could you tell me any experience with flecainide for aflutter? Reads like it could have a lot of negative side effects.

[Specialdog]

I’ve recently been diagnosed with aflutter and been given options of flecainide or cardioversion or ablation. Any thoughts? My cardiologist said that any tx would be my choice, including no additional meds. I currently take a beta blocker, acei, blood thinner (eliquis), statin, thyroid hormone, and benzodiazepine (for anxiety from the diagnosis).

[AAJJTt]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with Afib after a heart attack; the former being root cause of the latter.

I cannot say I was given a choice, I was placed on Flecainide. My cardiologist framed it as, we will start with this and leave the ‘other tools in the box’ for if or when you need them.

I am not complaining, Flecainide has been a good solution for me so far, I have been very stable with no discernible side effects and no sustained Afib episodes for 4+ years.

I don’t think I’d be happy with a choice at the time, as this was all very new and I didn’t have any background knowledge or experience. I would have asked for more direction/guidance from my cardiologist.

[BeeBee79]

I was prescribed Flecanide after cardioversion didn’t work and 2 (at that point) failed ablations. I had a serious life event following this drug and although we’ve never been able to 100% say it was the cause, myself and the cardiologist believe that it, at the very least, had a part to play. Most people do well on Flecanide and I always jump on here to say that if you do decide to take this route, ask your cardiologist for regular ECG’s when starting to check it’s not affecting your Long QT interval.

[Bear910]

I was put on flecainide when I was hospitalised earlier in the summer with a high heart rate from atrial flutter. Within two days they started me on flecainide and it lowered my heart rate v quickly but only for ~12 hours. Took another week in hospital to get a second evening dose for my heart rate to come down at night as well. It’s been 3 months now and I’ve had no incidents since then. I finally have my outpatient appointment date for end Oct (18 weeks after leaving hospital rather than the 6 weeks suggested) and I’m interested to see if they suggest reducing the dose or other meds or still talk about an ablation..

I don’t think I’ve got any side effects from flecainide - have been tired but I think that’s the bisoprolol.

[Murderfan58]

I found out in 2020 after echo and bubble echo I was born with small hole in the side of my heart.after my blood work showed heart failure. And no it doesn't mean I am dieing . 2021 got palpation's ,heart flutters and missed heart beats but every time I got on the ECG machine my heart was back in rhythm. Finally they caught AF in A&E. And referred to AF clinic put on Flecainide and Apixaban. Saw the cardiologist and had MRI on my heart with dye .

Luckily the connections between the chambers of my heart are intact and the hole is small and unless I get chest pain it's safer to leave it. I do get breathless at times especially if it very hot or cold.

Since being on Flecainide had very few heart flutters or palpitations and if I do I just sit and relax and they are over in a couple of minutes . I still miss heart beats but not as many times a day. I had jaundice in 2017 left me hearing my heart beat in my left ear . So I know when they are missed but I don't worry about it . No point .

I am 66 had 3 major operations and 2 minor ones and no one knew I had a dicky heart last op was when I was 38.

The Flecainide had differently helped me haven't had a trip to A&E since 2021. The Apixaban lessons my chance of having a stroke. I have Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

[Crystal614]

Hi, I have been taking Flecainide for 3 years. It was prescribed for SVT after an unsuccessful attempt at ablation. The only problem I had when I first started taking it was with my kidney function. I have CKD and it made it worse, but this was only temporary, otherwise I have been ok on it.

[Choccie55 in reply to Crystal614]

I had a failed ablation for SVT last week and they tried Flecainide on me during the procedure and it worked well. I’ve got to have a CT scan to see if it’s safe for me to take. Since you have been taking it has it stopped your SVT episodes completely?

[Crystal614 in reply to Choccie55]

Yes, episodes of SVT have stopped completely. I take 100mg twice a day.

[Choccie55 in reply to Crystal614]

That’s fantastic news. I so hope that this will be the case for me. Thanks for replying.

[Crystal614 in reply to Choccie55]

Fingers crossed for you. Let me know how you get on with Flecainide. Good luck with the scan, and hopefully, it will be prescribed for you.

[Choccie55 in reply to Crystal614]

Thank you, I will do 👍

[Palpman]

We must be clear when we discuss Afib or Aflutter with Flecainide. They are 2 very different arrhythmias.

Some cardiologists or EPs do not give Flecainide for Flutter as it may cause VT. Especially so for AVNRT or re-entrant tachycardia.

The OP here was talking about AFlutter and not AFib.