Flecainide for Atrial Fibrillation User Reviews (Page 3)

• Babsa...
• November 30, 2011

"5 episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 3 years all resolved with iv flecainide in A&E. 6 more episodes in last last year all resolved within 3 hours at home by taking pill in pocket (i.e. 200 mg flecainide). Can't work out consistent trigger factor so avoid all known ones. Background treatment for hypertension with ramipril and beta blockers for rate control, but otherwise very fit and healthy 63 year old woman. Brilliant to be able to treat without hospital admission."

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

"Had AFib for 6 months. Did the cardio version once. Went on this drug 5 days later tried cardio version 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"

• young...
• 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 100mg CR per day at night with food. I have stopped taking sotalol in the morning - I am 59 years old female."

• 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."

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

"2008 A Fib diagnoses 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 Amiodorone , horrible side effects. Went to a Cardiologist that specializes in A Fib. Tried two ablations. Effective for a awhile 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. 100mg twice a day every 12 hours. 73 year old Female"

• seasong
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2020

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

• maggi...
• November 18, 2011

"No room to here get into my history of AF and flutter, so will make it short. Because of 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 the 200 mg a day, side effects increased and are getting worse. Just experienced the flashing lights today for first time. My search of flecainide and flashing lights brought me to this site. Thank you! Will reduce dose again to 100mg a day until I can see cardiologist next Wednesday."

• 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 God send for me."

• Jac...
• January 24, 2016

"After a number of inconvenient and stressful visits to 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 metropolol on going into AF. It works a treat reversing me in 1 to 3 hours but I'm hoping 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."

• Anonymous
• October 9, 2009

"I was on Flecainide for 3 weeks. This did help with AFib, however, 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..."

• 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."

• weezee
• October 6, 2015

"I started having A Fib in 2003, after 3 trips to the hospital my Dr put me on Flecainide 100mg twice a day and 50 mg of metoprolol I have not had a single episode until 4 days ago, I went to my cardioigist this morning and he told me to take 300 mg of Flecainide tonight and if that did not get me back into normal rythem I will have a cardioversion 2 days from now."

• 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 round like a zombie. Now I take very low dose bisoprolol and 100 mg 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."

• 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 heart beat. I am using Flecainide now 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."

• Bibur...
• 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 hearts sinus node 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 ok and taken over or whether its the pacemaker but he confused me he said my pacemaker isn't pacing my heart and doesn't kick in if i go in AF or tachy so bit concerned whats going on also now told me to go on blood thinner because he says AF patients have more chance of stroke but I have not had AF for 12 years anyone know whats going on ?"

• Getwe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2019

Tambocor (flecainide) "My bro was diagnosed having AFib not long ago and doc prescribed Concor once a day and tambocor 50mg twice a day. It works well on the first 3 days and he had slow heart rate , fluttering, shortness of breath , shakiness comes all together on the 4th day. It's seem like getting worse after taking this drug , it's just not for him and doc agree to take him off now. Trying on new meds next week and I hope that one will work well on him. Having shortness of breath n feel weak is really terrifying.."

• Tach
• May 1, 2020

"I've been using the "pill(s) in the pocket" approach for over two years now for treating my paroxymal atrial fibralation. I take metoprolol tartrate100 mg first--30 minutes after 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
• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 6, 2012

"I have been taking 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."

• A-Fib...
• 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."

• MrBill
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 29, 2020

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

• Ardob...
• July 27, 2015

"I have been treated for AFib for about 6 years, after a long episode resulted in an ER visit. My dosage was raised to 100mg x2 per day after a short period of 50 mg, which didn't entirely prevent Afib. I have experienced some blurring of vision, dizziness, and fatigue, but have always dismissed as minor. I am starting to exercise more and am worried that the medication will prevent me from getting enough air/oxygen in my system."

• Di724
• 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 Carvatilol. Then the PVC started up . My cardiologist put me on flecainide 50 mg twice a day. Its been two weeks and still have PVC but now I get them when I try to do any little house work. I'm out of breath and can't breath, 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 with out feeling out of breath and chest discomfort and PVC ."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2019

"I started taking this drug (50mg x 2/day) after diltiazem (2+years) failed to get me through the night without AFIB. The first two weeks weren't pleasant, with lots of AFIB. Then, when I moved my 180mg Diltiazem ER from breakfast to lunchtime things improved. I take the Flecainide at breakfast and dinner time. After three weeks my AFIB has been much reduced and I sleep through the night. However, I also started acupuncture and that may be a factor. Acupuncture was proven potentially effective by the Univ. of Minnesota. I firmly believe in trying everything to beat this miserable affliction. ."