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Talk about flecainide
I saw a quick comment somewhere here that flecainide is really bad.
So..I did a bit of checking….every reference I found said that the risk of liver and or kidney damage requires the patient to be closely monitored. Wow…I was put on this and told nothing about monitoring…further I was told that the risk for low. That’s not what I am reading.
Also, I found this at drugs.com (frankly I think they wouldn’t publish without the facts to support it):
Warning
Oral route (Tablet)
Excessive mortality or nonfatal cardiac arrest rate was seen in patients with asymptomatic non-life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and with myocardial infarction for more than six days but less than two years previously who received flecainide, compared with patients assigned to a carefully matched placebo in the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST). Consider the risks of Class IC agents (including flecainide) and the lack of evidence of improved survival, which is generally unacceptable in a patient without life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, even if the patient is experiencing unpleasant, but not life-threatening, symptoms or signs. Flecainide is not recommended for use in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. Case reports of ventricular proarrhythmic effects in patients treated with flecainide for atrial fibrillation/flutter have included increased premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and death.
If you followed my story here, you know that I rarely have an episode and never lasts more than a few minutes. Been this way for 8 years. Hardly what I would call a life threatening condition. (Especially now I am on eliquis).
I suppose I could go back to my primary…but, it is unacceptable to enlist help to confront the EP? I worry that I might get fired by the doc if he feels I am just trouble. So, I cannot get into the EP for 2 more weeks…(remember closely monitoring?). I am inclined to just taper off this and then quit.
What would you do with this knowledge?
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I would email my EP through my patient portal and ask this question. The EP I go to has a support staff of nurse practitioners who answer questions. I emailed a question today and received a phone call back an hour later.
I have mentioned this in other places but it is important enough to repeat. My husband was given flecainide for Afib before an ablation. It caused serious side effects for him. The worst was causing him to faint as he was driving my car. He fainted and hit a telephone pole, the car was totaled, and he fortunately not badly hurt. But the drug can be dangerous for some people, and people who are prescribed it need to know this.
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3 ReactionsPS he reported funny feelings in his head before this happened.
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2 ReactionsWhat was your dosage?
I have been on flecanide for two years for afib. Have not had it but once since on 50 mg every 12 hours and 2.5 of bisprolol once a day. No side effects so far!🙏
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3 ReactionsNot sure of dose. He was only to take when in afib to help it stop. Not on a regular schedule. Didnt work for him. Glad you are ok.
It is only intended for use in paroxysmal afib. I have been on it for a year. I was in and out of afib frequently and miserable. The flecainide completely stopped it and I have no side effects. It was taken off the market in 1986. Was revamped and usage adjusted. It is safe now if properly prescribed.
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2 ReactionsIs it still a black box prescription? If so, it is a warning of a sort.
I have a heavy burden of PVCs at 23.8% that started in February 2024. I never had these in my life Before February. The EP put me on Flecainide after the Atenolol increased my PVCS. However, even at 25 mg, the Flecainide did the same thing, but worse. I could not sleep for almost 2 days. I felt like my heart was pounding out of my chest the whole time, and I felt like I was on speed or something. It was terrible. I am wondering if it just acts differently for certain people. I am a 53-year-old woman, normal, BPI, never smoker and used to have a drink about once or twice a month before my PVC started.
My heart rate actually dropped significantly when I was on this. It was like 32 and I did feel like I was getting really weak and felt like I could pass out at one moment. It would go back up, but my heart rate generally doesn’t go super high. I also read an article from the Cleveland clinic. I believe that said that you should be monitored initially when you were put on this. I don’t understand why they don’t monitor patients more closely with these black box drugs.
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2 ReactionsYou know more about hearts than me, and you have heart issues I do not know about. What I do know is a doc gave my husband 200mg to start and he almost fainted, then it was prescribed for as needed. My husband had afib. But he never liked flecainide and the day he crashed and totaled my car (due to passing out) he said his head had felt funny. All I do know is that one needs to be careful and confer with your doc for alternatives if possible or even see another doc? Maybe it ok for some people. Good luck. My husband was 77 at the time.
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4 ReactionsHi...I am on flecainide 2x a day with 100mg..
I was told I have 'paroxysmal' A-fib....never had any flutters, but pulse rate to 160!!... have lost a lot of hair, put on 10 pounds and am always cold and often tired.......also on Eliquis 2x and 1/2 pill of Bisoprolol.
I am emailing my cardiologist regarding above...Maybe I can reduce the mgs.
I am 81 now...was diagnosed 1 year ago...
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