Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum, but not to heart rhythm problems. I'm not from an English-speaking country, so please forgive me for some spelling mistakes.
I'm a 39-year-old man, 84kg, non-smoker, physically quite active (as much as my health problem allows). I like hiking, cycling, diving, snowboarding, I used to play football, but nothing extreme. In 2018. - my first went to a cardiologist because of palpitations, 4300 sves, 2 ves on 24 holter.
In 2021, after covid, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, with a structurally healthy heart. Since then, I've been taking flecanide 2 x 100 mg and metoprolol. In 3 years, I've had several short episodes of afib, but atrial flutter is a bigger problem for me, but even its episodes were short.
However, about 20 days ago I tried to cut a dose of flecanide, to take 100 mg per day. Since then, the palpitations have increased and 7 days ago atrial flutter start. The doctor recommended that I take amiodarone instead of flecanide, to try to get back into rhythm. I have been taking amiodarone since yesterday morning, and I stopped taking flecanide. I had a very difficult and sleepless night. My flutter, which had a fairly regular rhythm until yesterday, became totally irregular last night with numerous heart rate jumps and, pauses, and witha pressure in my chest. My doctor had some family problems and is unavailable.
Has anyone had experience with such a sudden change in medication, especially from flecanide to amiodarone? Also if anyone has advice for converting to sinus rhythm?
I apologize for the long introduction, but I am in a difficult situation and last night I thought I would not wake up today.
Thanks in advance
Regards
Written by
MilosS
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Hi Milo. Welcome to the group. I only have Afib and take Flecainide 2x50mg. I am sorry I am unable to help you with your questions but just wanted to welcome you and let you know you are in the right place. Hopefully someone else on here will be able to help you.
Hi MiloI had Atrial Flutter and AFIB and the flutter episodes were always the worst,so I.know how you feel!
What was the reason for reducing the flecanide?
I'm sorry I have no experience of amiadarone but in any case,
Flutter isn't always very responsive to medication but is very much easier to stop with surgical intervention by ablation . The success rates are as high as 95% ,permanent.
Thank you for your response. Yes, atrial flutter is really frustrating. Flecanide is my standard preventive therapy. And the doctor gave me amiodarone instead of flecanide because he believes it might put me back into sinus rhythm. We've already talked about ablation, I think that will definitely be my next step. I'm terrified of so many medications and yet I'm getting into arrhythmias...
HiAblation for flutter is very good. Medication isn't very effective for this arrythmia, although AF responds better. For some, Meds help AF stay dormant for years.
My flutter was caused by AF meds ( flecanide)being given without a rate control beta blocker alongside.
But as I say,NO flutter, not once since 2022 after ablation. Not on rate control now at all.
I don't have that experience with medication, but the pressure from AFl and the thumping. bumping chest, with a strange need to breathe extra deeply on occasion ("air hunger" someone here called it) are things I felt back in 2019 before my ablation, which did stop it. Prior to that, only digoxin worked to reduce RVR. I was told amiodarone would be prescribed next had that not worked, but the ablation stepped in and stopped the need for any drugs (a year later, my ectopic beats and eventually, AF started, which is where I am today).
You might ask about digoxin, as that is preferable to amiodarone. Also, it might interest you to read a rather excellent and encouraging study on the safety of that latter drug. If you search online for "low dose amiodarone safety" you will find it easily.
I sympathise with your feeling that you might not wake up the next morning. It's an awful feeling, for sure - but all from natural and near-unavoidable anxiety. Yo will be fine, I feel quite sure - try to focus on that thought. Atrial flutter is by far the worst of the two arrhythmias in my experience, and my cardiologist thinks so, too; more than that, it is the harder to treat by drugs (but the easier by ablation). It also does knock back the heart output and, in my case, caused temporary mild mitral regurgitation, making me feel weaker all round.
Your English, by the way, is impeccable - and what a lovely part of the world you are lucky to live in!
Hello Steve. Thanks for the detailed answer. This communication means a lot to me, because in my environment I have no one to talk to about my problem. My next step will definitely be ablation. I would add that I feel much better today, it seems that one night was critical due to the sudden switch from one medication to another. I also have mitral regurgitation. It is not pleasant at all. Thanks again for the answer and the kind words. Warm greetings from Montenegro.
Good to hear you feel better. You are not alone.Even when we are with friends and family,we in the Crazy Heart Club can feel alone. It's difficult to describe!So here,we can ask anything and someone will reply.
Firstly, your English is superb so don't worry about that.Secondly it takes time for the amiodarone to begin to work as it takes time to get into your system. I had same problem switching from dronedarone to amiodarone. I hope it calms down soon for you 🤞🤞🙏🙏
I had the same reaction to Flecainide. Try using amiadarone as your doctor prescribed; I have. It worked for me and many others. I have since been trying something more beneficial, Berberine1500 a day, taken in three doses (500 each). I find the best kind is Dr Mercola (mercola.com). Also, Great Pulse Teapills, The (Sheng Mai San Wan), 200 ct, by Plum Flower (Traditional Chinese medicine) works extremely well for Afib, 8 pills three times a day.
Thanks for the reply. The situation is better now, it seems that it was only problematic for one night, probably due to the sudden change from one medication to another. At least I hope so. I will investigate everything you mentioned. I guess I am on amiodarone at the moment, with the hope that the doctor will get me back into rhythm. Warm regards and thanks once again for the reply
I agree with the others. Your English is better than mine. Unfortunately, having lived all over the US his plus with today’s tech I found I have gotten lazy.
I am a little confused about the cutting of your dose. Was that your doctor that suggested it? You don’t state that and I have seen other people on here seem to attempt to change their own meds. Even with your doctor watching over you, it can be a problem. I had a pace and a blate about a year and a half ago. all I will say right now is thing I ever had done as far as I would never have one the odds of getting the right spot are minimal and they are strictly Band-Aids. I compare it with a string of Christmas tree lights where one bulb goes out and you replace it then another one goes out on the other end of the string to is my electrical system. I had three ablations the last one other than with the pacemaker was not a good thing and I have so much scar tissue from three of them that my would not consider doing another ablation, except for the one with the pacemaker some people are very lucky and one will work for them just like a. Again, those were not for me. The first one made me feel wonderful for 3 1/2 weeks, but that second one failed completely it never took, and I had complications during it. I am on metoprolol and Xarelto along with some other meds. There is a lot of hit and with meds one of the first they put me on was amiodarone. I wish I had never tried it. It was horrible for me. I think the last one they were going to try was Ticosyn sp? but because of the problems with the cardioversion, it never happened and it is a very strong and can be fact I was going to be kept in the ICU five days to be monitored around the clock. I do not take any of the meds lightly each one has its own quirks.
I still get flutter and a fib mostly flutter. The good thing now is it can no longer hurt because of the pacemaker. It can be miserable. It can be annoying and yes, it can hurt. The last time I got hit with a bad case of flutter, it lasted three weeks. It was a comedy of errors, but it wasn’t funny. I know what made it happen and I just had to ride it out. unfortunately anytime you make a med change. It’s gonna take a while to know how it affects you or if it needs to be changed again there is a lot of trial and error with is no cure and they really don’t have answers for everything. Just remember it won’t kill you at least that’s what I’ve been told. Hang in there it does get easier. Lots of prayers to get you through it.
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