Flecanide

[VTBen]

I've been offered the option of taking Tambacor to treat non-sustained Vt and Bigeminy PVC's. I had ablation procedures, and they failed because the idiopathic VT was to close to the right bundle branch.  Now, the doctors say that this condition, in a heart like mine, which is perfectly healthy, the VT and PVC's are also not life threatning. They also say that in a healthy heart like mine, Tambacor is pretty safe.   I've read all the bad things about Tambacor, and I'm not sure I want to take a drug that could cause lethal side effects for something that won't.  I guess the doctors have let me down with their advice.  They leave the decision up to me, but my decision is an uneducated guess.  My question is,  

1.What percent of people who take Tambacor, who have healthy hearts, develope dangerous pro-arrhythmic effects from the drug?

2.Is there any help(safer) coming to help people with PVC's?  ( we suffer very much, and we'd love to spend our money on help)

3.I know that caffeine, nicotine and alcohol cause PVC's.  But I've heard rumors to stay away from msg and peanut butter.  Is there any weight to that?

Thank you very much for your service.
Ben

[Thump]

I can tell you from experience that alcohol aggravates PVC's. In my case NOT when I'm drinking it, but the day after ! Other things that aggravate them are - stress (PVC's LOVE adrenaline,) and tiredness.

If your heart is healthy forget the drugs. I know PVC's are a royal pain in the neck but in your case they are most likely harmless. Regular heartbeats are monotonous and boring.

[Sandy MT]

dear ben,

i forgot to mention that in the research that i did on flecainide there is not a large percent of people that receive serious compliations from the drug and there are many other drugs far more serious like amiodarone. i hope that i didnt sound to negative about the drug i just wanted to let you know the experience i  have had. when you go on these drugs your doctor will monitor you blood work, xray your lungs e.t.c. my doctor checks me quite often that is how he found out about the liver. maybe you can discuss this with your doctor. i do hope that you can find the right solution for you and get on to feeling better. before i went on meds. i could barely walk across the room now i walk 2 miles a day again i wish you the best.

                                        sandy

[Sandy MT]

dear ben,

i have been on flecainide for a year now.  i have a heart disease called right ventricular dsyplasia. i recently found out   that my liver enzymes are quite high my cardiologist thinks it may be from the flecainide. i know that arrhythmias can make you feel terrible and can effect your abillity to function day to day but,  some time the risks of taking these types of meds can be worse than the arrhythmias. did you know that this med can cause life threatening arrhythmias? i was relieved when i went off the amiodarone because of the leathal side effects. i was told that this one is not as bad and it could be that im sensitive to meds because i have taken a reation to side effects to all that i have been on. im hoping that i dont have liver damage. my cardiologist says he will keep monorating my blood weekly and if they get higher he will take me off it. then who know what i will go on. doctors know the risks of these meds and im sure most if not all would not perscribe it if he or she did not think it was needed. talk to your doctor and tell him or her how you feel or ask for a second opinion. i would ask him to recomend the doctor for the opinion for he can refer you to some one with the knowledge needed. not all g.p's are familure. i hope that you wont stop taking the med with out advice. i had to go off during all the testing i had to go through and did not fare to well. i didnt know that a person could have as many cardioversion as i had in 3 days. [8] good luck and best wishes. merry chrsitmas

[Cuore]

I've heard that "Sweet and Low" can cause more PVC's.  Anyone heard that one?  Thanks.

[Joe]

used to live in the far east, after I ate any food I knew immediately if it had msg in it, the arrhythmias were unbearable.

[Thump]

My guess is that you sleep poorly when you drink, at least I do. Tiredness is a factor with PVC's PAC's. I'm not "on the wagon" yet, but I have cut way back.

If I need valve work I'll be on the wagon.

[RE: msg and peanut butter]

Any PVC sufferers out there notice an effect of these substances?



well, for the msg and peanut butter, I wonder about the sodium somehow having a play with this.  Would this effect the electrolyte balance and therefore have some kind of contributory effect?

[Bill Serrahn]

I have had PVC or PACs intermittently, starting a couple of month's after a 1999 heart attack.  They were definitely aggravated by Alcohol, caffiene, and stress.

I was taking a small dose of Atenolol, to ease the heart's workload, after the M.I., but it didn't seem to have much affect on the episodes of arrythmia.

In September, I added Altace to the Norvasc which I had been taking for BP.  In addition to finally getting my BP under control, my episodes of PVC or PACs have almost completely disappeared.  

I really feel very normal 99% of the time, which has never really been the case for any extended period of time since the M.I.

I know that Altace isn't claimed to be an anti-arrythmic drug, but I think that it has worked that way in my case.  

If you are prone to higher than normal BP, it might be worth a try. The risk of side effects is much lower than most drugs.

[on the wagon]

day after for me too thump....weird isnt it?

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

Dear Ben,
Flecanide (brand name Tambocor) is a Class IC antiarrhythmic drug that works by blocking sodium channels.  It is  highly effective in suppressing PVCs and ventricular tachycardia and is also sometimes used for atrial fibrillation.  Its use is contraindicated in persons with underlying heart disease as there is an increased mortality in this population.  The package insert quotes a 4 - 10% proarrhythmic effect but it is probably somewhat  less than that in general use.   There are no new drugs in development for PVCs.  The newest antiarrhythmic drug to be released is dofetalide and this is not indicated for PVCs. It also has a high proarrhythmic effect and must be started in the hospital.  I haven't heard about MSG and peanut butter before.  Any PVC sufferers out there notice an effect of these substances?