AFIB + WPW + Flecainade

Hi -

In 2005 I was dx'd with AFIB after having a dx of WPW since 1993.  I take 100mg of atentolol twice a day and 100 mg of flecainade twice a day.  I have been symptom free since late 2005.

I am also over weight, 45, female and a non-smoker, non-drinker.  Last evening I had an episode for the first time in a long time.  I had forgotten how scary they are.  I wish I didn't feel mine.

My question is -- how long is Flecainade effective.  Can it just stop working? Or lose it's ability to do it's job?

I'd like to begin a weight lifting program or cycling program but am afraid of working my heart to hard and throwing my self into afib.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

AFib in the setting of WPW often goes away after the WPW is fixed.  What I would recommend to a patient in my office is to consider an ablation to cure the WPW and possibly even the AFib.  There is a chance that you wouldn't need the atenolol or flecainide.

It is tough to answer your question because it depends on if your afib is caused by the WPW or if the AFib is independent of the WPW.  The only way to know for sure is to ablate the WPW and see if the afib comes back.  If it is primarily an afib problem, yes, sometimes the flecainide does stopping working after a few years or longer.

Talk to your doctor before you start working ok to make sure they are ok with it.

[yorkshireterrier]

Hi

I was reading your story with interest. 6 weeks ago I had my first attack of Afib after a heavy night out with my girlfriends (Iam 48 female).  I was taken into hospital the following morning where they had to give me flecainide through a drip to bring me back to sinus rhythm.  I dont take any medication at all but am waiting for a diagnosis of either Afib or WPW as apparently now I have a short PR Interval which may be a sign of WPW.  I really am looking for someone to chat to about this who is going through the same so hope that you can help.

I do hope so

[Bromley]

I went through a WPW dx 4 years ago when I was 44. This dx followed 20 years of now and then tachycardia that was never caught on any sort of recording media.  You should feel relieved at this point that your dx is getting close. You will no doubt be doing an EP study soon, which should finalize it and probably result in a recommended solution to your problem. My dx lead to a fairly efffective cure.

Good luck.