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Is flecainide a serious drug?
Flecainide may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.
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Do you have to be hospitalized to start flecainide?
Flecainide is used to treat irregular heartbeats. The treatment will usually be started for you in hospital by a heart specialist.
Does flecainide slow down the heart?
Flecainide is also used to prevent life-threatening sustained ventricular tachycardia (sustained VT). Flecainide belongs to the group of medicines known as antiarrhythmics. It works directly on the heart tissue and will slow the nerve impulses in the heart. This helps keep the heart rhythm normal.
What are 3 side effects of flecainide?
What drugs should not be taken with flecainide?
Can you stop taking flecainide suddenly?
If you have been using this medicine regularly for several weeks, do not suddenly stop using it. Check with your doctor for the best way to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping completely. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.
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Is flecainide a high risk drug?
There is a chance that flecainide may cause new or make worse existing heart rhythm problems when it is used. Since it has been shown to cause severe problems in some patients, it is only used to treat serious heart rhythm problems.
Does flecainide require hospitalization?
You may be hospitalized when you begin your treatment with flecainide. Your doctor will monitor you carefully during this time and for as long as you continue to take flecainide. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of flecainide and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 4 days.
Is flecainide a good medicine?
Flecainide is a prescription antiarrhythmic medication. It can't cure arrhythmia, but it can help prevent irregular or abnormal heartbeat, stroke and sudden cardiac death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you carefully to make sure the drug doesn't cause other heart problems or issues with the kidneys or liver.
Can flecainide cause sudden death?
The CAST trial [4, 5] reported a 2.5-fold increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients treated with flecainide/encainide compared with placebo in a population with structural heart disease.
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How do you initiate flecainide?
Start with 50 mg orally every 12 hours, then increase 100 mg per day every four days. The maximum dose is 300 mg daily. Dose adjustment is made based on serum levels.
How long does it take to get used to flecainide?
The single dose oral loading regimen of flecainide appears to be effective for cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation with a relatively rapid effect within 2-4 h, and is free of serious complications in patients without structural heart disease.
Can you take flecainide on its own?
Flecainide comes as a pill that is usually taken twice a day. You can take it with or without food. The typical starting dose is 50 mg twice a day, with a maximum dose of 150 mg twice a day.
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How long does it take for flecainide to kick in?
The success rate ranged from 57 to 68% at 2-4 h and 75 to 91% at 8 h after drug administration. The conversion time ranged from 110+/-82 to 190+/-147 min, depending on the duration of observation after drug administration, which in most trials was of 8 h.
How much does flecainide lower pulse?
Flecainide significantly decreased all parameters of heart rate variability in the time domain (median delta% -10% to -25%) and in the frequency domain (median delta% -27% to -38%), including the markers of vagal activity.
How long can you stay on flecainide?
You may take flecainide for a long period of time, even for the rest of your life. Don't stop taking flecainide without talking to your healthcare provider. Not taking the medication can make a heart condition worse.
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Can flecainide stop atrial fibrillation?
Flecainide is used to prevent or treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) such as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter (PAF). Flecainide is also used to prevent life-threatening sustained ventricular tachycardia (sustained VT).
How does flecainide make you feel?
Flecainide is used to treat irregular heartbeats. The treatment will usually be started for you in hospital by a heart specialist. It may make you feel dizzy at first. Other side-effects include blurred vision and a lack of energy.
Which adverse effect is most common in a patient who is taking flecainide?
The most common side effects that occur with flecainide include: Stomach problems. Symptoms may include: constipation.
What should I avoid while taking flecainide?
Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis). Flecainide may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation).
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How long does it take for side effects of flecainide to go away?
Following discontinuation of flecainide therapy, symptoms (e.g., lower-extremity weakness and/or paresthesias, gait disturbance) resolved over 3 to 6 months. However, in some cases the neuropathy did not resolve after discontinuation of flecainide.
What pain reliever can I take with flecainide?
No interactions were found between flecainide and ibuprofen. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Can you take vitamin D with flecainide?
No interactions were found between flecainide and Vitamin D3. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Can I take atorvastatin with flecainide?
No interactions were found between flecainide and Lipitor. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Can you take statins with flecainide?
No interactions were found between flecainide and Lipitor.
What happens when you stop flecainide?
If you suddenly stop taking flecainide you will not get withdrawal symptoms. However, the cardiac arrhythmia will no longer be being controlled as intended. So never stop using it without your doctor knowing. Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
How long before flecainide is out of your system?
Oral absorption does not appear to be affected by either food or antacids. In healthy subjects the plasma half-life of flecainide acetate is 12-13 hours after a single oral dose. However, the plasma half-life is prolonged after multiple oral doses (16 hours) and in patients with ventricular arrhythmia's (20 hours).
How long do side effects last after stopping flecainide?
Following discontinuation of flecainide therapy, symptoms (e.g., lower-extremity weakness and/or paresthesias, gait disturbance) resolved over 3 to 6 months. However, in some cases the neuropathy did not resolve after discontinuation of flecainide.
Can flecainide be taken only once a day?
It is usually taken once every 12 hours. Some people may take flecainide once every 8 hours if they experience side effects or if their condition cannot be controlled by taking flecainide every 12 hours. Take flecainide at around the same times every day.