Stopping Flecainide 2 months after PVI Ablation?

[SooZeeATL]

I had a PVI ablation 8 weeks ago for afib. At my 1 month appointment they cut my Flecainide from 50 mg TID to 50 mg BID. I've been fine on this dose for 4 weeks and have not had any afib (that's the sound of me knocking on wood). I've had skipped beats and extra beats on and off since the procedure but it hasn't turned into afib, which is a very good thing.

My doctor said that I can now stop the Flecainide. My questions are:
> Has anyone out there stopped their rate-control drugs 2 months post PVI ablation?
> Did you cut your dose to once a day for a week or so before you quit or did you go cold turkey?

I'm still on the daily aspirin and Warfarin and can't come off those until after the MRI at the 3-month mark.

Thanks!

[underinformed35]

Thank you and I hope you do fine off your medicine. Flecainide was a lifesaver for me so I understand being scared to go off of it but it sounds like you are doing really well! Good luck!

[SooZeeATL]

Hang in there. I know there are people out there that recovered in a day or two but I think they are more the exception than the rule. The day I checked out of the hospital my EP visited and said it would be a full week to recover and that I would be very uncomfortable. He was right. I couldn't lay flat or hardly talk for days because of the chest pain. It took about 6 days before I could climb the stairs and get back to work (from home). The next week I went into the office and was able to work out a bit (yoga). Around the 3rd week I started to feel like myself again but very fatigued. Then things improved dramatically.

I don't know much about SSS, but I do hope that your procedure is successful and that it resolves your problems...permanently!

[underinformed35]

Well my situation is a little different. I have sick sinus syndrome not afib, so that may be why but yes I was definitely ill without the medicine! IT was awful and still is...I hope things improve. I thought I would be up and about by now but that is not the way things are going. I can barely get out of bed so far. I know I have only been out of the hospital for two days but it is very frustrating. Good luck to you. I think you will be fine now without your medicine. Keep us posted!

[SooZeeATL]

Wow, that's a different protocol but I think each patient and doctor is different. That makes me feel better that you've been off this whole time.  

I didn't really stop the Flecainide before the procedure. I actually only missed two doses (the morning and afternoon of the procedure). Then I was back on track that evening. Before the ablation, I'd be in afib within 2 hours of a missed dose. Heck, half the time it wasn't working for me at all.

So you've been off since last Saturday? No afib? I hope your recovery is fast. Mine was certainly not 2-3 days like I first heard but 8 weeks into it I'm feeling pretty great! I'm just waiting to get off the Warfarin so I can ride my bike and have a big fat margarita (not at the same time of course) :-)

[underinformed35]

I just had an ablation on Monday and my doctor would not let me back on the Flecainide at all. He wanted to see how my heart reacts without any medication. This has all been scary!

I think you are fine to stop it since he already reduced it. How were you when you had to stop it two days before the ablation?

[buddytew]

after the ablation operation i took flecianide for 4 months. i am now off it for 2 weeks. i feel tired most of the day and hope that is a side effect that will stop. so far i'm had one time my heart went up to 180 BPM. I feel good except i'm tired all the time. i'm not a pill taker. they don't agree with me.