My husband was on flecainide and he was fine all day, but within 45minutes of his nightly dose after dinner he would have afib and again around 3 am when he would get up to go to the bathroom. It was crazy!

Wow, that is a scary thought. I'm interested in the responses for this question also.

I have been suspicious of these drugs. And I have felt that they were triggering a fib eventtts, I had a real problem with multaq which was my second med the EP tried on me after using Norpace for a year. But I am not sure if it was just my a fib I was going through or it was the meds.

For me the drugs did increase the afib and made it more severe. I won't ever go back on any of them.

Hello Bucco - Very interesting post. I am 3 months post ablation and was put on Tikosyn 375 mg x 2. Just got off a 30 loop monitor and I am having about 30 short afib episodes daily. Many more episodes than pre-ablation but also less severe and shorter. When I read the insert on the pkg it does say that Tikosyn can cause arrhythmias. I am going to the doctor this Friday and I will quiz him.

katywhite, do you mind me asking you what drugs your were on? Just antiarhythmic, or others too?

I've got my afib episodes down to 1 every 8-9 days now, instead of every other day when I finally stopped flec in Nov of 12. I hope it continues to improve, I have no idea what is going on. Like I said in prior threads, my episodes are on a schedule which slowly keeps getting longer between episodes. I though afib was suppose to get worse?

Keepumping, I will be Keeping my fingers crossed for you ( and all of us)!

I used Rhythmol for PIP last week, and I am on day 10 NSR. I had a month when episodes were long and frequent. Did the Rhythmol help get my heart back on track????

Thanks, I just don't know what to think about the medical establishment anymore. I feel great off of meds and when not in afib. And now when I get an afib episode, it still last for 16-20 hours but it's tolerable but I can't do anything physical other than walk because my heart rate will go over 140. But is it worth the risk of an ablation(s)? I can't help to think there is a somewhat simple cause that can be aleviated but who's going to research that with all the money being made right now with just treating symptons?

Hi Keeppumping
I couldnt agree with you more!!
I started flecainide in Jan and my episodes have increased in frequency, but have be shorter then the 12plus hours without the med. I was told yesterday to increase the flecainide to 150mg bid and if that doesnt work try a need med. The only difference I notice while on the med it that I am able to function better. Because like you when I had an episode before the med I couldnt do anything physicial. My episodes now seem to come in the evening/night time. It is very frustrating!! Do I want to try another med or just stop completely I dont know what to do.
Thanks for reading
mek3

Everyone seems to be in agreement that these meds used to treat Afib are very questionable at best and I couldn't agree more. This has to be one of the most frustrating diseases to deal with and I hope and pray that there will be a cure for all of us one day, that includes are families as well that suffer right along with us.

Paul

To follow up on my last post, my local ep said to get off Tikosyn on Friday as I was still having afib daily so it must not be working and I have finished my blanking period of 3 months after ablation. When I called my ep at Duke he said to stay on it a while longer. I go to Duke on the 18th of this month and will let you know what they said regarding the Tikosyn. I feel like I may just get of the Tikosyn and take my chances with rate control.

It's the nature of these drugs to also cause arythmias. The trick is to find the one that works which may take many tries. I know it sounds counter intuitive but it's kind of like a forest fire. Some times to stop a forest fire another fire is set and when they meet, poof they knock each other out.

Rate control is safe and works for me. petey

Aside from Warfarin I'm medication free .
In the beginning, July 2010, I was offered rhythm control drugs but declined. It works for me! My symptoms are mild and not interfering with my life activities.
My AF irregular HB is between 65-85. My normal rate is in the 40's and 50's. The irregular HB lasts 8-24 then converts.

After reading others comments on anti-arrhythmic drugs I hesitate to take Rythmol as a PiP which on my request was prescribed.

NSR to all with whatever works!