I'M with you. My EP wants me on Flecainide 2 X day, but I see others taking as PIP. When I asked him he did not think it was a good idea!??but I figure he's the doctor. Right?

Well I am so new when I go to the Dr. I have so many questions I forget to ask him about PIP. He has me coming in every month til it stabalizes, so it is number one question for next month.

hi girls....my protocol is Flecainide 50mg twice a day and then I use it as a PIP for an event followed by 25mg of Atenolol if needed....however I am so well controlled by my maintenance dose that I havent had to use a PIP in a VERYYYYY long time :) My EP guy told me to just think of it as others think of their BP med.....its just *your pill* I will gladly take it for life if it keeps things in their current shape...
all the best
jan

I was given Metoprolol when diagnosed. I felt so lethargic told dr. I didn't want to take it. My rate was in low 50's and I got an episode about every 20 days. He reduced dosage, then gave me extended release...and I was miserable for 3 mos. I told him, I had to stop taking it. Dr. said, I needed a pace maker so I could feel better.

I went to a different Cardio Dr . I told him I wanted to take Metoprolol only when I had an episode. He said OK.

I have been doing PIP for 3+ yrs.

I had a lot of difficulty when I had an epinephrine shot for tooth extraction. Afib for a month, off and on, felt awful. Cardio dr. said I needed Ablation. I knew it was epi induced and didn't know what to do, so I went to another dr for 2nd opinion.. He told me, to relax, my heart would soon reset and I would be OK. He was right...I have stayed with him. The same thing happened last Spring from a Zpac antibiotic combined with Prednisone.

My PCP gave me Rhythmol to take, saying it was better because it would take me out of afib sooner than the Metoprolol.

He is right, it takes me out within 90 min. but I don't feel well after taking it.

For 2 yrs.I used Metoprolol as PIP, it takes my rate down from 140 to 100 in about 15-20 min. It does not take me out of afib. I stayed with an irregular heart beat for 4-10 hrs. I don't feel great, but, I function pretty OK. I can tell right away when I convert.

I usually get afib in the early morning hours. I take my PIP right away..

Now, for the past year, later in the morning, when I feel up to it, I take a slow jog around the block raising my HR...and this converts me. Only once, when my afib came on because of a highly emotional disturbing experience. did the jog not work.

This is how it works for me.

The verapamil came with the Dr. and I working making sure what I take is gluten free. My heart beat does not drop so that is good. I am getting use to meds just want it is all to be necessary.

Yogacat.....when my HB goes up I must remain calm, tried to walk once and when I got home my chest was heavy. I am Impressed I think I would rather do yoga

laurab

I did Yoga for almost 40 yrs.....love it so much. I have lower back, hip and shoulder issues and lately knee issues, so my postures are fewer and fewer. I switched to TaiChi when my back wouldn't bend anymore...but, rotator cuff tears put an end to that.

The Metoprolol takes my BP and HR down so I can jog. I don't think I could do it without having taken the Metoprolol earlier in the morning.

The only med. I take daily for my heart is Pradaxa.

My paroxysmal afib is also asymptomatic. I was having short episodes fairly frequently including very hard palpitations. My only related med is 25mg of metoprolol twice daily. The situation changed when I started on CPAP and starting taking a magnesium supplement and food with high potassium content. Since then my palpitations have almost disappeared or are very slight and the afib episodes have diminished until there have been none for the past year (as far as I know). I still take the metoprolol daily and started on xarelto over a year ago. I'm not sure what went right, but for now I'm changing nothing.
Mitch

Junie, there are ways around some doctors ideas. I begged for years for the PIP after passing several stress tests, to no avail. Then one younger cardio prescribed Flec for daily use. To which I said sure, give me the most and highest dose available. I took it for 1 month, and quit, but its in the cabinet labeled "PIP only"

It's really a treat to come here and get such useful personal information, helps me everyday!

Hi Laura,
SameDayNurse and I have very similar afib experiences. I also take flecainide twice a day and have not had an episode in a very long time. Before flecainide it was an episode about twice a week.
This was my theory....weekly episodes had to be causing some strain on my heart and were frequent enough to interfere with my quality of life. A PIP that would help me convert is better than nothing, but afib is still gonna happen, and may become more frequent. I felt that it would be better to STAY in NSR with daily med rather than continue to stress my heart with frequent episodes. That was how I made my decision....and flecainide gave me back my life.

Thanks I think I may ask about flecainide next month if I do not notice any improvement. Just checked and it is a med that lists it as gluten free and did not take as much research as mosr meds do. Yesterday was day three of Afib and I am worn out.........I want what little energy I had back, I am only 63 want some fun back!

Lalab, If your heart is healthy, theres no reason you shouldnt have Flec on hand as a PIP. Many including myself have used it to convert back to NSR. I dont take anything daily now, but wont hesitate to use anything and everything available to convert. I am against using meds daily as I believe eventually they all fail along with compromising other organs. One thing with Flec, it is a sodium block. Your muscles release sodium to function correctly. The bandaid, Flec blocks your heart muscle to return it to normal rhythm, however, it blocks all your other muscles also. This is a personal decision for everyone, but I suggest we do our homework on any med and not just take the word from the scientific community as gospel. How many meds have been taken off the market over the years after being deemed as safe and effective?

what marikay said !!!!!!! I can always count on her to know what Im thinking.......
I went back and checked and I have been on Flecainide for a little bit over 8 years....never had the dose change.....only used it as PIP approx 5 times in 8 years....when used as PIP it worked every time and quickly.....I have passed more than one stress test with flying colors, BP rocks it, and there are many many days in my life that I dont even think of myself as having a fib . I know this is all *subject to change* but....isnt everything ? In the meantime.......:)
jan