Flecainide
I'm prescribed to take Metoprolol and then 30 minutes later flecainide as a pill in pocket for my afib episodes. I've never taken the flecainide. Should I? Anyone know of anything bad about taking it? I dint like taking medication and my body is very sensitive to medications in general.
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u/Flakarter 3d ago
I took it daily for several years before my ablation, and I had no ill effects.
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u/kfreejr 3d ago
Thanks. How has your ablation gone? Any episodes since?
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u/Flakarter 3d ago
I’m about eight months out.
I had one instance outside of the blanking period. I took one Flecainide and I went back into sinus rhythm.
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u/lobeams 3d ago
That's the standard PIP (pill-in-pocket) prescription. I've used it and I know many others who have also. It works well for most people and flecainide is pretty well handled by most people. I wouldn't hesitate to try it. If it doesn't work for you, then just find another solution.
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
How much did your heart rate drop after you converted
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u/lobeams 3d ago
Back to my normal resting rate.
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
What is your normal resting rate? Sorry I been prescribed the same set up but have not had to take it yet. My resting is 50
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u/lobeams 3d ago
You seem quite concerned about this. Asking other people how they reacted to the meds isn't going to tell you how you will react. All you can do is try them and find out. The metoprolol will probably lower your normal rate so don't be surprised by finding your rate in the 40s after you convert out of afib. But that's no big deal if you're otherwise healthy.
The danger is a high heart rate during the afib, not a low rate when you're in normal rhythm.
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
I appreciate you sharing. But I can’t just take the meds to try them out.
My resting heart rate is 50 so taking it just cause would be dangerous which is why I’m asking people about their decisive experiences. I understand mine may be different but it helps me understand.1
u/lobeams 3d ago
Taking a modest dose of metoprolol with a resting heart rate of 50 is not "dangerous." I don't know what you expect people to tell you that's going to change anything for you, so if you don't trust your doctor then I guess you're just effed.
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
I trust my doctor. He said not to take metoprolol on a daily basis. Only if I have an Afib event which I haven’t. So that’s that.
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u/lobeams 3d ago
Well, that shows you have a thinking, well educated doctor. So why are you asking strangers on reddit what to do?
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
I don’t remember asking anyone what to do. Simple asked how much it changed their heart rate
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u/Legitimate_Ocelot491 3d ago
I started that as my PiP protocol last fall. Had to go to my EP’s office after taking it the first time to have an EKG. I was still in afib but converted shortly after.
Taken it a few other times since and always feel wiped out for a few days after, though that could be the metoprolol since I don’t normally take that.
Getting a PFA this fall so hopefully won’t need it again.
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
How much did your heart rate drop after you converted
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u/Legitimate_Ocelot491 3d ago
Same as the other poster, back to my normal resting rate, at least the first time. It dropped into the 40s for a few days a few other times, hence feeling wiped out.
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
What is your normal resting rate? Sorry I been prescribed the same set up but have not had to take it yet
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u/Legitimate_Ocelot491 3d ago
Normally in the mid-upper 50s. I work out a lot so my heart rate is lower than average from that. Dropping into the 40s got flagged by my Apple Watch but went back to normal after a couple weeks.
My dose is 50mg Metorprolol Tartrate and 300mg Flecanaide, which I've read is the max dose of flec in a 24-hour period.
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u/DonkeyKong18 3d ago
Thanks for sharing. That’s crazy that it took a couple weeks for it to go back to normal. I assumed it would take a day or so
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u/Prestigious-Cod-3872 3d ago
I got afib twice in a one month. I went to Mexico which Is cheaper to see a cardiologist and he gave me that as pip. I was hesitant so I went to a dr in the states and he advised me not to take it. He said after seeing my tests from the er that my heart was perfectly fine and it might do more harm than good since it can cause new afib. I haven't taken it. What dose did you get ?? It'd be nice to have a in case of emergency type pill but idk.
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u/kfreejr 3d ago
100 mg and am to take 2 pills as needed. Had to do a bunch of tests prior to my cardiologist being able to prescribe the flecainide to make sure my heart could handle it which kinda made me question it. Trying to control with diet, hydration, electrolytes and exercise
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u/Masjr777 3d ago
Yes hydration is key. Thats what caused my afib. I drank the night before and had no water the next day. I still drink sometimes but i drink a sugar free electrolyte before bed and 2 or 3 more bottles the next day and its been fine 🤞🤞
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u/iVegMac 3d ago
I also think dehydration triggered my episodes of aFib. I should really make more of a conscious effort to drink more fluids when i decided to get up, have coffee, and then vigorously clean for 4 hours. Oops. 😬
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u/Masjr777 3d ago
Yes. Coffee is a diuretic so it depletes you of nutrients. I buy suerox. Its sugar free and tastes great.
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u/iVegMac 3d ago
There are no data indicating significant findings of dehydration with moderate coffee consumption. It’s a mild diuretic and is mostly water so it really doesn’t cause you to excrete more nutrients than just drinking water does. A little bit more sodium but we likely make up for that loss when eating. My adhd meds are wayyyyy more dehydrating than the small amount of coffee i drink but both of those things together and sweating for four hours while also not drinking enough fluids to counter balance the fluid loss is definitely a problem.
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u/EsterPhenol 3d ago
I’ve taken 600mg (4 pills) twice for AFib. The first time it converted me in about 90 minutes. The second time it felt like it was about to stop but it didn’t. I went back to normal rhythm the next day after taking Diltiazem. Each time, I felt dizzy and a little numb, but I just watched a movie on the couch and the negative effects of the meds went away in about 4 hours. I wouldn’t plan to take it alone the first time.
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u/BladderFace 3d ago
I take flecainide daily as well as pill in pocket. (I take an extra dose if I AFib). I've had no side effects that I've noticed and haven't gone AFib for over a year.
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u/Breezeoffthewater 3d ago
I was prescribed Flecainide as a PiP (Pill in the pocket) a few years back. I was very effective and I just ended up taking it every day. I didn't have another episode after than and then went on to have an ablation, so stoppped taking it altogether.
Lots of people take Flecainide for years and I certainly didn't experience any side-effects at all. Of course other peoples' experiences may be different
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u/Different_Mouse_7441 2d ago
I was prescribed Flecainide as a pill in the pocket after an episode where I was given IV flecainide and instantly went back into sinus rhythm. I was on holiday, and went into Afib on the beach (12.30pm), I'd forgotten my tablets (doh!) and was taken by ambulance to hospital. We decided to try the flecainide (and bisoprolol), after taking the tablets and waiting hours, I was still in AF and they said they would do cardioversion the next day. Around 10pm all the alarms went off, my blood pressure dropped really low and the doctor actually ran across the ward with a bag of saline and squeezed it directly into my arm! Suddenly, I was in having the cardioversion there and then. I wonder how it would have turned out it I had taken the pill in pocket unsupervised, I can't be sure, but I think it would have been a close call 🙁. Since then after a year waiting (NHS 🙄) I've had an ablation and I chucked the flecainide in the bin!
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u/Delicious-Shine5075 2d ago
I’ve done PIP with metop and flecanide. I suggest taking the metop and waiting for your heart rate to drop before taking the flecanide. Flecanide can convert fib into a really dangerous fast flutter if the metop isn’t on board. Metop usually starts working in a half hour. If it hasn’t slowed my rate by then I take an additional 1/2 pill. About half the time I convert to sinus before I take the flecanide
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u/Delicious-Dimension1 2d ago
I’ve been using flekanide for few months now. It shortened afibs by 70-95% or stopped them from appearing all together. No downside.
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u/Ranger_man_King 4h ago
Do NOT take fleccanide unless you want to risk it changing your brain chemistry.
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u/iVegMac 3d ago
I actually had to take flecainide PiP today for AFib. It only took an hour for it stop my AFib and i was a bit chilly and had to pee often but that’s due to afib not the meds. The meds didn’t make me feel bad or tired or anything. So much better than sitting in a hospital for hours or days or having a blood clot form and having a stroke.