Flecainide??

[ericaj]

Can anyone tell me a little (or alot if you know it ..) about Flecainide? My EP dr. just gave me a script for that today 50mgs 2x a day to replace the Cardizem (180mgs) and Digoxin (.5mgs) Also do I need to taper off the Dig. and Cardizem at all? Continuing on with Toprol 25mgs 2x a day..

thanks,
Erica

 

[atydev]

I was on flecinide before I had my EP procedure it worked well for me did not stop all the irregular heart beats but worked better than anything else I took. Oh I am sorry it is an antiarythmic medicine.

 

[bvdr]

Erica, I'm on Flecainide 200mg every 12 hours as well as Verapamil 180mg once a day. Flecainide is a very powerful anti-arrhythmic drug. Years ago it was being used for ventricular arrhythmias and that caused all sorts of problems. That use has all but been abandoned and it's current use is now for atrial arrhythmias and is very effective. It keeps me from slipping back into atrial fib. I still get some problems with irregular rhythms but only for very short periods and usually only when I am very fatigued.

Because of the bad press given Flecainide for it's initial usage, some doctors don't prescribe it anymore. There was even a book written about it but I can't remember the name offhand.

As far as tapering....I probably would but you just need to check with your doctor.