Return of PVCs and Flecainide as pill in pocket.

[MjG1004]

I was previously taking 100mg Flecainide twice a day along with 1.25mg bisoprolol in the mornings for episodes of PACs and occasional PVCs. I was on this medication for almost 2 years before deciding that I would like to try and come off it. My cardiologist advised me how to slowly withdraw and I have been completely off both medications for several months with no problems apart from the odd PAC here and there. He recommended taking Flecainide (up to a max of 300mg a day) if the PACs returned to the level they were originally at.

Unfortunately, this week I have had several episodes of bothersome PVCs. I have reluctantly taken two separate doses of 50mg and one of 100mg. Within 30 minutes the palpitations had stopped. Today I contacted my GP as I'm concerned about how long I can take flecainide on its own - if I'm having to use it several days in a row for example, at what point should I add bisoprolol knowing that's its advisable to take them both together.

The GP responded by saying he "thinks" it would be ok for up to 5 days. Obviously this is not very reassuring.

I have attempted to contact my cardiologists secretary but have had an out of office response ..typical!

Has anyone been in a similar situation and can offer any advice please?

[KeepingHealthy]

Hi, I can't offer you any advice at the moment, but I am interested in seeing other responses as I have recently been prescribed the same medication but the Bisaprolol dose is 2.5mg. This is to treat AF. I don't like the side effects of Bisaprolol and have been wondering why I need to take it as well as Flecainide. I can understand how frustrated you feel when you just need a simple answer and cannot get one.

[990herc]

If you ever want to try a "natural protocol" for knocking out pac's & pvc's, here's what worked for me...I went from having thousands/day to maybe 2 or 3/week:

6 grams Taurine ( 2g in morning, 2 g mid day, 2g in evening)

2000 mg L Arginine (500mg. taken 4x throughout the day)

You can start out by just trying the Taurine and L Arginine, but if that doesn't work you can add these:

200 mg COQ10 (100mg in the A.M., 100mg in the evening)

1080 mg Hawthorn Berry- (540 mg in the A.M. and 540 mg. in the evening)

250 mg Magnesium- (125mg in the morning, and 125 mg in the evening)

Good luck,

990 Herc

[Bismark]

I was at my cardiologist a couple of weeks ago discussing the pill in the pocket for AF episodes after my Ablation which was at least 10 months ago.

He advised me to take 200mg (2 tablets) of Flecainide immediately then 100mg twice a day. With the 200mg Flecainide I should also take 500 micrograms of Digoxin (2 tablets) then 250 micrograms once a day.

I should take the 100mg twice a day and the 250 micrograms for at least 5 days. The reason he gave was that taking these two drugs for less than 5 days can cause your heart to go into AF.

If I do have to do this I wouldn't take the the 100 mg + 250 microgram dose until at least 12 hours had passed from the large dose.