flecainide side effects

[underinformed35]

Hello everyone! I just recently started taking Flecainide (about a month ago)for rhythm issues and pvc's and it has really helped. I have not had any pvc's since starting on it at all and I was having thousands a day every day!  My question is kind of weird. A few days ago I started having leg pain in my left leg. Then it started going numb. It would alternate between pain and numbness. I did not have any swelling though and now it feels better. Could that be a side effect of the medicine that is not listed or should I concerned?

[LindaTX]

The only med I am on for my heart, other than a statin, is a blood-thinner.  I haven't been having a-fib but I do get short bouts of tachycardia although les and less frequently.  I take 25mg ToprolXL and that cuts it down to just a few minutes, and I haven't had any episodes for a long time but my EP still won't take me off the blood-thinner.

I've said this on here before on another thread ....My Dr told me that muscle has memory, your heart is a muscle, therefore when it gets in the "habit" of going into a-fib or whatever arrhythmia, it automatically goes back to that abherent pathway.  If you can manage to stay out of it long enough the theory goes that it will learn to use the new or "right" pathway and you won't be bothered by the arrhythmia any more.  But I have to say that without the ablation and a lot of prayer on my part, I don't think I'd be doing anywhere near as well as I am doing today.

[JoPAF]

thankyou, thats what my cardiologist said too, healthy heart no problems taking it. When and if it stops working cross that bridge then. I have read a couple of aticles where people have been on it for over twenty years and no problems. Course the temptaion is to come off it and see what happens but i am scared of that also, its good to finally talk to people going throught the same, thankyou

[JoPAF]

thankyou for your comments. My cardiologist said that he considers an ablation as quite a risky prodedure and would only recommend if treatment failed to work. He said that even an ablation can sometimes not work and in some cases actually make it worse. Not on blood thinners at present as again he did not think necessary. To be honest when i went 5 years clear i thought it was gone. Even went through labour and no problem at all. Although i suppose AF itself isn't dangerous other than obviously a clot problem, i suppose it would be quite debilitating should you be in all the time. I think what i need as much as anything is mental support but my GP seems very flippant about it, as i suppose most people who have not experienced it does. Glad its work for you, you must be soo happy. Are you on any meds now?

[Kim_1970]

I am on Propafenone (Rythmol) an antiarrythmic.
I did not want to take it either. I was super scared to take it and told my Dr how fearful I was.
The first EP Dr I saw said it could kill me!  He said it was because he was not convinced my arrythmia was not  the life threatening kind.
The second opinion that I saw, a much older and more experienced Dr, EP wrote in all caps on piece of paper:
Anti-arrythmics
Young Age (41)
Low Dose
Healthy Heart
Will NOT hurt you!
I have been on them a month now and it is really helping.
I did not start them in the hospital.
Although, I do get pacs everyday.

Ablation scheduled 3-16-12

[LindaTX]

Have you ever considered getting an ablation for the a-fib?  I was on flecainide and just about all the anti-arrhythmic drugs and they work but not long-term.  Flecainide can be a dangerous drug, especially if there are any other issues with your heart (anything structurally).  I had peripheral vision disturbances pretty bad.

Are you currently taking a blood-thinner?  I did have a PVI Ablation a year ago Sept and have not had a-fib for over a year now. It might be worth considering since you've been dealing with this for so long.

[JoPAF]

Hello. My name is Jo. I am a 43 yr old female that has had PAF for 15 years now. Was on Flecainide pill in the pocket approach. Was clear for 5 years with just the odd flutter now and again when all of a sudden its back. 8 episodes in two weeks. Went to see cardiologist and had echocardiogram which revealed my heart to be normal. Have been put on Flecainide full time now 100mg twice daily. 6 months free with one two minute episode. Dizzy spells now and again but visual disturbances a lot. Constantly worried about this drug but it is working for me. My only problem is that i am taking a potentially life threatening drug for a non life threatening arrythmia. Going back to docs this week to discuss, but they are all for it.