Flecainide for Atrial Fibrillation User Reviews (Page 3)

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2019

"I have used flecainide as a 'pill in the pocket' medication to reverse atrial fibrillation, which it has successfully done at least half a dozen times within 48 hours of going into AF. I currently take it regularly to avoid going into AF entirely, and it has been successful in that respect for the last 6 months, save for 1 occasion after a very physical bike ride, which reverted to sinus rhythm within 12 hours. Overall, it continues to be a drug that clearly performs well to control my AF."

• A f...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2015

"Had AFib for 6 months. Did the cardioversion once. Went on this drug 5 days later, tried cardioversion again, and it worked. Been on drug now for 10 days. Feeling tired, have shortness of breath with even light exercise, like walking around the block. Also, headaches, not happy about it."

• you...
• January 10, 2018

"After years of severe AF and trials of sotalol and beta blockers - which didn't control the symptoms and left me with no quality of life - memory loss, muscle aches, and tiredness. Flecainide has changed it all. I still get a little bit of AF but not as severe or lasting as long. More like a wee flutter. I take 100 mg CR per day at night with food. I have stopped taking sotalol in the morning - I am a 59-year-old female."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2008

"I was having atrial fibrillation several times a month, and it increased to sometimes several times a day. I started taking flecainide, and since then, I have had no heart rhythm problems. Once again, I can make it through the day without being dizzy and almost passing out. It is a Godsend for me."

• HBM...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2023

"I was born with Pulmonary Stenosis and had runs of arrhythmia from day 1 of my life. They settled down in teenage years but at 55 I suddenly got a very serious run of Afib with pacing to the ventricles. Not great. After 12 hours of IV meds, it suddenly cardioverted to sinus. But over the next 2 years, a lot of short runs plus ever-increasing other arrhythmia and heart pausing up to 2 seconds (feels awful, trust me). The hospital only interested in Ablation. I wanted Flecainide. Got up to 5,000 events a day on Holter. After a nasty argument with Cardio, I simply found a Cardio who would prescribe me Flecainide. After two days, I became 100% arrhythmia-free. Flecainide has changed my life. 150mg a day. 50mg Metoprolol. They work together. Black Box warning and all: this is a wonder drug."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2009

"I was on flecainide for 3 weeks. This did help with AFib, however, I began having neurological side effects. I couldn't speak, slurred speech, etc. Doctors thought I was having a stroke at 38, and it was all from the medication. Stopped taking immediately, and the side effects were gone. This side effect was not mentioned..."

• Tai...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 22, 2017

"2008 A Fib diagnosis after 2 years of dizziness and feeling 'odd' otherwise fit and healthy. 4 cardio versions and 2 catheter ablations under my belt now. First doc prescribed cardio version and amiodarone, horrible side effects. Went to a cardiologist that specializes in A Fib. Tried two ablations. Effective for a while, but after last cardio version prescribed flecainide. Still get breakthroughs for short durations, but the strange feelings and emotional drain after incidences are the most debilitating. I just take a Klonopin and a nap. 100 mg twice a day every 12 hours. 73-year-old female."

• mag...
• November 18, 2011

"No room to get into my history of AF and flutter, so will make it short. Because of a serious AF episode resulting in hospitalization, my cardiologist increased the Tambocor to 100 mg twice a day (had been on 50 twice a day for 3 or so years). Always had dizziness, shortness of breath, and feeling unstable since taking this medication. However, since increasing to 200 mg a day, side effects increased and are getting worse. Just experienced the flashing lights today for the first time. My search of flecainide and flashing lights brought me to this site. Thank you! Will reduce the dose again to 100 mg a day until I can see the cardiologist next Wednesday."

• Jac...
• January 24, 2016

"After a number of inconvenient and stressful visits to the ER, where I had an injected dose of flecainide (which put me back into sinus rhythm), my cardiologist prescribed me 200 mg of Flec tabs plus 50 mg of metoprolol on going into AF. It works a treat, reversing me in 1 to 3 hours, but I'm hoping it doesn't lead to some of the side effects described in other articles on the net."

• Anonymous
• January 29, 2010

"I have had atrial fibrillation for about 15 years, with episodes about 4 times a year. These episodes would last from a few minutes to 8 hours. I was taking Cartia XT during this period with some success. My doctor just put me on flecainide because I want to live my life without any episodes. I have gone about a month, and things are going well. The frequent flutters are gone, and I have not had a full-blown episode at all. I do not have any side effects. I am 59 years old, healthy, and very active."

• Tac...
• May 1, 2020

"I've been using the 'pill(s) in the pocket' approach for over two years now for treating my paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. I take metoprolol tartrate 100 mg first-30 minutes after the onset of afib, and then I take flecainide acetate 300 mg if the afib has not resolved 30 minutes after taking the metoprolol tartrate. I've had 15 afib episodes in the last 26 months. Only one (1) of the 15 episodes resolved with metoprolol tartrate only. All the other episodes required taking the flecainide acetate to resolve the afib. I've returned to a regular heart rhythm within 2-4 hours after taking the flecainide acetate for all these afib episodes. It is very effective in restoring a normal rhythm for me, but takes several days to feel normal again. The most notable side effect for me is bradycardia (slowing my heart rate to the 40's), making even very limited exercise uncomfortable."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2008

"I had absolutely horrible, irregular racing heart episodes. I had Metoprolol and gained weight, it was miserable and didn't stop the problem. I just became fat with a racing irregular heartbeat. I am using Flecainide now for about three months, and I have my life back!!! My heart works again! I don't know how this stuff works, but my quality of life is MUCH improved! Thank you."

• Anonymous
• April 6, 2010

"Started flecainide 9 months ago after very frequent episodes of AF. Tried bisoprolol first but suffered side effects and still had AF. Couldn't sleep and sat around like a zombie. Now I take a very low dose of bisoprolol and 100 mg of flecainide twice a day. Life is normal again, but I get a bit breathless with exercise, like walking up steep hills! I'm a 62-year-old female and was very fit until 5 years ago! At least I now have a near-normal life."

• sea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2020

"I was diagnosed with AFib 5 months ago. I took Flecainide 4 weeks ago, 50 mg twice a day. But I suffered all the side effects listed, both mentally and physically. I reduced the dosage to 25 mg, then 16.5 mg. I still suffered the side effects, though no AFib episode even with the last small dose. I stopped taking it 5 days ago. An episode happened last night. It converted after 15 minutes of jogging with modest speed at 9:00 this morning. Before taking Flecainide, I could always convert an episode to sinus rate with a run. I wonder if I should restart taking the medicine. Will the side effects eventually go away? My episodes mostly started during sleep. Running seems more and more impractical. Many thanks."

• A-F...
• January 6, 2010

"Have had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation for 14 years. Now age 67. Took 'pill-in-a-pocket' approach (200 mg flecainide initial dose at onset of symptoms, 100 mg every 12 hours thereafter, and 50 mg of atenolol every 24 hours). Episodes would typically last 4 to 24 hours. Hard to say whether the medication shortened episodes when used in this manner. After recent PV ablation failed to eliminate AF episodes, started taking 100 mg of flecainide daily, and it seems to prevent episodes (2 months so far). If this keeps up, flecainide will restore my quality of life."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2021

"I've had afib for 30 years, mostly under control due to ablation. Last year, I started getting long episodes again...went on flecainide and have been PERFECT ever since. It is a wonder drug for me, and no side effects at all."

• Anonymous
• May 5, 2008

"I've been using flecainide for 2 years. I was having a-fib and couldn't sleep through the night. Daytime was not as pronounced, but still there. Since starting flecainide, the only episode I've had was once when I greatly overexerted myself. Other than that, not once."

• wee...
• October 6, 2015

"I started having A-Fib in 2003. After three trips to the hospital, my doctor put me on flecainide 100 mg twice a day and 50 mg of metoprolol. I have not had a single episode until four days ago. I went to my cardiologist this morning, and he told me to take 300 mg of flecainide tonight, and if that did not get me back into normal rhythm, I will have a cardioversion two days from now."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2012

"I have been taking the minimum dosage for about a year. Every day I have flutters/flopping about an hour before and after dosing. I have not had other side effects, but cannot figure out if I am experiencing maximum efficacy. Fortunately, I don't have severe atrial fibrillation episodes."

• Ste...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 27, 2021

"Was diagnosed with afib during a physical in April of 2011. Received a successful cardioversion and started flecainide. Was taken off of flecainide 4 months later. Went back into afib and had a second successful cardioversion in December. Flecainide treatment was resumed, and I have remained in normal rhythm on it since. Have not had any side effects to my knowledge."

• Flu...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 10, 2024

Flecainide "Been taking 50mg Tambocor for 10 years and it was a lifesaver. The previous med did nothing, I was in the hospital every 6 weeks until a new cardiologist prescribed Tambocor, and it worked perfectly. Unfortunately, I ended up in the ER with my heart racing, and the cardiologist is switching me, but I would prefer a higher dose of Tambocor. I am on the lowest dose. Having controlled AFIB for 10 years is a blessing, I was miserable before... It worked so well that I didn't even think it was AFIB causing my weakness, etc., until I found out my heart was beating at 160 bpm. I can't blame the flecainide, it's worked wonders, and I really, really don't want to change meds. I'm going to call my cardiologist to discuss, the hospital cardiologist has given me Amiodarone, and I'm now back to a normal rhythm, but I'm so worried it won't work. AFIB sucks when trying to find a med that works at the right dose. Best of luck to all of my fellow AFIBers."

• Di7...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2020

"Went into afib in May. Prior to that, I suffered with PVC and PAC. After trying a few beta blockers, I was doing good on Carvedilol. Then the PVC started up. My cardiologist put me on flecainide 50 mg twice a day. It's been two weeks, and I still have PVC, but now I get them when I try to do any little housework. I'm out of breath and can't breathe. My cardiologist wants me to increase to 100 mg twice a day. I'm not sure I want to live like this. I can't do anything without feeling out of breath and chest discomfort and PVC."

• MrB...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 29, 2020

"On 50 mg of flecainide for about 3 years. Then Afib recurred. Converted almost instantly when the dose doubled. Has worked for 7 more years. Had an Afib episode today. Took 2 flecainide pills, and in 15 minutes, got reg sinus rhythm back. Now it’s wait and see. Will continue taking 100 mg 2X/daily like I have the past 7 years. Has worked like magic until today."

• Bib...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 31, 2019

"I had catheter ablation twice, but atrial fibrillation (AF) continued. I then had a pacemaker fitted, but my heart's sinus node had not been ablated. After taking flecainide for 12 years, my consultant told me to stop flecainide. He is not sure if my heart is now okay and taken over, or whether it's the pacemaker, but he confused me. He said my pacemaker isn't pacing my heart and doesn't kick in if I go into AF or tachy, so I'm a bit concerned about what's going on. Also now told me to go on blood thinner because he says AF patients have a higher chance of stroke, but I have not had AF for 12 years. Anyone know what's going on?"

• Ken...
• September 14, 2010

"I have been taking flecainide for over a year now for atrial fibrillation. I also have had PVCs all my life. I have not had one episode other than a few flutters now and then since taking it. I take 50 mg twice a day. The only negative aspects are some dizziness on occasion (usually when turning my head too quickly) and the fact that I don't like taking pills! I do occasionally forget to take them. That is my one big problem, remembering to take them on schedule. I worry about that."