Flecainide

[Choccie55]

I’ve just been prescribed Flecainide after an unsuccessful ablation for SVT. I’m starting on 50mg twice a day alongside the 2.5mg of Bisoprolol I’m already on. The side effects in the leaflet scare the life out of me. I’d be interested to hear people’s experience with this drug.

[mjames1]

If your doctor medically cleared you for Flecainide, I would not be concerned. The "scare your life out of me" side effects of Flecainide are rare, and I haven't read of any on this forum, nor experienced any myself in the year or so, I was on it.

I also see you're taking it with bisoprolol which will act as a no blocking agent. This will add an extra layer of safety.

Follow your doctors advice here and hopefully it'll take care of your SVT..

Jim

[Choccie55 in reply to mjames1]

Thank you very much for your advice Jim. I had to have a CT scan to rule out coronary artery disease before being prescribed so I’m hoping all will be well. Glad to hear you had no issues. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Kbkk]

Hi, I too was scared to death about taking flecanide….thought I might drop dead as soon as I took it. Originally I took it as a PIP (worked well and stopped AF in an hour) but messed around with Bisoprolol which didn’t suit me at all, then Nebevilol which was better but I was always breathless and had weight gain…..just to avoid taking Flecanide daily. Eventually I took my cardiologists advice and started on 50mg twice a day plus verapamil…..it’s been an absolute game changer for me! No side effects from the flecanide, wouldn’t even know I was taking it. Everything is so much calmer and so far no PAF episodes. For me it’s been a really good tablet, for daily use and previously when I used it as a pill in pocket with the beta blocker, I hope you get on well with it too….😊

[Choccie55 in reply to Kbkk]

Thank you so much for sharing your story and I’m glad you have had a positive experience. They do like to put the scariest things in the leaflets - not good for anxious people like me 😂.

[Kbkk in reply to Choccie55]

They do! I tend not to read the side effects leaflets these days…..I know what I’m like 😉 I’ll have them all if I know about them!! Very best wishes 😊

[Murderfan58]

Every tablet comes with a host of side effects as it's to cover the manufacturers from getting sued. My favourite side effects is it may cause impotence love to see that happening as I am a woman 🤣.Even vitamins and mineral tablets have list of side effects .

Been on Flecainide 50mg twice a day since 2021 and had no problems with it . But will give out a warning to anyone on it if you get thrush DO NOT buy the tablet to clear it up as as it is not compatible with Flecainide. Use internal thrush medication.

[Choccie55 in reply to Murderfan58]

Thanks so much for your advice - glad to hear it’s worked well for you 👍

[Choccie55 in reply to Murderfan58]

Sorry to bother you again - were you also on Bisoprolol or another beta blocker?

[Murderfan58 in reply to Choccie55]

No I am only on Apixaban, Flecainide and Ramipril for my PAF and blood pressure. On other medication for my rare hereditary neurological condition.

[RainAust]

I was also on it after a unsuccessful ablation. It didn't do anything for me, I took it for about 6 months I think it even made it worse so I just stopped taking it. Also was on nebevolol, again didn't help. Now I just live with it. It's good if you can find something that works I've not been lucky.

[Choccie55 in reply to RainAust]

So sorry you’ve not found anything to help your SVT. I sympathise re the ablation. I was so disappointed when they could still trigger the arrhythmia then found another area too near the AV node to ablate without risking a pacemaker. Maybe a new cure will be found in the future 🤞.

[Crystal614]

Like you, I had a failed attempt for SVT over 3 years ago. When I first started taking Flecainide it made my kidney function worse, I have CKD. This was only temporary. I currently take 100mg twice a day with no side effects, and no further episodes of SVT.

[Choccie55 in reply to Crystal614]

Thanks for replying, it’s great to hear Flecainide has kept your SVT under control. I’m so hoping it will work without any unwanted side effects.

[Crystal614 in reply to Choccie55]

I started off on a low dose and gradually it was increased to 200mg a day, it has been capped at that. Like you I was reluctant to try it because of the side effects. But other than a few hiccups with my kidney function I do well on it. Hopefully Flecainide will work as well for you and with no side effects.

[Choccie55 in reply to Crystal614]

Thank you 🙏. Do you also take Bisoprolol alongside it or another beta blocker? My main worry is the combination of both will lower the heart rate too much.

[Crystal614 in reply to Choccie55]

I was taking Carvedilol. But after a hospital admission in April for chest pain it was stopped. Nothing to do with Flecainide. I have MVA. There was some discussion that the beta blocker could be causing spasms in the microvessels. I did say to the cardiologist about needing to take a beta blocker with Flecainide. He said "No" which is different to what I was originally told. It was swapped for Diltiazem.

[Choccie55 in reply to Crystal614]

Thanks. It’s all very confusing isn’t it. I’d heard that you needed to be on a beta blocker too. I’ve been on it for 7 years so maybe that’s why they are keeping me on it for the meantime.

[Crystal614 in reply to Choccie55]

I agree with you it is confusing. I'd been on beta blockers for nearly 40 years. Originally prescribed for high blood pressure, just to stop them like that concerned me, but I coped ok without them. No doubt they will monitor you and if need be they will adjust your dosage.

[Soup44]

Hello, I take flecanide (50mg twice a day) and it has been working well for me. I was diagnosed with SVT over 15 months ago. Initially I was put on biseporol and had the dosage altered many times (5mg made everything sluggish - really unpleasant). I thought that I would then live the rest of my life with daily palpitations and thudding heart and then finally put on flecanide after 9 months. Initially I was kept on 2.5mg biseporol as well but had an episode of bradycardia so reduced to 1.25mg. Then when I finally got to see the NHS cardiologist he took me off the biseporol and doubled my flecanide. It’s been such a relief as I now have more good days than bad. Some days I forget about my condition completely! I think it’s finding what medication works for you.

[Choccie55 in reply to Soup44]

SVT is a real nuisance, I sympathise. I’m really glad to hear Flecainide is working for you. I’m a bit worried about the combination of it and the beta blocker lowering my heart rate and blood pressure (which is already low). I’m going to start taking the Flecainide when I’m not home alone just to be on the safe side.

[Turkey_33]

Hi choccie55

I was prescribed both of the medications you are now on . I agree the side affects seemed daunting, however whilst I was on them I did slowly start to feel better after a couple of weeks . Yes I did feel a bit ‘ woosey ‘ in the mornings but once I got going and doing housework /cleaning /walking and going to my classes at the gym I did really feel great .

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon !

[Choccie55]

Thanks so much Turkey33, it’s great to hear positive outcomes. I’ll make sure to keep myself active and busy to reduce the side effects. Glad you are feeling great 😊.

[KeepingHealthy]

I was prescribed Flecainide after having unsuccessful Ablation earlier this year and never felt so poorly and fragile. I couldn't walk up the stairs at home without feeling breathless and legs like jelly. I was told to stop Flecainide straight away and increase my dosage of Bisoprolol. I have felt ok since. It seems that these medications suit some but not others. I hope that it suits you as I was advised that it would ease my symptoms within 30 minutes!

[Choccie55 in reply to KeepingHealthy]

Thanks for sharing your experience, I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.

[Taichid]

I was given this drug to reduce heart rate of 130. However after a few days follow ecg rushed into critical care because I ad flecainide induced tachicardia. Kept in hospital then given pacemaker Not the drug for me

[Choccie55 in reply to Taichid]

Sorry you had such a bad experience.