Antiarrhythmic medications

Flecainide is commonly prescribed as an anti-arrhythmic drug. Widely used. Tolerated by most, but some cannot take it. Of course there are several others, and if Flecainide can't be used by your body, your cardiologist will ask you to try others. FYI, we're talking about Multaq, Sotalol, diltiazem, propafenone, and Dofetilide. Ideally, you will respond to one of those. If not, you may be prescribed amiodarone, but that's a whole 'nuther ball of wax that you would only be asked to take as a last resort. You can google it.
Each of us is disappointed, maybe a little frightened, by having the diagnosis and then having to take two drugs for AF, normally both a rate control (calcium channel and 'beta' blockers like metoprolol or Sotalol), and usually also a 'direct-acting oral anti-coagulant' (DOAC) for reducing the risk of stroke...which is about six times what a normal person would have at any age. But, it's our new reality.
It is good that you are in the paroxysmal stage, the first stage, where your AF comes and goes on its own. At some point in the future, you may find that drugs don't control it well, or as much. There are other drugs to try, but you should do some googling of 'electrophysiology' and 'catheter ablation'. The EP's do catheter ablation in an attempt to stop the electrical signals from causing your atrium to fibrillate. I have had it done, and so have many tens of thousands in N. America, millions around the globe. It's almost routine, day surgery, and it usually does a great job of blocking those signals....meaning no more fibrillation. Sometimes it also means you can stop taking all the pills, but we can talk more about that in later posts...if you are interested.

Thank so much for responding it's nice to get different options. The only thing l don't understand his he is prescribting it for PVCS. Haven't been able to speak to him about why he prescribed this drug. Like you were explaining in your post l thought it was mainly for AFib.
Once again thanks for your insightful information.

It's all myocytes doing the work, regardless of which of the four chambers is experiencing the arrhythmia. So, the principle of chemistry is the same...block the uptake of the chemicals that affect heart rate, they being epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).

I have been on Flecainide for about 3 years for PVCs. It made a world of difference for me. I was having PVCs so often that I was so fatigued that I felt like I couldn’t even lift my arm up. I felt like I was melting into the floor. My doctor said we would try the medication and see if I could tolerate it and if it worked. I felt so much better in 2 days. If I couldn’t tolerate it, he would do an ablation on my heart. I have kidney disease so I have to have my kidneys checked for him every six months. Luckily I lost a lot of weight and my kidneys improved. The Flecainide does not bother me at all. I take many pills for different maladies so I always remember to take it twice a day. It was heaven sent for me. I regained the energy to leave the house again.

I’ve been taking Flecainide for about 10 years now. Started because I have atrial fibrillation, and it has worked well for me. I understand that not everyone responds to it as well as I have, but would recommend that you talk to your doc about it.

I was on metoprolol since the last week of Feb. Had PFA in late May and my EP told me last week that I could stop the metoprolol. I did better on diltiazem that was prescribed by the PCP, but my cardio made the switch. I never really liked the side effects of metoprolol and complained from day one. I can say for certain that now that I am off the drug I feal way better. No more kind of stumble when I walk. No more swelling in my ankles. No more mild pain in my legs below the knee. I took the drug because it did what it was supposed to, but I am far better off now that I have stopped.

I’ve been on Flecainide since 2019, it keeps me out of afib and svts. It’s my fifth meditation in this afib journey, 4 ablations in now. Still have to take meds even so! No side effects w Flecainide or metoprolol to keep my heart rate down. Even got lowered two years ago from 100mg twice a day to 50mg twice. I hope it keeps working, so far my heart’s “plumbing” is great it’s just the “electrical” that is the problem. I understand you should not take Flecainide if you have heart disease, so they keep a close eye on that.
Best of luck to you, none of this is fun stuff!