flecainide side effects.

[macymoo007]

hi.

my cardiologist suggested I drop my bisoporol from 7.5mg (split 5mg am 2.5mg pm) and start taking flecainide 50mg twice a day.

I noticed that I had more energy after reducing the bisoporol but I still went in to af (3 times this month where it’s usually once a month)

I was then advised to up the flecainide to 100mg twice daily. I’m now experiencing a constant headache plus I’m really short of breath.

if these side effects where temporary (till I get used to it) I can put up with it.

Has anyone else been like this and that the side effects go after a while?

I’m going to try and ring the cardiologist dept today but getting to speak to anyone may be a toil

Thank you.

[Buffafly]

Did you actually stop the bisoprolol or reduce it? Stopping bisoprolol can cause withdrawal symptoms, maybe reducing as well as your dose was high. I have no experience with Flecainide so can’t help there.

[macymoo007 in reply to Buffafly]

I was told to reduce it from 7.5mg to 1.25

[Buffafly in reply to macymoo007]

The usual advice seems to be to reduce bisoprolol very very slowly.

[secondtry]

Suggest you stick with the increased Flecainide for 3 months. I felt pretty strange for that period but after that fine for 10yrs with no Biso but a lot of lifestyle changes.

[OzJames]

I felt really strange for a week or so on 100mg Flecanide and beta blocker so after 2 weeks he reduced both gradually. I’m now on 20-25mg twice a day of Flecanide and Metoprolol which is equivalent to 1.1mg Bisoprolol. I’ve only had one episode in 11 months since starting the Flecanide daily and went back into Sinus within a couple of hours with a PIP of Flecanide and a brisk ride on my indoor bike.

[Vonnegut]

How different we all are! The lowest dose of Bisoprolol was too much for me to take daily and that’s 1.25! If there is nothing structurally wrong with your heart according to an echocardiogram, then Flecainide might work for you as it does for me. I have been able to reduce the first dose of the day from 100 to 50mg, retaining the evening one at 100mg to ensure I don’t get a scary episode disturbing my sleep!

[Tapanac]

flecainide was my miracle drug and never felt any side effects. Been on it since my ablation in 2017

All the best