My mom is on Sotalol and seems to be OK with it.
Sotalol is for both Atrial and Ventricular I believe it is a little stronger than flecainide. I am not sure about flecainide my doc actually wants me on it since I have had a couple episodes recently and I was only on Diltiazem to slow my rate. I lowered my dose of Diltiazem.
I actually cut my dose in half and I started having a couple episodes here and there.

I am doing well with flecainide. Have taken it since May 1. I started it at home also. Personally, I would go with the recommendation of the EP.
As far as side effects, if you read the black box warnings they are scary. I had to have a stress-echo before starting it. But for people with otherwise healthy hearts the risk is very small.

I can't say enough good about Flecainide. My cardiologist put me on Sotalol first . On Stalol I had an interesting response. I stayed out of Afib for 18 days and then went into AFIB for 2 days. That pattern repeated itself for 3 or 4 months. THen the cardiologist referred me to an EP who immediately put me on Flecainide/Toprol. I have been in sinus rhythm for the last 3.5 years. The best news is I can now drink some coffee each day.

I was put on Sotalol after my third cardioversion and was having suicidal thoughts on it. My cardio wanted me to see a psychiatrist and I told him I was pretty sure it was the meds. The following day I went on Multaq and have felt great since. Great mood and NO AFIB.

Thank you all for the responses. I was told the it is not urgent that I start on an antiarrythmtic yet, as I only have 2 episodes a month. That is what seems to be the pattern so far. The EP told me to try and find a trigger if there is any. I think it is hormones and she said to track the episodes, so that is where I stand. I am very sensitive to meds...so Steve9 and Marikay does flecainide have a score on them so that it can be cut in half. I was tld that if it was scored I could start with 25mg first then increase.
Just so everyone is aware I am not on here very often becuase when I read the problems that others expereince they bother me and I start to relate them to myself so I have to limit what I read, and remember everyone is different.
Thank you all for the support.
The email I changed to goes right to my phone now so I have all of you with me!!
Mek3

I was on Sotalol for 2 years before being put on Flecainide. April 1 of this year I had an afib attack and the upped the dose of Sotalol. I got worse and had another attack 3 weeks later. Again the Sotalol dose was increased and I had 3 more attacks 2 days apart for each one. I did reseach on my own as the cardiologist didn't seem to have any answers to my questions regarding why it was always at night(never have one during the day)why it only happened when resting and only when on my side. I found through my research that I have what is called "Vagal Afib". It does not respond well to betablocker drugs and infact they can worsen the problem. I saw an EP and asked him if he recognized Vagal Afib as a form and if so did he believe it should be treated differently. He said yes to both questions and that Sotalol was not the drug of choice for my problem. He started me on Flecainide and my relapses have stopped. Don't know how long I will have the joy of being afib free but am enjoying it right now. Like others have said I would take the word of your EP. I was also started on Felcainide at home. And yes, the tablets are scored. I take 50 mg in the am and 100 mg in the pm. I tried to cut my evening does to 50 and had a breakthrough. Upped my evening dose back to 100 and have been fine ever since. If you by chance have vagal afib like me definitely go with the Flecainide. I have had no side effects from this drug as of being on for 5 weeks. Hope this helps,

Janey

My suggestion is to look into to natural methods. This means do a detox for metal and non metallic toxins in your body. Restore your weight to normal recommendations if you are overweight, start a daily exercise program if you are not on one such as tai chi or yoga or walking, update your daily vitamins to include Omega 3, non-flush niacin and magnesium. Worked for me and I'm totally off the meds now. I used to have afib episodes many times in a day, now I have none and no meds are needed.

To DougL: Been there, done that, bought the tee shirt and nothing changed. I'm in aFib all the time. Natural is great but meds do the trick.

I have been on Flecainide for about two years and it controlled my Afib breakthroughs pretty well to about every couple of months, lasting anywhere from 1 to 5 hours. They lasted two days before. Now, after a cardio stress test, my Cardiologist says the ECG showed a widening of the QRS duration during exercise of 35% which is over the 25% recommended limit. Now he is switching me from flecainide to Solotol and I am worried as I read that it helps prevent episodes but is not as good as returning an Afib episode to Sinus once it starts.