I need to stop taking flecainide. I do not agree with my doctor's instructions on how to do it. I want to go slower to avoid complications. Not long ago I read a post from someone who did it the way I want to do it, but I forgot how this person did it. I tried to find the post but was unable to do it. Could someone please help me.
Cloudday
I just immediately stopped taking Flecainide as advised by my cardiologist. I felt so much better without them and right away had a lot more energy . When I had my next ECG it showed my heart beating so much better. Flecainide was causing more harm than helping.
Jean
Thank you, Jean, I read your post a while back. I had the WMM last November. Immediately, after the surgery I was off Eliquis because I had the atrial occlusion and off Valsartan because after surgery, my blood pressure was so low, and they had a hard time increasing it. It has been almost three months, and my blood pressure has been fine. As per Doctor Wolf 's nurse, the instructions for weaning flecainide when I am 90 days from surgery are: decrease flecainide to every other day for two weeks, then stop the flecainide. So, if you stopped it immediately with such positive results, I probably will be fine following the instructions given. From all I have read about flecainide, I am truly, truly afraid of it plus my desire for a successful surgery is so big I do not want to do anything interfering with it. I am grateful to you. I read all your posts. Be well, always.
Cloudday
Just do what you feel is right for you. I can't remember now but my heart may well have played up a bit after I stopped the Flec, my memory is dreadful these days.
It's great to hear that the WMM has worked for you, please keep in contact and let us know how you get on. Do what Dr Wolf's nurse has advised.
Jean
Thank you, Jean. I'll follow their instructions to the T. Doctor Wolf kept me on flecainide because he wanted my heart to be peaceful during the blanking period. After I stop the flecainide, I hope everything will be ok. I will be in contact to let you all how I get on. Be well.
I had the same experience as you. So much better immediately after coming off Flecainide
I came off immediately with no issues - it can be a bit of a difficult drug feel much better off any arrhythmics
Hi Cloudday.
I'm the same as Jean and dmac. My cardio just told me to stop - I didn't have any problems in doing so.
Paul
Paulbounce, thank you.
There should be instructions in the packet which cover this topic. Alternaively, discuss it with your local Pharmacist to be sure.
Throw the pills in the toilet (or loo or lavatory). Flush said ablution facility.
No medication should ever be disposed of down the toilet; I thought the terrible effects of doing that were so well known nowadays that it was a thing of the past!
No!!! Take them back to the pharmacy. Never flush anything down the loo except poo and wee and paper tissue.
My doctor also said stop overnight after being on them for 3 months. I was too cautious and at first halved the dose and went a week to see if any reaction... then went one a day for a few days then 1 every second days for a few days then stopped.....
Many years ago I was on Flecanide in fact first drug I took, I was then advised to take Sotolol instead so stopped the first for 48 hours then onto the new drug with no problems. If you are under a Cardiologist then listen to him/her, if its the GP and you are not sure of their advice ring the Cardiologist's secretary and ask the question as the Cardiologist knows best, alternatively ask your Pharmacist.
Still haven't had the nerve to reduce my 200mgs/day despite going through an unsettled arrhythmia period after 10 calm years. My cardiologist just says reduce it and you will get more AF, dodging it being the cause.
If I try a reduction, it seems logical to me to do it slowly (not to shock the heart) as although most medics seem to say just go cold turkey, I have not read any reason why this should be advisable in preference to a slow reduction.
I refused to take flecainide in the past after all I'd read and heard about it - I'm a glass half empty person ! The cardiologist put me on it whilst in hospital after my ablation at the end of September, 50 mg twice a day. Almost immediately I felt great and have done ever since. But .....had my post op appointment on Monday and was told to stop taking flecainide . Reluctant to do so but I have done. I asked about reducing slowly but was told no need on such a small dose.
Was on for 3 months post ablation and then just stopped the twice daily dose (BID) over night. Needed to keep using as PIP for another 4 months.
I came off 200 mg over four weeks - am/pm 100/100, 50/100, 50/50, 0/50
it may have been me. Not that I’m going to be much help now, but I’ll try.
I was told by two different cardiologists different things. One said please yourself wean off them or stop straight away. Then my GP said he was on flecainide and after an ablation to stop them and he did it straight away just stopped
I had an ablation for Aflutter in 2017 but it wasn’t a success hence the bisoprolol flecainide snd apixaban
I was worried as I had been on them for 7-8 years and I wondered if it would be a bit of a shock to my heart to stop suddenly. So I took half in the morning whole one at night for about 5 days. Then for snother 5 days half morning snd night. Then half st night for about another 5 days then stopped.
I didn’t notice much difference to my heart for about another week then my afib started up again with a vengeance
So back on to cardiologist and he said restart the flecainide “if I want to although as I was now in permanent afib and heart failure” he didn’t see the point of ingesting a chemical which wasn’t doing any good.
Anyway I did start them again and for a little while I felt better. Then afib snd fast heart rate started again and my poor pacemaker (which as you probably know is to stop the heart beating too slowly) trying its best to keep rhythm
So GP (couldn’t get an apt with EP) then suggested I stop the flecainide straight away, but in view of the past problems I had I got on to jean and she said she stopped straight away and felt much better as the flecainide was causing her to have more arrythmias.
I have stopped the flecainide now for over a week, but unfortunately I don’t feel any better, possibly worse. I can’t get hold of my EP he is on holiday likewise my normal GP so I have another appointment with a different GP this afternoon
Having said all this, the general census of opinion from doctors and jeanjeannie is to just stop.
Sorry this is such a long screed
Hope you feel ok whatever you decide to do pat x.
I just stopped after taking it for ,12 years, for 10 of them at 300mg a day. My consultant said to just stop. By chance I saw a very knowledgeable about AF GP the same day who told me to just stop, so I didn't take any more. That was about 8. years ago. Just stopping had no effect.
I was on Flecainide for about 5 years (150mg/day). After my ablation I weaned myself off gradually. I found that each time I reduced the dose I got an increase in ectopic beats so I waited a few weeks for my heart to adjust before reducing dose further. I used a pill chopper to cut my uncoated tablets 50mg in 1/2 as required. Took several months in total.
Why do you need to stop taking it? I ran out of mine accidentally and my heart was fine without it for the two and a half days until my husband could pick up some more. I had reduced my dose to 50mg in the morning and 100mg at night and it made me wonder if I could manage without it or go back to just having it as a PiP though that might be a bit scary. As I have chronic fatigue too though, I spend most of the time resting in bed and you might be more active and as we know, we are all different. Good luck, whatever you do.
Do it however you like. Gradually reducing the dosage isn't bad. Halved my dose for awhile, then took it every other day, etc. Tried to ween once, back when I was having relentless afib, and had an episode. So went back to my dose. Later, tried weening again and made it to zero and stayed there. Good luck.
Weaning off Flecainide
Coming off Flecainide
Since coming off Flecainide
Flecainide
coming off flecainide
