Flecanide 100mg

[Jomaur]

I woke up this morning about 6.30am with a rapid heartbeat so checked on my Kardia and it showed Possible Atrial Fibrillation. A couple of months ago I was given Flecanide by my cardiologist to take as a ‘pill in the pocket’ to take an initial dose of 50-100 mg and repeat if needed 2-3 hours later up to a maximum of 200 mg a day. A few weeks ago I went into AFib and took 50mg followed by another 50mg 2 hours later and it took about 4-5 hours to get back into NSR so today took an initial dose of 100 mg and was back to NSR in about 2 hours. Problem is I now feel a bit lightheaded and slightly shaky which I didn’t feel last time. Has anyone else felt like this please?

[mjames1]

It could be the higher Flecainide dose, or dehydration from being an afib or a combination. I would make sure you're very hydrated. I have bottles of Gatorade around , a sports drink loaded with electrolytes, just in case I have an afib episode. I'm glad the PIP Flec worked so quickly this time. Sounds like you found the right dose.

Jim

[Jomaur in reply to mjames1]

Thank you that could be the reason as after I had taken the Flecanide I went back to sleep and really didn’t drink much until my breakfast which was after 10. Next time I’ll remember to drink plenty although it’s already annoying having to keep popping to the loo. This is the second AFib episode I’ve had in 6 days but I had my Covid booster just over 2 weeks ago directly followed by having a horrible virus. I have regular blood tests as I also have Polymyalgia and last Monday’s test showed very high inflammatory levels so all this might have contributed.Not sure about future Covid boosters.

[mjames1 in reply to Jomaur]

Yes, you have to replace the excess water and electrolytes you lose going to the bathroom from the afib episode. So even though it seems crazy to drink more while urinating more, that's exactly what you need do to get ahead of things. Or you will get dehydrated. I start hydrating as soon as I go into afib.

Jim

[Jomaur in reply to mjames1]

It’s silly really because I do know this and prior to being given the Flecanide used to make sure I kept hydrated during an AFib episode, but was so pleased that the Flecanide worked that I didn’t even think about it. Another time must remember!

[Vonnegut in reply to Jomaur]

I know what you mean about the covid boosters! My left arm is still painful after the allergic reaction I had to the jab before the most recent one which I had in my leg instead! When I actually tested positive for covid fir 14 days, I felt no different from usual- slight cold symptoms- but I did get an AF episode around the time I must have been infected, ended in a few hours with an extra Flecainide!

[Pommerania78 in reply to Vonnegut]

Do you really think the Covid shots actually do anything, other than a placebo effect? Thanks.

[Vonnegut in reply to Pommerania78]

Who knows! I just know for sure that my arm was badly damaged by the one before last!

[Pommerania78 in reply to Vonnegut]

I understood from your comments that you are still taking them. If that is so, I'm curious as to why you are still taking them if you don't know if they work or not? Thanks.

[Vonnegut in reply to Pommerania78]

I take Flecainide because it has worked at keeping me virtually AF free and I have the covid jabs because they are offered and may well have prevented me having a bad episode with noticeable symptoms! I certainly don’t want another one of the type which it turned out I was one of the 2 percent of people who had allergic reactions!

[Thomas45 in reply to Pommerania78]

I do. I've had every covid and flu jab offered, and I've never caught covid or flu.

[Tapanac in reply to Jomaur]

Aaah the covid booster!!!! The last two I had left me in afib for about 4-5/6 weeks and the last one now in permanent afib. I’m not having any more boosters and my GP agrees with me

All the best and drink that water, good for kidneys anyway despite running to loo

[Jomaur in reply to Tapanac]

Thank you. We follow NHS advice about boosters but it’s probably not a one size fits all solution.

[Tapanac in reply to Jomaur]

True but even my GP thought it best for me I shouldn’t have the booster this time. She said as the covid had a different strain they had TRIED to cover it, but……

[secondtry in reply to Jomaur]

Any issues around Covid boosters and I would not be inviting any more trouble unless there was a very pressing reason to have the jab.

[Jomaur in reply to secondtry]

I am beginning to feel this way now. I have had more boosters than most people as have been on steroids for nearly 4 years and still on them so advised to have extra boosters. No t sure now what to do about Flu and RSV jabs which I am offered as 77 years old.

[jeanjeannie50]

What is your pulse rate and BP like now?

Jean

[jondeanp]

I’ve been taking an initial dose of 200mg Flecainide about every other day since May. Usually my episodes start during the night so I wake up in NSR with no issues. However I have taken meds during the day and I do feel a bit weird then but I can carry on as normal.

On another note I keep hearing people say they had the Covid/ flu jab and then had a virus or felt terrible for a week after, but keep going back for more 🤷‍♂️

[Karendeena in reply to jondeanp]

I am not having the covid jab this year. I had the flu one and so did my partner, we both had a nasty virus a few days after. Not saying it was the jab but sure a coincidence

[Pommerania78 in reply to jondeanp]

Why do you think they keep taking the shots if they have bad results? I'm sure you have an opinion on this. My own opinion is that so many people are used to obeying authority figures, regardless of the outcome. Thanks.

[Auriculaire in reply to Pommerania78]

Brainwashing? The narrative that you need vaccinations for respiratory infections has been pushed relentlessly for years. The immune system is actually depressed for about 2 weeks by the jab so you are more likely to catch a bug during that time. There is also the theory that injections are useless to protect you against infections that enter by the nose or mouth as it is the mucosal tissues that are involved in immunity and any vaccinations should be inhaled ones. There is plenty evidence now that the covid jabs don't work and have many nasty side effects but most people never read the studies that show this as they are not widely disseminated.

[Jomaur in reply to Auriculaire]

I think the trouble is that a lot of us are fearful of not having the jabs in case that riske being more ill if we catch something. This applied particularly to people like myself who have spent years on immune suppressing drugs. We do not all have access to the information about vaccines that you mention and are not sure what to believe.

[Auriculaire in reply to Jomaur]

I stopped having flu vaccines in 2012. I actually feel much better in winter than I used to in the 12 years I had them every year. I do not believe what drug companies put out as they have all been shown to be crooks and liars by the number of court cases against them and the huge fines levied for malpractice and scientific fraud. I maintain a high level of vit D eat well , am active and very important for the immune system I am happy.

[Pommerania78 in reply to Auriculaire]

I'm assuming that you have/had Afib (or have a loved one who does), or you probably would not be on this Forum. If that is so, tell me how your efforts to maintain your immune system has affected Afib? And how much Vit. D do you take, etc? I'm curious about those on this Forum who have had several Covid "boosters", yet continue to catch Covid, and still want the next booster. Fear, I think, is the reason. I certainly do not condemn anyone for that, as I am susceptible myself. Thanks.

[Jomaur in reply to Pommerania78]

I take 1000mg Vit D daily and now going to start taking Magnesium again as the steroids affect my sleep pattern. I would say we both have a fairly healthy diet and also try to get outside as much as possible although living in the NW of England that doesn’t guarantee much sunshine!

[Auriculaire in reply to Pommerania78]

Yes I have afib - for 9 years now. I don't know if efforts to maintain my immune system have affected my afib. But since March 2016 I have only had 2 respiratory infections one last Dec and one in April this year. The last one might have been covid but I did not test. I reckon that's pretty good going. I have had one covid jab - Janssen- in Aug 2021 and had a letter from my health authority 6 weeks later saying that they were now considering the one recommended injection inadequate and I should have an mRNA jab asap. I declined. I cannot say how much vitvD I take as I have prescribed Calcifediol and have no idea how the 3 drops a day corresponds to iu of cholecalciferol.

[Pommerania78 in reply to Auriculaire]

Has your improved immune system stopped the Afib? Thanks.

[Auriculaire in reply to Pommerania78]

No not at all. My attacks have become more frequent but on the other hand considerably less symptomatic.

[Pommerania78 in reply to Auriculaire]

Why do you think your improved immunity has not helped with the Afib? Thanks.

[Auriculaire in reply to Pommerania78]

No idea!

[Redactrice]

Someone I know will cardiovert on 50mg flecainide but the next day she says she feels like she's been hit by a bus. I don't usually get noticeable after-effects despite taking a high dose (100mg 2x daily; 150mg when in AF) -- but it takes four or five days to cardiovert me. I wish it worked faster.

[Vonnegut in reply to Redactrice]

How different we all are! Sad that it doesn’t work for you as it has worked very well for me. Hope you find something that does work for you.

[Redactrice in reply to Vonnegut]

Thank you. I suspect I will soon be offered the dreaded Amiodarone. I really don't know if I want to go down that route.

[Vonnegut in reply to Redactrice]

I don’t know about that! What type of drug is it - what does it purport to do?

[Redactrice in reply to Vonnegut]

It's an anti-arrhythmic like flecainide and it seems to be the last resort when other anti-arrhythmics don't work. There is a lot of discussion about it on the forums if you do a search. Some people say that the side effects are not worth it, though a few people say they took it successfully and it didn't cause problems. Even my cardiologist admitted that it could have serious side effects.

[Vonnegut in reply to Redactrice]

I shan’t be researching it as Flecainide wirks fine for me and I guess I have got used to the side effects it might have. I am 80 and am pleased to have retained my healthy brain-

[Redactrice in reply to Vonnegut]

You are fortunate indeed.

[Pigleywigley]

I feel awful from my PIP, worse than the AF itself. Thank god they are infrequent! I take up to 300mg but find that 200mg works usually. I don’t self convert to NSR.

[Vonnegut]

When I was first prescribed Flecainide by an EP I had to see privately as the lowest dose of Bisoprolol proved too much for me to take daily, it was to take 100mg and only to add a biso if my heart rate was over 140 twenty minutes later which it hardly ever was. My heart always responded well and went back to normal in a few hours. When episodes increased I was put on 50mg twice daily and then 100mg twice daily which has gone pretty well. I have reduced my dosage to 50mg in the morning and 100 mg at night and recently when an episode started before I had taken my morning 50mg, I took 100mg and my heart was back to normal in an hour! Take it easy and remember the wise words of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, “Don’t panic!”

[Thomas45]

You don't say what gender you are. I have permanent though asymptomatic AF, and so need to go to the loo frequently most nights, but I don't go to the loo. I use purpose -made urine bottles instead. I have just bought some new ones which have screw on lids. One came with its own cleaning brush. Some are available for both genders.