FLECAINIDE AND BISOPROLOL COMBO

[Fryguy]

Hi, has anyone else been on 5mg of bisoprolol and 50mg of flecainide? I'm just wondering if your heart rate got to low and how you felt in general? Thanks for your time 🙏

[BobD Volunteer]

This is a normal protocol to prevent the flecainie from causing flutter. Best discuss with your prescribing doctor.

[secondtry]

Agree with BobD. You need a frank chat with an experienced cardiologist. At 60yo my cardio prescribed Flec without Biso as I was fit, HR around 60 & no comorbidities. However, for younger people the risk of rapid HR may be higher and therefore the Biso insurance policy maybe the best bet.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Flec is an anti-arrthynic drug. Its role is trying to convert your irregular heart beat to normal sinus beat. Should have no effect on BP or H/Rate.

Bisoprolol was an effect on BP. Not much on H/Rate. Was never enough lowering for me.

CCB Calcium Channel Blocker did though. Introduced by a private H/Specialist at 1.2 dose 180 CD and my 156 on Bisoprolol H/Rate Day went from the 156 Day avg to 51 in 2 hours.

3 years 3 months later I remain on Diltiazem 120 CD mg. And last December as my BP went low 90/60, I gradually stopped Bisoprolol. Relieve from fatigue, stopping when walking small distance 50 m.

Only on 2.5mg for 2 years and 1.5 for 1 year.

It takes time to get it right. But keep monitoring. I monitor once or twice month only now.

Flec.. can sometimes make your rhymn worse. With an abnormal structure of my heart cardioversion, ablation and flec is out.

cheri JOY. 76 (NZ)

[OzJames]

i did metoprolol version which worked out when converted to Biso to 5mg then dropped to 2.5mg then 1.25mg and my Flecanide reduced from 50 to 25mg twice daily. On the highest dose my HR went down to 40 at rest now i've found its 52 to 58 at rest and no side effects and no AF.... for the time being

[Vonnegut]

I was taken off the lowest dose of Bisoprolol (1.25mg) after three days by the pharmacist who had shown more interest in me than the doctor who agreed to my taking half the dose she originally wanted me to take! It brought my heart rate down too low. We have found we are all different - Flecainide has worked brilliantly at putting an end to episodes for me now that I’m taking it regularly after originally taking it to stop episodes when they occurred - I have even managed to reduce the first dose of the day to 50mg, retaining the 100mg at night to avoid scary episodes disturbing my sleep. Good luck getting your doses right for you!

[Shcldavies]

Flec and Biso work for many but not for some (I am in the "some" category), this combination put me into (very bad) Afl after 3 months of use, had to have a cardioversion to correct. Good news is my condition put me on top of the ablation waiting list. The ablation was informative as well as mostly successful (found I did not have Afl since stopping the Flec but did have various other sources of arrhythmia). It left me with MAT which could not be fully ablated but most importantly gave me my life back as the MAT is controlled by 1.25 Biso. In fact after the blanking period (which was difficult and longer than anticipated), I believe my condition gradually improved and is still improving over 6 years on. That said my continued improvement is also attributed to an improved lifestyle, imposible to say which is the more dominant factor in my gradual improvement. Best advice is to keep talking to your Dr for advice as no one knows your condition better.

[Steadybeats]

Hi, yes I. Have been on that combination at that dose for a couple of years. At times I feel a little tired and can’t drop off quite easily when sat in a chair. Apart from that no problem. It does not totally eradicate my paf, but I do feel it reduces it. Good luck

[wilsond]

If you are on any daily dose of flecanide, the betablocker is there to prevent AFlutter. I was given flec 50mg x 2 and no bisoprolol. A week later ...Flutter instigated. No,my heart rate was around 50 to 60. Still is even though I'm only on Flecanide now after 100% successful ablation for Flutter 2 years ago.

Check with your medic to be sure if you're worried xx

[Daisy2908]

I used to be on the same dose of each of those meds but unfortunately when I’m in sinus rhythm it makes my heart rate so low I felt ill (it was around 30bpm). The cardiologist reduced my bisoprol a few times but in the end took me off it and left me on the flecainide as I just couldn’t tolerate the beta blocker. No issues since. Hoping to come off flecainide again following my post ablation review. Worth discussing if a lower dose would work for you maybe? Good luck.