Flecainide for Atrial Fibrillation User Reviews (Page 4)

• Lori...
• September 29, 2020

"I was on this drug for 6 weeks. I had more heart symptoms in it than off it. I became weak and could hardly walk, stand or shower. I had extreme anxiety on this pill. Shakes, short of breath. My Doctor kept saying every body is nervous when they are first Diagnosed with A-fib. After several ER visits I slowly went off it. Then they switched to Metaprolol. I had very slow heart beat and low low BP. Now I’m just taking a blood thinner and doing better. I think this drug changed me in a bad way, I’m still not the same after 7 months."

• Steve
• 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."

• Slasher
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 2, 2023

"Discovered I was in A-Fib and A-Flutter in 2010 at age 55, by accident when a doctor caught my heart rate at 188. No symptoms, other than being extremely tired and dizzy. Multiple medicines over 3 months, including flecainide up to 100mg twice a day. All failed. Cardiologist specifically said flecainide failed and was of no use to me. Had an ablation (7.5-hour surgery with 275 burn spots) which worked for years. My trigger seems to be pain. No alcohol. Last 3 months (early 2023) have been back in A-Fib daily. New cardiologist wanted me to try flecainide again at 50mg twice a day. No effect. Increased the flecainide to 100mg twice a day. Symptoms worse. Feel horrible. Can’t do much of anything. Can’t concentrate. Bad headaches. Just want to sleep. Constant A-fib. Cardiologist sent my records to an EP. Immediately scheduled ablation and stopped the flecainide. Flecainide may work for some people, but it is an absolute failure for me."

• Kenny
• September 14, 2010

"I have been taking flecainide for over a year now, for atrial fibrillation. I also have had PVC's all my life. I have not had one episode other than a few flutters now and then since taking it. I take 50mg 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."

• Margo
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2021

"I was having more frequent episodes of Afib, some lasting for 2-3 hours. I was put on Flecainide in Sept. 2019--50 mg morning and evening. It got the episodes under control right away but I developed tremors in my arms and legs. I had trouble going down the stairs and I had difficulty writing. I was very tired and felt winded most of the time. I found it hard to do anything without feeling tired. My life was really affected.. My dosage was adjusted to half pill, 25 mg, twice a day. Within a day the symptoms subsided. That verified what I suspected all along--the medication was the cause. So far things seem to be okay. I hope it lasts."

• Ottawa...
• November 6, 2008

"Atrial fibrillation started about 2 years ago. Tried a variety of beta blockers and anti-arrhythmics without success. Was put on low dose of metoprolol and flecainide four months ago. Not a single incident since. Very minor side effects at first, but none now. Life is so much better."

• Bob...
• September 14, 2017

"Life long history of slight double vision (1 diopter). Within 4 days of usage, developed severe increase of double vision (estimate 10-15 diopters). Ceased usage and symptoms decreased by half within 1 day. Now, 3 days later and recover continues but not fully back to ordinary."

• AJano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 18, 2019

"I had a pacemaker implant 18 months ago and was immediately put on this flecainide. I have chronic asthmatic bronchitis which is treated with Advair and Sprivia. I've had 9 AF events in 5 months, getting tired easily, having muscle weakness, arthritic pain and tendon pain the feet. I've been to the podiatrist and a rheumatologist and neither has been able to identify the reason for the pain. I suspect flecainide is the source of the weakness. I'm doing internet searches hoping to stumble on a reason. Hopefully, it's not old age."

• Squir...
• February 25, 2021

"I was given Flecainide for 5 weeks for atrial fibrillation. I wish I never took it. It didn't work, I had two more fibrillations afterwards and it had many bad side effects. Palpitations, skipped beats, way too fast heart beat, high blood pressure, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (often to the point of almost fainting), nausea, big lump in my throat, diarrhoea, bad headaches, high pitch ear ringing, involuntary muscle movements/flickering, heartburn, cold sweaty hands/feet, pins and needles in my fingers, chest squeezing, random chest pains, anxiety, insomnia. I often was at the verge of calling an ambulance. I felt terrible. Doctor first increased the amount from 50+50mg to 100+100mg and things got even worse. After a few weeks I started to decrease the dosage in reverse order. Finally I decided to stop it altogether, and in 3 days almost all side effects were gone. I I hadn't have any episode of fibrillation for more than a month now despite stopping the medication."

• Cos
• September 15, 2019

"Currently taking Flecainide 75mg twice a day as I have AF I’ve been taking the med for 3 months. First it was 50mg twice a day. I didn’t take the increased dose until 2 weeks ago because of mild short lived irregularities again. My AF episodes were increasing in frequency that being the reason for this medication. My longest episodes before were 32 - 48hour stretches at its worst. I also take Metoprolol. I’m scheduled for an ablation soon. I didn’t want to rush into anything. I wonder if needing the medication increased in a short period of time could be predictive of it being less effective over a long term? I’ve read sooner rather than later for better outcomes with ablations. Difficult to know. Thanks"

• Bagrat
• October 5, 2011

"I have been taking flecainide 100mg twice a day for 8 months. Had two episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation prior to this - cardioverted within 12 hours with the first and converted to normal rhythm while waiting for a cardioversion the second time. No episodes of atrial fibrillation since, though I think I may be getting occasional ectopics (probably had them before but more vigilant now). Feel fit and well but holiday insurance is higher than my husband's now!"

• Joyce
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2021

Tambocor (flecainide) "Severe reaction with loss of muscle strength and general mobility, neck, back, jaw pain. Inability to turn head. Lower abdominal pain. I have been off the Med for 4 weeks but side effects have only minimally abated. Would like to find a support group."

• CBKLYN
• December 15, 2008

"I started using Flecainide with low dose Toprol XL about 1 year ago after severe atrial fibrillation, which lasted 2 weeks. Flecainide stopped the atrial fibritallation after 3 days. It has been a God send. I have no idea how this stuff works, but it does."

• Katie
• February 19, 2021

"I started Metoprolol and started afib with tachycardia that lasted for hours. Something I had never had before. I went to the ER with so the dr bumped the Metoprolol up to 50mg a day. Dr had me just stop the Metoprolol 2 days after just stopping I had another AFIB attack which landed me in the ICU. A new dr at the hospital sent me home with Flecainide 100mg X2 per day. Within week I had been to the ER twice with severe Atrial Flutter. New cardio advise that flecainide can cause atrial flutter and added Verapamil to level things out. After a week it did help but I was still having flutters and afib. Yesterday I cut the Flecainide dose in half I am still having flutters/afib but it lasts a few minutes and goes away hoping to get off completely. Flecainide was not for me it made things worse and made me feel like garbage. I would rather go back to having the occasional AFIB that went away within 5 minutes and eat a baby aspirin daily."

• Never...
• April 23, 2011

"Was switched to flecainide in 1993, gradually titrated up to 150 mg twice a day. Full control, maybe one episode a year -- or when I forget two morning doses in a row -- and they last a few hours, not like the 24 on my earlier medicines (quinidine sulfate - all it did was give me almost permanent diarrhea)."

• neginf
• December 23, 2009

"SInce increasing to 150mg twice a day, I have only had one 15ish minute afib eipisode in the last 1.5 years. The side effects I get are visual, shadows and slight afterimages at night. The side effects are reassuring to me; I've assumed that for me, the side effects are proportional to the therapeutic effect. For me, exercise increases the side effects a lot. I gave it a 9 out of 10 but will change it to a 10 of 10 if I find I don't need to avoid my afib triggers."

• bxnyemt
• April 3, 2009

"My cardiologist took me off Toprol and Lisinopril because he "wanted me to know when I was having Atrial Fibrillation". I am an EMT, so I know when I am in A-Fib. The Flecainide did not help suppress the A-Fib. I had more episodes while on the medication, was lightheaded while in A-Fib and felt like I was going to pass out. My doctor took me off it and put me back on the other medications and I felt much better. "

• Nan
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 7, 2020

"I have taken a half dose of flecanide and metopropol for three years. My paroxysmal afib has almost been eliminated. However last winter I developed neuropathy, which worsens in the winter. I will need to find another cheap drug or find an alternative like ablation."

• Billd...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 10, 2021

"First AFIB episode 1982, I was 28 years old. From 1982 to 2003, 14 episodes of AFIB, all with rapid ventricular response. On Rythmol and Atenolol before 2003 then Flecanide 100mg twice daily. Since 2003 no noticeable AFIB episodes with rapid ventricular response. In September 2020, had Zio Patch 14-day heart monitor showing multiple episodes of AFIB, some 12 hours, most no symptoms. April 2021 going in and out of AFIB throughout day and night feeling flutter. Verified AFIB with a Kardia monitor. Yesterday in sinus rhythm, took 100mg Flecanide and almost immediately went into AFIB. Not sure if Flecanide caused AFIB but AFIB all night. Flecanide prescription was a year old, so will take new prescription this morning to see if AFIB stops (has older Flecanide lost efficacy). Tay325mg Ecotrin coated aspirin for blood thinner but cardiologist prescribed Eloquis, worried about side effects. Very active 66 year old, walk 100 mi per month. Other than recent AFIB episodes no Flecanide side effects."

• a-fib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2022

"Nightmare woke me up but somehow my body felt wrong. Went to ED. Diagnosed atrial fibrillation. Potassium 2.5 (should be 4 ish). They gave Potassium and Magnesium. Didn't try electrical reversion because stroke risk. Went on metoprolol 50mg twice a day and apixaban 5 mg for anticoagulant. Was still in a-fb. After three weeks they tried electrical reversion. It didn't work. Cardiologist included 100 mg flecainide twice a day. Four days later a series of hard ectopics that stopped. Checked to see if I'd died. Normal sinus rhythm restored. Stayed on the metoprolol and flecainide until next cardiologist visit who said stay on the drugs. I stopped metoprolol myself. Felt too groggy. Electrophysiologist said to stay on metoprolol and flecainide because I must have issues to have been in a-fib for a whole month. Now have blood in stool and have gained weight (3 kg) in two months. Will report to the two cardiologists. So the flecc kicked me out of a-fib, but I think is doing damage."

• Rachel
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 31, 2021

"When I started having a-fib I had a heart rate of about 125 with irregular beats often. The cardiologist started me out in beta blockers, which I found depressed me a lot and took away my motivation to do things. She initially resisted the idea that beta blockers could be making me depressed. I insisted that the cardiologist allow me to try different dosages, different medications, and different classes of medications. Eventually we hit on a combination of flecainide at 150 mg twice a day as well as diltiazem once a day (100 mg). For me, the flecainide has zero side effects and has kept me from ever going into a-fib, in years. I can actually feel when it’s getting to be time to take the medicine, because it feels like my body is trying to go into a-fib. I am a huge fan of flecainide and can’t say enough good about it."

• hotdog
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2022

"I'm a male, 72, who works out with weights 2 times/wk and walk golf courses 2-3 times/wk, as well as hit range balls and practice. My resting HR is normally 50. I had first afib for 8 hours on Valentines day 2021 before ER was able to heart fix with Diltiazem and saline IV. Then had second episode 8 months later after hitting 2 buckets of ball in high heat and humidity. 100 mg of Flecainide at ER worked 1 hour after administration. Now take 100mg 2/day to keep me out of AFIB. Taken for 3 weeks with no side effects yet."

• Kevinal
• September 2, 2021

Tambocor (flecainide) "I’ve been on flecainide for about a year and a half. For 30 years I tried all manner of other medication‘s including Toprol XL and other beta blockers in attempt to control my pre-ventricle contractions and pre-atrium contractions. The other medication’s did little to control the arrhythmias and the doctor put me on flecainide once my arrhythmias started to be trigeminy. Within a day of taking flecainide I experienced no irregular heartbeats. Flecainide has control my arrhythmias very well over the last year and a half and there are often times when I go to days that any skips. I continue to take meta-Toprol along with the flecainide. The only side effect I’ve experienced is slight fatigue."

• rgt
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2021

"My doctor put me on diltiazem and warfarin three years ago for AFib. This past summer the AFib got worse and they put me in a thirty day event monitor followed by a stress the event monitor showed many episodes with heart rate of 150 plus and irregular. I've been on 100 mg. Flecanide twice a day along with the diltiazem for two months and not one AFib episode and hardly even a skipped beat. I feel great!"

• Fleca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2022

"I have been taking Flecainide for 23 days. I have feelings in my middle chest and a feeling of fluttering sometimes and a thumping middle chest, foggy head. For 18 days I have felt awful, dizzy, sick, chest aching, just awful. At 18 days I began to feel better with on/off dizziness and sickness, these have been decreasing over the past 5 days and to day so far nothing, I feel alert, bright and wonderful. I was about to give up, I spoke to a doctor, a Cardiac nurse and they both said hang on for a while. Now I feel great, hope it works and keeps the Atrial Fibrillation (AF) away for good. I am so glad I waited fingers crossed this is it now, feeling good."