AFib

I am a very active 59 year old.  I was diagnosed with paroxymal vagal Afib tens years ago.  I take flecanide twice daily which usually prevents  afib.  After a recent bout, my doctor prescribed Toprol.  I am wondering if taking both drugs is safe.  Can I stop the flecanide?  Does anyone out there have a similar story?

[Jerry_NJ]

To my knowledge Flecanide is an anti-arrhythmic drug and Toprol is a "simple" Beta Blocker.  

I have never taken Flecanide, but I have taken Propafenone Metoprolol (generic Toprol) at the same time.

Is you heart rate without the Toprol too high?  Or, is your blood pressure too high?  The BB would help lower both, but I doubt that it will do much for stopping episodes of AFib...just my experience.  None of the meds stop my AFib, but again I've never taken Flecanide.  

[kcd86]

A-Fib in some patients is a very difficult arrhythmia to control the ventricular response. Dr's have to try various different combinations to keep the ventricular heart rate under control. I am assuming your on flecainide because you are one of the patients that has had frequent"episodes". Adding a beta blocker to your med regimine is a normal process to keep the episodes to a minimum. Some patients no matter what combination of drugs they are on can't control the vetricular heart rate, these patients should be reffered to an arrhythmis specialist called an Electrophysiologist. These are Dr's who specialize in the electrical system of the heart.
Good Luck
Kevin

[kcd86]

Just another adition to my last post:
Just wanted to clarify,when a Dr places you on Flecainide for your A-Fib it is imperative that you are placed on a beta blocker as well. If you are on just Flecainide and you go into a 1 to1 atrial flutter which means you will have a very very fast ventricular heart rate originating from a very fast atrial rate would be very dangerous.

[Supermicwal]

Thanks to all for the responses.   I started with 100 mg of flecanide at the onset.  After awhile I was prescribed 150 mg, then eventually 150 mg twice daily.  That has usually controlled the afib.  Occassionally (approximately 4-6 times per year my afib while start inspite of the regular dose of flecanide.  Recently, after an episode of afib, my pulse stayed up (100 plus) for a couple of hours.  My blood pressure is typically not high.  It was after this episode that my Dr. suggested Toprol.