Bisoprolol and Flecainide

[achillislaststand]

Hello everyone,

I recently had a few episodes of AF and went to emergency for 2 cardio versions.

i started immediately taking blood thinners as prescribed.

The AF returned and my Dr said leave it for now and start taking these 2 medications in 2 weeks then we will schedule an Oblation later in the month. I went back to normal rhythm the following day without starting meds.

its now day 20 with no AF I'm just wondering if and when i start taking these medications if it will affect my daily life. I'm somewhat active and i believe this medication keeps your heart rate low? can i still lead an active life walk ski rake the leaves? or will I be tired, out of breathe or fatigued?

[Autumn_Leaves]

AF can be unpredictable. It is possible to use Flecanide as a pill-in-the-pocket if your episodes are infrequent or occasional. You can discuss this with your doctor. Bisoprolol is a rate control medication, which can be important in controlling fast AF. Your medication should be discussed with the person who is prescribing them, as they will know your medical history and your current issues. Nobody here can (nor should they) advise anyone on whether or not to take a particular medication. It’s your body and your life, and we’re not all the same even if we share a diagnosis.

[achillislaststand in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Thank You Autumn,

I keep hearing about ppl using flecainide as an emergency pill is this a thing? have some with you and take if you go into AF? or should it be used as a daily prescription only?

I will ask my Dr, but appointment isn't for a while

[Stb1968 in reply to achillislaststand]

I have high heart rate(189) AF, and was prescribe flecainide, 200 mg pip. It works on me within a couple hours. With that being said, I had a cryoablation 2 years ago and have been af free since(knock on wood)

[mjames1]

It sounds like your doctor wants you and sinus rhythm for the ablation, so I would go with what he wants. Those drugs should be just temporary if everything goes right.

Jim

[mav7]

I went back to normal rhythm the following day without starting meds.

How are you determining you are in/out of afib ? Would be best to ask your doctor to wear a holter monitor or other medical device for a continuous, extended period. Also, he may want to do that prior to the ablation.

[Afibbingnewbie in reply to mav7]

Hi

Get an Apple Watch series 9 or newest

I track mine with the afib app ,

And can check with the push of the watch button .

Very accurate, Lifesaver !

[mav7 in reply to Afibbingnewbie]

Great !

[Gre-ta]

I take Flecainide every day. The prescription is 100mg twice a day but I take 50mg in the morning, 100mg at night as PAF episodes usually occur during the night. If I feel that my heartbeat is uneven & may start to race I take an extra 50mg Flecainide & generally that works, usually along with some rehydration salts.

I understand that 300mg is the most you can take in 24 hours.

This has worked well for the last year. It does take a little while to work, maybe up to half an hour & it’s hard to remain calm but if you try & concentrate on believing your heart will slow down that helps.

[Redactrice in reply to Gre-ta]

I've taken 300mg flecainide in a single day (on advice from my cardiology team) and it has yet to cardiovert me in less than several days. I WISH it worked for me in an hour or so.

We are all different, indeed.

[Gre-ta in reply to Redactrice]

I’m really sorry to hear that. How long have you been taking Flecainide ?

[Redactrice in reply to Gre-ta]

It's just over a year since I started on daily flecainide, 50mg twice a day at first. It did nothing at all for six months; I was in persistent AF (having previously been paroxysmal for years until I caught Covid). At my next cardiology appointment (which was not soon) we upped the flecainide to 100mg. It took a month to cardiovert me (for the first time in nine months). I was so happy, but a few weeks later I took a long haul flight and went back into AF in flight (this was not a surprise). 10 days to cardiovert this time. Then spent several months bouncing in and out, in and out of rhythm before I finally had an ablation. That was 10 weeks ago. Three weeks in normal rhythm (for the first time in over a year), but then flipped back into AF -- it is clear that the ablation has failed, so I'm back on the waiting list for another one. Still taking 100mg flecainide twice a day, but I don't bother with the maximum dose because it still takes three to five days to cardiovert me. On 200mg/day I am in normal rhythm approximately half the time (day by day; rarely switch in and out on the same day), but it seems there is no 'pill in the pocket' for me, unless perhaps I switch to the dreaded amiodarone...

[KFog]

I have no experience with bisprolol. I take 180 mg of diltiazem daily. I do take it at night because it makes me a little bit light headed. My doctor said that was OK. I also take apixaban, but that is not being discussed here. I take 100 mg of Fleicainide twice a day. I have no side effect from it. I feel like when I go into afib (not that often), it bounces me back to sinus rhythm within 20 minutes. Who knows whether I would be going back in sinus rhythm anyway, but I like to think it helps. Everyone is different, so it is best to speak to your doctor.

[Decaf_Andy]

I started taking Flecanide and bisoprolol 18 months ago. Aside from 10% lower heart rates in all conditions, I see no side effects. My AF events are massively down and I cycle (100km), ski, hike and go to the gym regularly. Pretty well the same as pre-AF.

[Tilos5]

Hello there,

I took Flecainide after an ablation last year, I was on 100mg , I went back into AFib the day after ablation which is not unusual.

It made me quite tired, I came off it too early and went back onuo

AFib again, I had to stay on it again for nearly four weeks, my heart rate stabilized and I was able to come off

It worked out ok for me, just the initial tiredness was an issue

I had a RF: Cryo ablationJune 2023

Good luck, now I’m dealing with a frozen shoulder