help need to know

[304697-pb]

I have been on flecaindine for 26 years and now my doc took me off of it have I been taking it to long will someone help me

[bean_counter27]

I'm not a medical professional but I don't think there is a time limit on the use of Flecainide. We're all different and circumstances can be different too but some people will take it for the rest of their lives.

There are several reasons why your doctor would instruct you to cease using Flecainide with the most obvious ones being it is no longer effective at preventing AF and/or expediting your return to NSR. Another is it is causing undesirable side effects which are not outweighed by its benefits.

Your doctor is clearly the best person to explain his/her reasons for stopping your Flecainide. I'm surprised an explanation didn't accompany their instruction, along with advice on any actions you should take in dealing with AF post-Flecainide.

I suggest you contact your doctor's office and seek an explanation and advice.

[CDreamer]

Hi - Did you ask for the reason? Flecainide is a very toxic drug and can cause other arrhythmias which you might not feel but would show up on an ECG. Was the Flecainide controlling AF? When was the last time you had an episode?

Personally I was incredibly relieved to be off Flecainide but I had to stop because because of other conditions and I was showing early signs of it irregularities on my ECG.

How are you now you have stopped?

[SamAdmin Administrator Arrhythmia Alliance AF Association]

Good morning 304697-pb

Thank you for your post on the Atrial Fibrillation support forum.

Hopefully another member will be able to advise you about stopping Flecainide.

We feel your doctor would be the best person to explain his/her reasons for stopping your Flecainide. Please seek advice from a Health care professional of how you are going to manage dealing with AF after stopping the Flecainide.

Kind regards

SamAdmin

[secondtry]

The longest I have read here for taking Flecainide is 30+ yrs. I have been taking it successfully for 11 years but this year have developed flutter like symptoms. Will be asking my cardiologist this month if I should reduce/stop the Flec.

[Crystamycin]

I was medicated successfully with Flecainide for about fifteen years, after which, my pulse rate started to slow down. Consequently, my Cardiologist changed it for another antiarrhymic, which worsened the bradycardia. After being hospitalised, my Cardiologist then put me on Disopyramide which has since been effective in controlling AF safely. Unfortunately, sometimes there’s a limitation of time as to how long these antiarrhythmic drugs are efficient and so they have to be replaced by another. This I understand is the case with Flecainide. However, as already mentioned, an anti arrhythmic drug is usually replaced with another, preferably in hospital, unless a Cardiologist Consultant specifically rules this out for good reason.