t had an episode for some time and want to test to see if you can maintain NSR without help. It just doesn’t make sense to me to continue to take a drug if it isn’t helping and possibly harming.

[Thomas45]

I was told to just stop. I sought a 2nd opinion from a knowledgeable GP and they said just stop. So I didn't take any more. I was on 300mg a day for 10 years and just stopped as I was found to be in asymptomatic AF.

[CDreamer]

I had to stop suddenly, because it wasn’t helping and making things worse. No problems. It is a very toxic drug and it will take a 24-48 hours to completely clear your system.

[Peacockmumma]

I would say no..never stop medication without referral to your dr. I know when I started flecainide i didn’t notice the difference ..they upped it to 100 and it was better but the clincher appears, may be a fluke, was taking BP meds..hardly have episodes now ? Who knows.. but if it was me..I wouldn’t stop..make an appt to see/speak to the dr

[30912]

I was asked to stop it by my cardiologist as it was making no difference to my episodes. No weening off it, just stopped taking it. No side effects.

[Obis891]

Just fine to stop it without tapering off.

[Stodds]

I had a cardio consult recently and it was suggested I stopped the flacainide.. no taper, just stop.

That was 3 weeks ago.

So, still alive.. no apparent effect on persistent af.

[Tapanac]

I was told as I now have persistent afib to stop flecainide as no point in taking in medication if not working any more. Like you I didn’t know whether to wean off or stop suddenly. I got on to GP snd he said just stop. I still wasn’t sure so tried to get on to EP and/or Secretary but no answer so got back on to another of our GP who has the same problem snd medication as me and he said he has just stopped snd no problems. So I presume just stop.

[SuziElley]

Talk to your doctor before stopping. Tell them your concerns and ask for their help and advice.

[Sozo]

I was put on flecainide before I had an ablation and for me it was a terrible experience. I finally called the doctor and he said it was fine to just stop and no need to tapper.

[Bingofox007]

my cardiologist told me to just stop it but keep as pill in pocket. It caused flutters and these reduced greatly when discontinued. No ill effects from stopping straight away but do as advised as we’re all different. Take care 🦊x

[Rugby422]

I just stopped all at once after taking 50 twice a day for over 20 years. It was not working anymore.

[secondtry]

It is always tricky to know if it is making it worse.

I have Lone PAF and was started on the same dose at 60yo, got more episodes and I think my cardiologist and EP thought it also was not effective offering me an ablation instead but I suggested we try 2x100mg first and that worked well with other lifestyle changes for 11 years.

[Debjimmay in reply to secondtry]

Thank you! This helps a lot as I’m considering giving Flecainide another try. When I called the doctor today, he wants to put me on Propafenone. I’m thinking if the flecainide didn’t work, why would another antiarrhythmic?

[Ppiman]

I wouldn’t stop any heart drug without a doctor’s say so.

My AF and arrhythmias wax and wane so much that to put things down to a drug, I find very hard.

Steve