Drs. Drs., I think they all have a dart board to determine what they tell patients. When I discussed flec with my EP, he said I couldn't take it because I have a slow heart rate (usually high 40's to low 50's at rest) and flec contains a beta blocker that may slow me down too much. He said that if we were to try a rhythm control drug, we should try Rythmol (Propafenone). I specifically asked if that would require a hospital stay, he said it wouldn't. Go figure. Since my heart seems steadier for the last few months, I'll stick with just my Eliquis and 2.5 mg Norvasc (1/2 of the minimum dose).

I've had great luck with Flecainide. I was diagnosed with Afib 1/15 and had 2 Afib events after that, one last 57 1/2 hours. My MD put me on flecainide after that episode (2/15) and I've had one small Afiib episode since then. Before the flecainide and between the 2 episodes, I'd have a lot of little bumps and flutters, but that has also really decreased. I can't say I've noticed any side effects of the medication.

I am a huge fan of Flecainide and soon you will hear from marikay Im sure. I have been on 50mg twice a day for almost 10 years....I have never had a symptom or a side effect and after the first few years I have been episode free for a very long time. Flecanide is one of the oldest and most reliable anti arrythmics and it seems EP guys either love it or they don't , and of course as pts we are all different in our response to things too. Best of luck and if there is anything I can answer for you or help with please let me know
jan

I had problems similar to yours - fatigue, spaciness, and BP spiking to 200/100. My EP took me off of Flec after 3 weeks. Switched to Rythmol with fewer side effects.

Thank you to all with their input on this drug. My best understanding is most have success with it. But, some of us do not and experience some side-effects. Those rendered me pretty non-functional as well as anxious. When in a-fib, I don't feel as bad as Flecainide made me feel. Included with a prescription is a long list of side-effects, which explained some of my experience.. I do not understand why my EP stated he had never heard of these in any of his patients. ? Perhaps he must have meant after one dose?
Paul, I had two EP's explain I would need to be in the hospital to start Propafenone, and another one prescribed some to carry as a PIP! Go figure, exactly! Wish I could.

Sounds like you had the same reaction to Flec as I did. In addition to putting me in a fog, it felt like someone was squeezing my heart. I took it as "preventative" after ablation and felt 100% better when I went off it. I also blame my 2 week blanking period episode at least partially on the stuff - no hard evidence, just what I feel in my heart :-). Hang in there - hopefully something different with fewer side effects will work.

Well, as Jan said, I have to add my 2 cents :)
I have been on flecainide without any side effects and have been episode free for a long time also. It truly gave me my life back.
But that does you no good. If you have side effects that are intolerable I wouldn't take it. The cure shouldn't be worse than the disease!
As far as the anticoagulant....a brain bleed is a serious side effect. I think the best thing you can do is try to reduce any other risk factors you have. Weight loss, control B/P, reduce stress, treat sleep apnea, etc. If you are having such infrequent afib episodes I think you have to weigh which risks are greater....medication risks or afib risks.
Ultimately, this is your life and you can decide which course you take.

@cahbrew - Has your doctor had you undergo an echocardiogram and a nuclear stress/exercise study (myocardial perfusion study)?

These are standard precaution checks done on patients who are prescribed or to be prescribed Flecainide. Although my doctor told me that Flecainide is the "best antiarrhythmic on the market", it is not for everyone - for people with certain conditions - less-than-healthy hearts, it can trigger new arrhythmias - sometimes in the ventricles. Hence these studies - if normal, the patient is not likely to experience new arrhythmias. I have undergone both of the two tests. The echo is completely painless and takes about 45 mins. The nuclear stress/exercise study takes about 3 1/2 to 4 hours - involves injection of a radioisotope and getting on the exercise treadmill and lying down under a scanner and all were okay.

I've been on Flecainide 2 x 50 mg per day for over a year (about 13 months) and I have not had much of any issues. A few months ago, I did have a couple of what I think were atrial flutter episodes that came on while I was sleeping at night - a somewhat elevated but still-regular heart rate, a bit of lightheadedness (that's a characteristic of atrial flutter as opposed to atrial fibrillation). I just took an extra Flecainide (with the permission of my doctor, of course) along with my regular dose and it stopped in 2 hours. Other than that, I have not had any issues. I do need to be careful to go to sleep on time and not stay up and I'm usually not tired. I exercise regularly - swimming, fast-walking, biking which I think helps a lot.

Flecainide isn't a beta-blocker as I understand it, it is a sodium ion channel blocker that slows the sodium ion in-rush during the initial cardiac cells depolarization that initiates the heart beat. By slowing it down, it increases refractory time and that in turn, makes it less likely for the looping rotors characteristic of atrial fibrillation (or flutter) to form and if they form, forces them to terminate.

Hope this information is helpful.

Yes, severe reaction to this black box med. The danger with this med is that most as I did, can tolerate it at a low dosage. 50mg twice a day according to my cardio wasnt sufficient as a standing dose and increased to 100mg x 2. From that day on I worked to wean off it.
It didnt make the 12 most dangerous drugs list for nothing, right behind blood thinners and statins. From the PDR, Physicians Desk Reference book, physicians are clearly warned of the dangers of the long term use of beta blockers: shortness of breath, cold extremities, palpitations, congestive heart failure and hypertension.
As a PIP it may be fine. As a standing dose I think were playing with fire.

Just replied to new posts here and the site did not post, or could not post? Said there was something wrong with site. I will try again later. Anyone have this happen?

I also had bad side effects...all I was able to do while on it initially was lie on the bed and breathe....very unatural fatigue. If I had to go to the bathroom, I was forced to crawl because I didn't have the energy to walk. But after three months my body normalized to it and I am fine. Flecainide only reduces the number of a fib episodes I get though. from almost daily to maybe twice a month...and they always last 5-10 hours....ruins your whole day.