Update on events.

[Trout7]

I woke up yesterday and was feeling great. Took my 50mg of flecainide and Bisoprolol. The rest of the day was AFib free, first time for 10 days . Woke up this morning , didn't feel too great, bit tired still and light headed. I just put this down to my new tablet routine and the start of Bisoprolol (Wednesday). The rest of today has pretty much been in Afib between 121 bpm and 93bpm. So after yesterdays feeling of elation and thinking the new tablet and new regime had started working i now feel back at the beginning again. To be fair I'm not exactly sure what I'm expecting now that ive started taking Bisoprolol.

[Buffafly]

Discouraging, but give it a week. How do you take your Flecainide.

[Trout7 in reply to Buffafly]

I take 50mg in the morning before food and 50mg about 8pm.

[Buffafly in reply to Trout7]

So should work well. I hope things improve as your body adjusts.

[secondtry in reply to Trout7]

I take Flec 3 hrs after food and 1 hour before eating again. My starter dose of x2 daily 50mg had to be increased to 100mgs to stop the AF - so its not just the drug but the dose that is all important.

[Pommerania78 in reply to secondtry]

I have been following your recommendation about three hours, pill, then wait an hour. But how did you come up with that schedule, and why do you think that it is the proper one? Thanks.

[secondtry in reply to Pommerania78]

I read the instruction leaflet 11+ years ago, haven't checked what it says now!

[BenHall1]

You query - what to expect from Bisoprolol ? Well it may well depend on the time of day you were told to take it ... and of course the size of dose. When I left hospital in Jan 2010 having been diagnosed with AF I was prescribed 5 mg, to be taken once a day in the morning. No warnings of side effects.

It didn't take long for me to experience a major side effect, and not a common one, full flow and random, regular nose bleeds. All the 'know alls' said its Warfarin ( which I was prescribed at the same time by the same consultant ) . Went to my GP and she said, no, its the Bisoprolol. She then looked up in her book of 'Magic Potions and Brews ' and said take it once a day at night - same dose. Sorted - I never had another problem for 12 years when my levels of tiredness dramatically increased and really wiped me out. GP then changed me to Nebivolol. Since then 7 months ago my new Consultant changed me to Sotalol.

In Jan 2010 I was 65. 12 years later, 77 and am now 80. Still the tiredness but nowhere near as bad ... I just pace myself better now. Still on Warfarin.

Generally speaking, you can expect a weariness/tiredness from your Bisoprolol but it shouldn't be that dramatic. The purpose of Bisoprolol ( and Nebivolol and Sotalol - all beta blockers ) is to tame and regulate the wild child in your chest - your beating heart. Do suggest you read the bit of paper in the packet which does list side effects to their varying degrees.

Good luck.

John

[jwsonoma]

Hello Trout,

I've had Afib for 10 years. My experience - 50mg may not be enough if you had a break through. You may want to talk to your Dr about either a pill in the pocket of flecainide (you can take up to 300mg in a 24 hr period) if you have an episode and or increasing your dose.

My Doc wanted to give me 100mg 2x /day after my break through while on 50mg 2x Flec. and I asked to try 75mg 2x/day. That and 1.25mg Bisoprolol has kept Afib mostly at bay for 7 years.

Also got my BMI down to 22 and sadly gave up alcohol. He is adamant about no alcohol. He says even though I look like a bean pole I still have some belly fat to loose. I look pretty skinny in the US but would be a little chunky in Paris or Rome. I take my Bis at night. Less noticeable side effects and when I did get AFib I seemed to wake up with it. You should clarify with your Doc about max dosage. That is a HARD 300mg limit in 24hrs.

Good luck.

[Trout7]

Thanks for the replies folks. I woke this morning feeling fine. Took my 2.5 Bisoprolol and 50 mg flecainide and 5 minutes later I'm back in AF . Really getting me down.

[croesio]

Hi Trout, I have had Paroxysmal Afib for 20 years and have always used the pill in the pocket approach which seems to work. I take 2.5 mg bisoprolol then 1 hour later 100 mg Flecainide. My heart rate has always been very slow and after having a monitor fitted it was found that my heart stopped for a while quite regularly so I have now been fitted with a pacemaker. So far so good.

[Tapanac]

it’s very early days yet. Give your bisoprolol snd flecainide time. At least 2 weeks. Also TRY not to think about those clowns in your chest doing acrobats. Hard I know.

All the best

[Vonnegut]

It might not be such a good idea to take them together.

After well over a year of my heart being controlled with Flecainide, I am experiencing a bout of atrial fibrillation! Have taken 100mg Flecainide even though it’s not long after I had my breakfast muesli and hope things settle soon! Having used my Kardia to check, I have discovered they now want to charge me for stuff that used to come free once one had bought the thing!!!It’s called an “upgrade”! And we are supposed to be avoiding stress! Good thing I have a sense of humour! We do need that sort of thing!!

[Trout7]

After being fine all day today I got home from work and within half an hour I am back in AF. 129 BPM. I have now taken my second flecainide (50mg) .

[listerines]

Hopefully your heart has settled a bit. Have discussion with your EP soon or AFib nurses as possibly an increase in flec to 75mg or 100mg two times a day will help to control break through episodes. Do give 50mg a try for a week or two first though as my first go round with flecainide at 50mg took a bit of time to get my heart straight. Over time though I have increased to 75 and now 100mg since going up to 100mg episodes have really come down in the last 6 months. My EP did say that 50mg flecainide is quite a low dose and can be used as a pediatric dose. Smart to start though at 50mg as why take more medication than needed (also gives you a chance to see if any bad side effects). Keep safe

[Trout7 in reply to listerines]

Thanks for reply. I had to take an extra tablet during the night as it kicked off again . That was about 3am. It did clear it but woke up at 7 and I'm back in AFib yet again.

[listerines]

I definitely know the feeling/ frustration of coming in and out of AFib (I am sorry) hope things do stabilize for you soon. I am sure they will.Please make sure to let your health care team know about ongoing episodes as possibility of increased flecainide or possibly other antiarrhythmic.

Not sure your position on ablation or whether you have have had any in the past, but perhaps this could be broached with your Care team?

[Trout7 in reply to listerines]

Thank you. I received a call today from my doctor who had been in contact with my cardiologist. My Flecainide has been doubled to 100mg twice daily alongside my bisoprolol. Hopefully things start settling down.

I am currently on the waiting list for an ablation.

[listerines]

Good to hear that your health team got back to you. Hoping that the increase helps steady the ship (that dosage does seem to be an appropriate increase - nothing says you can't try and reduce in future when things settle).Here is hoping your wait on the ablation list is short. Keep safe

[Trout7 in reply to listerines]

Thank you.