atrial fib and the long term side effects of flecanide

[jerzgirl]

I am taking 50 mgs of flecanide twice a day for control of aatrial fib episodes since march '07.  I have been given the choice of staying on the flecanide or not taking it but if i should have an episode i could take 300 mgs at one time.  
all of it scares me, I am ok on the flecanide but am concerned about the long term side effects to other organs as well as my heart but also taking 300 mgs at one time also scares me because i don't know how i would do on that and if that is safe either.  HELP!

[salsaman]

Hello ya'll. I have dealt with Afib off and on since 2003. had 2 ablations, been electro cardioverted twice and still 10 years later still have occasional episodes. I am now on 150mg Fleconide 2x daily which seems to be keeping the Afib under control. Besides being concerned about the longterm effects of this med, i have question for any of you . . . has your doctor told you that you should give up caffine? or have you given it up on your own?

[artj1664]

I ride a road bike, am 51 yrs of age. Ave resting heart rate 55ish. My heart rate when riding can go as high as 180 (but very rarely and for short, short periods up big hills) usually below the 170 max and ave of 143 on long 6-7 hr rides. I have been fit since the age of early teens having played field hockey to a good level until I was 45. Had A-Fib for the first time 2 yrs ago. Really knocked me back. Had a hole-in-the-heart as a young child, self corrected but it seems the scar tissue has come back to bite me. Heart works well and all is good apart from the anuerism resulting from the Hole-in-the-heart bit. No underlying issues. So......had cardiversion first few times, then lots of ectopics and now take 50mg of Flecanide and that's it. I started on 100mg twice a day but after reducing it 50mg seems to hold it on track. Keeps everyting ticking beautifully and does not affect me during excersise  but even taking that small amount irritates the hell out of me! I love your comment about looking after the insides too, that's how I am seeing it now but still stress over the need to take drugs long term. Am considering the ablation route but.........the story continues. Oh, I still ride 250km a week so can't be all bad. I do a 165 km ride each yr in just over 5hrs and a 190km Cat 2 ride each yr too in just over 7 hrs. It's OK guys there is life after A-Fib.......I just need to get that through my own thick head.
Thanks.
Art.

[DeltaDawn23]

I know what you mean about an Afib episode knocking you for a loop.  I am on Norpace XR and contemplating going off of it after one year with no episodes.  It's pretty scary.  The Norpace is making me very tired, barely dragging myself around at times, and making it difficult to exercise.I also think it is causing me depression, and makes it easy to get over-heated.  I haven't really explored ablation yet, hoping not to have to go there.   My in-hospital visits have been awful -- gave me too much of the IV drugs and bp bottomed out and added to the issues I already had. My plan is to go in outpatient and get electro-converted if I have an episode again.  My cardiologist's office said that could be arranged.  I think I might give it a shot and go off the Flecainide -- you might never need it again.  Good luck to you -- keep us posted.  

[georgeandlove]

went through similar situations and drugs.  after almost 3 years and break-thrus, i finally received a heart ablation at mass general in boston (6 months ago). have continued on meds including 75mg of flecanide twice daily (but recently lowered to 50 mg twice daily) and all seems well finally. planning to go off the flecanide in about 2 weeks, but really apprehensive about reoccurance of atril fib.  i have no significant side affects and beginning to think i should stay on it.  trying to determine any long term affects. i believe the cardiologist in boston may be trying to determine if the ablation was a complete success for his records.  my cardiologist here in Maine is leaving it up to me. if anyone has good research on long term affects of flecinide useage, i would be grateful to hear about it. i would rather continue with its useage than experience more atril fib (it really knocks me for a loop!)   thanks   george

[CrohnieToo]

I would definitely discuss the dizziness and vision problems w/your cardiologist. Most likey just an adjustment downward of the flecanide would be indicated. Or perhaps a switch to another medication.

[kellybean34]

I am a 34 year old female that just got put on Flecainide...100 2x a day.  I have WPW arrhythmia.  I feel like the arrhythmia has stopped, but I also feel like I am dizzy all the time and cant quite actually focus with my eyes.  Is this something that might go away after a time.  I have only been taking it for about 3 weeks.  I wonder if the side affects are worth it.  Please advise, I would greatly appreciate it.  Thanks!

[edlaf]

I've been on flecainide for AF about a year at 100 mg twice daily. I haven't had an episode since, except for an occasional flip-flop. I also take Diovan 80 mg HCT/12 for moderate high blood pressure which does control it. Initial reaction was fatigue and feeling a little foggy as I remember but has pretty much cleared up. I'm 64. My resting heart rate now (mid 50s) is actually a little higher than it was before these meds (high 40s). I get my heart rate into the 100-130 range during exercise (biking, running) depending how hard I work at it.
Hope this helpful.

[raymond134]

10 years ago i found out i had high plattlets and high blood pressure and af . the af was only a missing beat but has progressed on to out of rythym at least a third of every day. my blood pressure and plattlets are now contained. i was on dixion and amiodorone but now they have changed the amiodorone to flecainide. i have read your report and was just wondering is it really working for you because if this does not work i have to consider the invasive surgury of freezing parts of the arterries. how do you find this drug my age is 49

[kevk]

In April I will have been on Flecainide for 15 years at 150 mg twice daily. So far the only symptoms I have is fatigue, Blurred vision once in a while. I am not sure if it is a side effect but my exercise heart rate only gets to the upper 60`s.
I was put on the med for sustained V-tach and svt. I still get short bursts of v-tach but at a much slower rate 150 range. My ICD has not discharged since starting flecainide.

[Tigersguy]

A year ago, at the age of 56,  I had a first episode of heart problems when I devleoped SVT in the middle of the night with a heart rate of 180.  I was given amioderone in hospital which seemed to work and was put on a beta blocker.  Two seeks later I had an episode of AF with an irregular rate of around 120 and ended up in hospital again in the middle of the night.  I was then put on sotalol which didn't wok and over the next few weeks I was having daily episodes lasting from 1-6 hours but always eventually converting back to normal rhythm.  I then saw a private cardiologist and, after having a heart scan which showed it to be fairly normal structutally, he put me on flecainide 50mg twice a day.  This worked most of the time but I was still getting a breakthrough about once a month.  So I have progressed to first 50mg 3 times a day and now 100mg twice a day. This now seems to be working and I haven't had an episode for over two months.

BUT - I am worried about long term effects and can't seem to find much on this by googling.  It seems to be better than the alternative of having palpitations on a daily basis.  I have talked to my cardiologist about ablation but not sure I am ready to go there yet and he isn't recomendign ti at his stage.  

In terms of side effects I seem to get very tired a lot of the time but nothing much else.

If anyone has any longer term experience, ie years of using flecainide I would be pelased to hear from them.

[cookieno1]

I have been taking 100 mil. Of fleckenide twice a day for a long time.  I had an oblation 3weeks ago.  The Dr. Told me that he thought I could stop it.  I didn't take it yesterday and last night,  I felt horable.  I got up and took 50 mil. And went back to bed.I took 50 mil. Today.  But I don't feel very well.  Does anyone know how I should go off it.

[cookieno1]

Boy I don't know where the&#39 came from

[sajay500]

Hi there,

I'm a thirty five year old male.

I've been on 100mg of flecainide taken twice daily for about a year now - the reason being that i had bouts of A.F and like you used to take 300mg in one go as cardioversion' . As these became more frequent it was decided by my cardiologist to plumb for 100 mg twice daily, since this i have had no probs other than the occasional 'flutter' when stressed!.

Please don't worry,I have an excellent Dr i see privately who assures me that flecainide is safe in long-term use for persons with health hearts. I have no side affects and don't know I'm taking it.

Here is a tip; In the morning you brush your teeth have a shower (looking after your body -right) now you just lookng after your insides too.

As my Dr said to me...there is no such thing a a perfect human body, thank goodness for the knowledge we have  - A fib can now be controlled.
Be happy and very kindest wishes to you- and please do not worry. If ou want to chat further please reply.
Simon. Birmingham U.K

[amanda82]

Hi!
I have been on Flecainde since July. I also take Dig .25 once a day. One the Flecainde I take 150 twice a day. I've never had any problems with either. I do sometime go into AFib at night but that's because I think I need to be on the Dig twice a day. Anyway, when I got on the Flecainde orginally I was taking 100 twice and they told me that my heart rate may drop. I am on a ZERO exercise restriction, but during my last stress test my goal was 160 and that was my resting heartrate. So... I know this probably isn't helping anyone but I am just glad to know someone else is one it. When I have to mention it to anyone they are like... "What?, what is that" Do ya'll get the same thing?

[betauser]

Oh my gosh......  I had the same problem.  I went to a stress test and they told my my target heart rate was 160.  After getting to a full out run I couldn't get my heart rate over 102!!!!!  102 I couldn't believe it.  Are you just on flecanide??

[scaredtodeath1]

I was was put on flecainde while I was pregnant and also took 50mg 2x's per day.  Initially when I went on it I was sent to the heart center here in my hometown and given large doses 100mg 4x's a day for three days, and I did not have any problems or after effects.

[sueinns]

Hi RunnerM:

I'm not that familiar with flecainide but I do know that betablockers do the same thing.  Forget about getting your heart rate up past a certain point on beta blockers.  The reason for this is your heart responds to the exercise by wanting to pump more (increase heart rate) and the beta blocker prevents this from happening.  Although it controlled my palpitations, it also adversely affected a very important part of my life so I was prescribed Cardizem (calcium channel blocker) and got my life back - not 100% but much better than on the betablocker.  Unfortunately, the SVT's and PVC's have returned and the medication seems to not be working as well.  I'm awaiting an ablation.

You may find it interesting that athletes and runners in particular have a higher than average chance of developing atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmia.  Runner's World had an article a few months back and the British Journal of Medicine published a study.

[RunnerM]

Good Morning -- I just joined the forum and your post caught my eye.  I have one notable side effect of flecainide -- I take 100mg AM, 150 PM.  As a marathoner flecainide seems to have suppressed my exercise heart rate significantly.  It has not changed my at rest rate but am unable to get my HR to elevate to a level that allows me to train/race at a satisfactory rate.  I have not had an episode in over 5 months but this particular side effect represents a change in lifestyle for me.

[betauser]

Hey.....just saw your posting.....I have been looking for someone else on Flecanide for a while now.  My doctor said the same thing..... I am suppose to take 100ms twice a day but when I do take it knocks me into a fog.  I also take nadolol.  The combo seems to be to much for me on a daily basis so he said just take it when I need it.  I take nadolol without fail everyday.  Somedays it works and some days it doesn't.  Without it the flecanide I do have problems but for the most part I would rather put up with a little problem than just be in the fog.  I have had to take the flec. twice in the last 4 days.  How does the flecanide make you feel???  Do you have any problems???