Suggest Ways To Wean Off Flecainide

Posted on Fri, 27 Jan 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 Answered on

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I am having a lot of side effects with flecainide, can I quit it without my afib coming back, I have been on it two weeks.

Answered by Dr. Dr Sameer Maheshwari (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Flecainide should be discontinued very cautiously

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
This is Dr Sameer, cardiologist.
We generally do not give Flecainide in AF. It has a lot of lot of side effects & high chances of getting ventricular arrhythmias. So we prefer other drugs over it. If has only benefit of preventing recurrent AF.
Other alternatives are present for Flecainide like Calcium Channel blocker (Diltiazem, Verapamil), Amiodarone or can be a simple beta blocker. But Flecainide should be stopped or shifted to other drug very cautiously & under medical supervision. Don't try it yourself.
So go to your cardiologist & tell him to change it to other drug.
Thanks
Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana