PVCs and Trigeminy PACs

[j389]

I've read a lot of postings that sound similar to what I have and thought I'd maybe give some hope to someone.  I was diagnosed with PVCs and PACs many years ago.  They occurred infrequently, and echo came out fine.  I was told not to worry about them unless they became a problem.  They would come and go for months at a time.  Over the years I felt them more and more, though.  Eventually they got to the point where they came back and never left.  I felt like they were pounding so hard and I experienced them several times a day.  (they almost felt like anxiety attacks or something)  I finally thought that maybe I would try medication for them so I went to a cardiologist.  He had me try various beta-blockers.  Propranolol, Inderal LA, Metaprolol, Toprol XL.  They all worked for a bit, but they all lowered my resting heart rate to about 48 bpm and I was soooo tired.  I stopped all beta-blockers and my doctor tried a calcium channel blocker.  That didn't work at all.  I finally got to the point where I was having the premature beats EVERYDAY and almost ALL day.  It was making me tired, slow and anxious at the same time.  I finally went to an Electrophysiologist.  The EKG done in his office, and a 24 hour holter moniter, recorded Trigeminy PAC's, plus some PVC's in there.  He prescribed Flecainide Acetate - 100mg every 12 hours.  I've been taking it for several months and the premature beats are gone for the most part.  The Flecainide Acetate doesn't cure them, just stops them from occurring for now.  It doesn't make my heart rate too low like the beta-blockers did.  The only thing I notice is that if I am late with taking the Flecainide Acetate when I am supposed to, I start to get the premature beats again.

[rach6060]

Are going to continue taking flecinide? Did your EP offer an ablation procedure?

[j389]

I just started the Flecainide in June 2008.  For now I will continue taking it.  My EP said that if the Flecainide didn't work then ablation would be the next step.  It's working so far.   The Flecainide doesn't cure the arrhythmia, it just stops it from occuring.  I may decide at some later point to try the ablation, if the Flecainide doesn't work anymore or if I find out there are risks with taking it long term.  The doctor said there wasn't a risk to taking it long term, but you never know - everyday there's new information out there on medicines.