Guest guest Posted December 19, 2004 Report Share Posted December 19, 2004 bpsoong wrote: > Recently I heard that for some people Flecainide can cause a kind of > very serious fibrillation in the heart. It can even be fatal. I am > wondering if it is a good idea to take flecainide for a long period > of time. > > Has anybody expierenced this kind of situation? I talked with two doctors who have been prescribing it for quite a while. Both said they had never had a serious problem with it. The label contains a " black box " citing the risk of ventricular fibrillation because of studies in which it was given to patients with significant heart disease, according to these doctors. That's also how I read it. So these docs will not prescribe it for patients with heart disease. - OU alum in MI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2004 Report Share Posted December 19, 2004 >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 months, I have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. Do you happen to remember how long it took for the medications to take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? Thanks, Francoise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2004 Report Share Posted December 19, 2004 > > My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 months, I > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. > > Recently I heard that for some people Flecainide can cause a kind of > very serious fibrillation in the heart. It can even be fatal. I am > wondering if it is a good idea to take flecainide for a long period > of time. > > Has anybody expierenced this kind of situation? I've been on flecainide and toprol xl 50mg since Oct 1st. I was first given 5omg flecainide bid, then 75mg,100mg and finally was increased to 150mg bid since I was still having afib episodes. Three days after that increase I passed out while shopping. I have never done that before. I went to the ER and my EKG showed a prolonged QT interval. Fainting is a sign of long QT. I was hospitalized on telemetry 2 days. ER doc said I could go into torsades de point which is life threatening. I also found out my potassium was too low which can give a prolonged QT. I was given potassium supppliments and flecainide was decreased back to 100 mg. I need to be watched for this now.I have a LOOP recorder for 1 month. I have previosly been on sotalol at 80,120,and 160 mg and Rythmol SR at 225 and 325 mg. The Rythmol was the worst for control.....I had none on that drug. Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2004 Report Share Posted December 19, 2004 My EP tried Flecainide on me. About the 3rd day I started to have chest pains, by the 5th day I couldn't get off the couch so I quit taking it. I have Afib everyday. Now I'm on 200 metoprolol since the last GP appointment as I had some high BP. I have another appointment with my EP next month. I know some folks spook at amiodarone, but at this point if it got rid of the problem I'd take it! (Just turned 40 y.o.) Lorrie Re: Flecainide and A-Fib > > >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 months, I > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. > > Do you happen to remember how long it took for the medications to take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? > > Thanks, > > Francoise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 19, 2004 Report Share Posted December 19, 2004 > >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 months, I > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. > > Do you happen to remember how long it took for the medications to take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? > > Thanks, > > Francoise > > First time conversion to normal rhythsm happened about 3 weeks after I started taking Flecainide(50mg twice a day) and Toprol(25 mg). Now I am taking Flecainide 100 mg twice a day and Toprol 25 mg. > > Soong > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 I've been taking Flecinide for 10 years or so with no side effects to speak of. I haven't heard of the risk you mention, but I suppose it is possible. I think you are referring to ventricular fibrillation, a more serious type of cardiac arrhythmia than a-fib. -elwelldw > > My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 months, I > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. > > Recently I heard that for some people Flecainide can cause a kind of > very serious fibrillation in the heart. It can even be fatal. I am > wondering if it is a good idea to take flecainide for a long period > of time. > > Has anybody expierenced this kind of situation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 2004 Report Share Posted December 22, 2004 Flecinide is a bit better at maintaining a normal sinus rhythm than it is at putting you back in NSR from A-fib. Usually it take several days for it to have full effect - 3 weeks sounds a bit long. But it depends on whether you a taking the drug in conjunction with a cardioversion, for example. -elwelldw > > >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 months, > I > > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in > > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. > > > > Do you happen to remember how long it took for the medications to > take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Francoise > > > > First time conversion to normal rhythsm happened about 3 weeks > after I started taking Flecainide(50mg twice a day) and Toprol(25 > mg). Now I am taking Flecainide 100 mg twice a day and Toprol 25 mg. > > > > Soong > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 24, 2004 Report Share Posted December 24, 2004 Isn't the world of AF a strange place my normal af drug is sotalol but when I have an attack of AF, I use flecanide to convert, normally in 2-3 hrs M Wicker -- In AFIBsupport , " elwelldw " <dwelwell@v...> wrote: > > Flecinide is a bit better at maintaining a normal sinus rhythm than > it is at putting you back in NSR from A-fib. Usually it take > several days for it to have full effect - 3 weeks sounds a bit long. > But it depends on whether you a taking the drug in conjunction with > a cardioversion, for example. > > -elwelldw > > > > > > >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 > months, > > I > > > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in > > > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. > > > > > > Do you happen to remember how long it took for the medications > to > > take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > Francoise > > > > > > First time conversion to normal rhythsm happened about 3 weeks > > after I started taking Flecainide(50mg twice a day) and Toprol (25 > > mg). Now I am taking Flecainide 100 mg twice a day and Toprol 25 > mg. > > > > > > Soong > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 24, 2004 Report Share Posted December 24, 2004 Hi , What dose of flecanide do you take when you need to convert. Thanks, Re: Flecainide and A-Fib > > > Isn't the world of AF a strange place > my normal af drug is sotalol > but when I have an attack of AF, I use flecanide to convert, normally > in 2-3 hrs > > > M Wicker > > > -- In AFIBsupport , " elwelldw " <dwelwell@v...> wrote: >> >> Flecinide is a bit better at maintaining a normal sinus rhythm than >> it is at putting you back in NSR from A-fib. Usually it take >> several days for it to have full effect - 3 weeks sounds a bit > long. >> But it depends on whether you a taking the drug in conjunction with >> a cardioversion, for example. >> >> -elwelldw >> >> >> >> > > >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 >> months, >> > I >> > > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in >> > > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. >> > > >> > > Do you happen to remember how long it took for the medications >> to >> > take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? >> > > >> > > Thanks, >> > > >> > > Francoise >> > > >> > > First time conversion to normal rhythsm happened about 3 weeks >> > after I started taking Flecainide(50mg twice a day) and Toprol > (25 >> > mg). Now I am taking Flecainide 100 mg twice a day and Toprol 25 >> mg. >> > > >> > > Soong >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 Sometimes 100mg clears it otherwise I take another 100mg 1-1 1/2hrs later > >> > > >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 > >> months, > >> > I > >> > > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat in > >> > > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. > >> > > > >> > > Do you happen to remember how long it took for the medications > >> to > >> > take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? > >> > > > >> > > Thanks, > >> > > > >> > > Francoise > >> > > > >> > > First time conversion to normal rhythsm happened about 3 weeks > >> > after I started taking Flecainide(50mg twice a day) and Toprol > > (25 > >> > mg). Now I am taking Flecainide 100 mg twice a day and Toprol 25 > >> mg. > >> > > > >> > > Soong > >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 25, 2004 Report Share Posted December 25, 2004 Thanks , I apprerciate your response. My doctor prescribed 150mg when needed when symptoms start.. and it did work after a couple of hours. But the last time I saw him, he said to take a 200mg dose if I needed to convert. I t sounded a lot ..but he seems to know what he is doing, and he is an EP ...so I assum this amount to be okay ...and can be done twice if nessasary if it doesn't do the job firat time. However no more than twice in one day.+Havent had to do that. Strange though, last time the 150mg worked ofter a couple of hours ,, but he still said to upm it to 200mg. I don't like to take too much of anything ...but he's the expert ..and I have only had one episode in a lttle over a year. Do you know of anyone who takes more than 100mg at one time? Thanks, . ...By the way how often do you get an episode, and normally how long do they last. I take on a daily basis 50mg of tenanol and an aspirin, I am 54 years old Re: Flecainide and A-Fib > > > > > Sometimes 100mg clears it > otherwise I take another 100mg 1-1 1/2hrs later > > > > >> >> > > >My A-Fib started about 18 months ago. During the past 16 >> >> months, >> >> > I >> >> > > have been taking Flecainide and Toprol to keep my heart beat > in >> >> > > regular rhythsm. It works very well so far. >> >> > > >> >> > > Do you happen to remember how long it took for the > medications >> >> to >> >> > take effect? Was it a few hours, days, weeks? >> >> > > >> >> > > Thanks, >> >> > > >> >> > > Francoise >> >> > > >> >> > > First time conversion to normal rhythsm happened about 3 > weeks >> >> > after I started taking Flecainide(50mg twice a day) and Toprol >> > (25 >> >> > mg). Now I am taking Flecainide 100 mg twice a day and Toprol > 25 >> >> mg. >> >> > > >> >> > > Soong >> >> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 26, 2004 Report Share Posted December 26, 2004 Hi snip >I don't like to take too much of anything ...but he's the expert ..and I have only had one episode in a lttle over a year. Do you know of anyone who takes more than 100mg at one time? Thanks, . ...By the way how often do you get an episode, and normally how long do they last. I take on a daily basis 50mg of tenanol and an aspirin, I am 54 years old When I'm stable, on my 3*40mg of sotalol pday, hardly ever, but since my ep and I have been doing a bit of experimentation, I'd say every other day for 2-3 hrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2004 Report Share Posted December 28, 2004 > (snip) > Do you know of anyone who takes more than 100mg at one time? > Thanks, > : I am on flecainide 150mg twice a day. If I have a breakthrough (last one ten months ago), my doctor allows me to double up (eg - to take a 300mg dose at the next normal dosage time). I think 300mg of flecainide is the maximum one-time dose. However, this did not work for me --- and they ended up " buzzing " me back into rhythm. , Charlotte NC NSR for ten months on flecainide 150mg bid, aspirin 325mg, fish oil concentrate, and magnesium oxide 250mg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2004 Report Share Posted December 28, 2004 Well, I havent had an episode of afib in a little over a year. But last time I did have one my EP had prescribed 150mg of flecanide ..which restored normal rythm in about 2 hours. But the last time I saw him, he said I could up the dose to 200mg if it happened again ... so I'm sure he knows what he's talking about ...he's the expert. I am also 54 years old and tale 50 mg of atenanol and an aspirin a day Re: Flecainide and A-Fib > > > Hi > > snip >>I don't like to take too much of anything ...but he's the > expert ..and I > have only had one episode in a lttle over a year. > Do you know of anyone who takes more than 100mg at one time? > Thanks, > . ...By the way how often do you get an episode, and normally > how long > do they last. > I take on a daily basis 50mg of tenanol and an aspirin, > I am 54 years old > > > > When I'm stable, on my 3*40mg of sotalol pday, hardly ever, > but since my ep and I have been doing a bit of experimentation, I'd > say every other day for 2-3 hrs > > > > > > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should > be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2004 Report Share Posted December 28, 2004 Thanks ...My doctor said to take 200mg at the onset of symptoms... had previously said 150mg ... and repeat if not worked within about 4 hours. Haven't had a attack for a little over a year now....Looking good for you too ....10 months.. good going. Re: Flecainide and A-Fib > > > >> (snip) >> Do you know of anyone who takes more than 100mg at one time? >> Thanks, >> > > : > I am on flecainide 150mg twice a day. If I have a breakthrough (last > one ten months ago), my doctor allows me to double up (eg - to take a > 300mg dose at the next normal dosage time). I think 300mg of > flecainide is the maximum one-time dose. However, this did not work > for me --- and they ended up " buzzing " me back into rhythm. > , Charlotte NC > NSR for ten months on flecainide 150mg bid, aspirin 325mg, fish oil > concentrate, and magnesium oxide 250mg. > > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should > be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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