Re: Flecainide for the Beast

[Guest guest]

> Well I went and met my EP and he has me starting on Flecainide

> tomorrow and then going for another CV on tuesday.

> I know I've read numerous post about this drug but I'm still very

> nervous.

> Has anyone had any bad side effects ??

> He claims its the best one for someone with no other heart

problems

> so I hope he is right.

> Can the drug convert on its own??

> Thanks

>

>

> Pete Upstate NY

> in Afib for last 8 days

Hi Pete,

I have been on Flecainide for about 2 years now. For the first year

it worked wonders but now I am taking 4 x 100mgs daily. The only

side affect that I have with this high dosage is on occasions visual

disturbances but for the first year I had none at all.I still have

AF problems though - in The UK.

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks I'm glad you have no side effects but sorry to hear you are

still in AF.

Pete Upstate NY

> > Can the drug convert on its own??

> > Thanks

> >

> >

> > Pete Upstate NY

> > in Afib for last 8 days

>

> Hi Pete,

> I have been on Flecainide for about 2 years now. For the first year

> it worked wonders but now I am taking 4 x 100mgs daily. The only

> side affect that I have with this high dosage is on occasions

visual

> disturbances but for the first year I had none at all.I still have

> AF problems though - in The UK.

[Guest guest]

>(snip) Has anyone had any bad side effects ??

> He claims its the best one for someone with no other heart problems

> so I hope he is right.

> Can the drug convert on its own??

> Thanks

>

Pete:

I have been on flecainide for 4 years. Took 100mg x2 for 3 years, had

a few visual disturbances (vertigo) whan I first started. I had a few

breakthroughs (every 30-45 days), but taking a bolus dose always

helped my convert back to NSR. About 1 year ago I had two

breakthroughs that required CV. They increased my dose to 150mg x2

and that has held me in NSR for 8 months now. I get occasional visual

effects, but they are preferable to afib.

Flecainide is the first line anti-arrhythmic for lone afib and no

history of CAD.

, Charlotte NC

" vagal person "

[Guest guest]

- Thanks that makes me feel better

Pete Upstate

> Flecainide is the first line anti-arrhythmic for lone afib and no

> history of CAD.

> , Charlotte NC

> " vagal person "

[Guest guest]

> >(snip)

>>I get occasional visual effects, but they are preferable to afib.

What is the nature of these? My Cardio initially wanted to put me on

Flecainide but haven't gone that way yet. Seriously considering going

to ablation instead.

Thanks.

[Guest guest]

hi Pete

I was on Flecainide for 2 years. I did not ever experience any major

side effects, but it did make me pretty dizzy fairly often and really

that was the only limiting side effect for me, although I know others

who have had more or less probs with it, I was also on Propafenone

(which is very similar to Flecainide + has a beta-blocker action too)

for 2 - 3 years and that gave me similar side effects.....

regards,

Seska x

[Guest guest]

Those effects did diminish with me. I started on 100 mg twice a day

and after a few weeks, went into afib. I required a DC cardioversion

to get out of it. My dose was upped to 150 mg twice a day. That

controlled it for a year or two. I was feeling a little spaced out,

so I got the brilliant idea to drop my dose to 100 mg twice a day

WITHOUT DOCTORS ORDERS. Bad idea. I went into afib. I told my doctor

what I did and they told me to take an extra tablet. I reverted to

NSR. Lessons learned that day:

150 mg twice a day is my optimum.

100 mg twice a day is not.

Do not vary the dose without doctors orders.

300 mg in one sitting will not kill me.

300 mg in one sitting makes my visual disturbances more pronounced -

verifying that it is the flecainide that is making my eye go coss-eyed

The side effects of flecainide are short lived. 300 mg of flecainide

- a pharmicological conversion dose, cause my eyes to go even more

cross eyed, but those effects diminished after 6 or so hours. I do not

consider myself to be non-functional during that time.

My heart rate remains pretty much constant, perhaps the Lopressor

(beta blocker - metoprolol ) keeps the rate down. I am usually around

65 bpm. I take 25 mg Lopressor each night .

As far as halos and streaks - I noticed them for the first 2 or 3

years, then I really didn't notice them after that. Another thing

that I haven't mentioned on the group for a while is the fact that my

atrium went from " enlarged " to " normal " (as indicated on the ECG)

after about 5 years on flecainide.

Bobby

7 years NSR on flecainide

On Sat, 2 Oct 2004 16:22:11 -0700 (PDT), Kathy Burkett

wrote:

>

> --- Bobby wrote:

> >

> > Others experience halos and tracks following bright

> > point sources at

> > night, although I don't experience that any more.

> > Bobby

> > NSR on flecainide

> > 7 Years

> >

> > Hi Bobby:

>

> I find what you said interesting because I could not

> find any reason for the occasional halo and bright

> spots in my vision. They would not last long, but I

> do notice when I am looking at something (I know very

> personal, but like my armpit when shaving) I see the

> same thing. At first they thought it was something to

> do with my eyes. Had that checked out and nothing. I

> also seems to come on more when my heart rate is going

> to or has elevated.

>

> I have flecanide since the end of feb and they just

> raised the dosage to 150mg daily. I am glad to hear I

> am not going crazy or something. It does not happen

> as often now so I guess it is something that goes away

> in time?

>

[Guest guest]

> >

> > What is the nature of these? My Cardio initially wanted to put me

on

> > Flecainide but haven't gone that way yet. Seriously considering

going

> > to ablation instead.

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the support .

I go for CV tomorrow if I don't convert today been in Afib for 11

days.

Pete Upstate NY

> in sinus in Seattle

>

>

>