Indecision re Flecainide

[Frootbat]

Hello there. I’ve had PAF for approx 4 years. Also have CHD and normally feel well, with healthy lifestyle. Female aged 72. Had an increase in unprovoked episodes of PAF end of last year a cardio advised Flecainide. Stupidly or not I didn’t commence due to fear of side effects. More recently episodes had hardly occurred at all and felt (probably stupidly) hopeful that this would continue.Have just had an episode lasting 18 hours and although did not feel unwell was very scared and alone as no reason to call for advice. Dilemma is do I commence Flecainide or not? I’m worried about the worst effect occurring as live along way for from a hospital. On the other hand it may work well. The cardio was annoyed that I hadn’t taken it and may have struck me off! But I can get re referred as would need follow up after commencement. Help!

[secondtry]

I have had a good long term experience with Flecainide (on a medium 200mg/day dose) despite very reluctantly starting.

However, long way from hospital does not sound good and I think if I was talking that decision again in your shoes, I would take a break for at least a week close to your nearest hospital as notwithstanding your cardiologist's prescription and a relatively tried & tested heart drug, Flecainde doesn't work for everybody.

Alternatively, my experienced Naturopath (11yrs ago) said he puts his AF patients on a magnesium compound and CoQ10; best to test your levels first. So I did that as well as the Flecainide.

My overall approach to 'curing' AF is to adopt many better lifestyle changes as well as supplements and prescribed drugs and to continue to be persistent in trying new things - particularly a steady gradual reduction of stress on all fronts.

[Thomas45]

I took Flecainide for 12 years without any side effects. I started in a dose of 50mg x 2 a day, which was gradually increased over 2 years to the maximum dose of 150mg x 2 a day, which dose I took for 10 years.It decrease my paroxysmal AF episodes to one or two ten-minute episodes a year without any side effects.

[wilsond]

Your cardiologist would not prescribe flecanide if they didn't consider you to be suitable.