Flecainide for Atrial Fibrillation User Reviews (Page 4)

• Ott...
• November 6, 2008

"Atrial fibrillation started about 2 years ago. Tried a variety of beta blockers and antiarrhythmics without success. Was put on a 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."

• Mar...
• 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 a 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."

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

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

• can...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 15, 2025

"I'm only taking 50 mg a day of flecainide. I have extreme fatigue. Seems to be working, but the extreme fatigue is terrible. General unwell feeling. Can't eat too much food at one time. Nausea if I have 50 mg × 2."

• Ard...
• 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 100 mg 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 it 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."

• Lor...
• September 29, 2020

"I was on this drug for 6 weeks. I had more heart symptoms on it than off it. I became weak and could hardly walk, stand, or shower. I had extreme anxiety on this pill. Shakes, shortness of breath. My doctor kept saying everybody is nervous when they are first diagnosed with A-fib. After several ER visits, I slowly went off it. Then they switched to Metoprolol. I had a very slow heartbeat 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."

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

"I started taking this drug (50 mg 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 180 mg Diltiazem ER from breakfast to lunchtime, things improved. I take the Flecainide at breakfast and dinnertime. 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."

• 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 recovery continues but not fully back to ordinary."

• Cos...
• September 15, 2019

"Currently taking flecainide 75 mg twice a day as I have AF. I’ve been taking the med for 3 months. First, it was 50 mg 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 32-48 hour 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 the long term? I’ve read sooner rather than later for better outcomes with ablations. Difficult to know. Thanks."

• Joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2021

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."

• Sla...
• 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 100 mg twice a day. All failed. The 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. The last 3 months (early 2023) have been back in A-Fib daily. A new cardiologist wanted me to try flecainide again at 50 mg twice a day. No effect. Increased the flecainide to 100 mg 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. The 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."

• Bag...
• October 5, 2011

"I have been taking flecainide 100 mg 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!"

• Squ...
• 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 afterward, and it had many bad side effects: palpitations, skipped beats, way too fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (often to the point of almost fainting), nausea, a big lump in my throat, diarrhea, 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 on the verge of calling an ambulance. I felt terrible. The doctor first increased the amount from 50+50 mg to 100+100 mg, 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 hadn't had any episodes of fibrillation for more than a month now despite stopping the medication."

• Kat...
• 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, so the doctor bumped the Metoprolol up to 50 mg a day. The doctor had me just stop the Metoprolol. Two days after just stopping, I had another AFib attack which landed me in the ICU. A new doctor at the hospital sent me home with Flecainide 100 mg X2 per day. Within a week, I had been to the ER twice with severe atrial flutter. A new cardiologist advised 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."

• Nev...
• 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)."

• CBK...
• December 15, 2008

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

• Kev...
• September 2, 2021

Flecainide "I’ve been on flecainide for about a year and a half. For 30 years, I tried all manner of other medications, including Toprol XL and other beta blockers, in an attempt to control my pre-ventricular contractions and pre-atrium contractions. The other medications 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 controlled my arrhythmias very well over the last year and a half, and there are often times when I go days without any skips. I continue to take meta-Toprol along with the flecainide. The only side effect I’ve experienced is slight fatigue."

• AJa...
• 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 in 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."

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

"I have taken a half dose of flecainide and metoprolol 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."

• neg...
• December 23, 2009

"Since increasing to 150 mg twice a day, I have only had one 15-ish minute afib episode 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 out of 10 if I find I don't need to avoid my afib triggers."

• bxn...
• 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."

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

"Nightmare woke me up, but somehow my body felt wrong. Went to ED. Diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Potassium 2.5 (should be 4-ish). They gave potassium and magnesium. Didn't try electrical conversion because of stroke risk. Went on metoprolol 50 mg twice a day and apixaban 5 mg for anticoagulant. Was still in a-fib. After three weeks, they tried electrical conversion. It didn't work. The 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 the next cardiologist visit, who said to stay on the drugs. I stopped metoprolol myself. Felt too groggy. The 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 flec kicked me out of a-fib, but I think it's doing damage."

• Rac...
• 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 on 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."

• Bil...
• 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 Flecainide 100 mg 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 the day and night feeling flutter. Verified AFIB with a Kardia monitor. Yesterday in sinus rhythm, took 100 mg Flecainide and almost immediately went into AFIB. Not sure if Flecainide caused AFIB but AFIB all night. Flecainide prescription was a year old, so will take a new prescription this morning to see if AFIB stops (has older Flecainide lost efficacy). Tay 325 mg 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 Flecainide side effects."

• Fra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2022

"Prescribed after metoprolol alone failed to control nightly paroxysmal AFib. 100 mg twice daily along with 50 mg metoprolol. Helped immediately, but when I tried to cut out or cut down on the metoprolol, the AFib started to appear nightly again. The cardiologist had me on metoprolol alone for three months beforehand, which worked well, but then started coming back almost nightly. So for me, the combination of 100 mg flecainide twice daily and 50 mg metoprolol succinate once a day seems to be the ticket to controlling AFib. I do need to stay away from the booze, which seems to be my trigger for AFib."