I have taken flecainide for 10 years for pvcs and it is great. I have had -0- side effects and it works great... I was having 8-10 pvcs per minute and I haven had any to speak of since starting on the flecainide.. I take a high dose of 150 mgs twice daily and it has given me a life back... I know this is different from what you have but my guess is that it would work for you...I know of one person who has taken it for over 20 years with no problems... hope this is some help./... claytex
For whatever it's worth...I had a few 5 beat runs of NSVT this past year caught on a monitor.
One crazy cardiologist freaked me out about it. This is guy was in need of retirement.
I went to see an EP doctor on my own. He offered to do an ablation even though the PVCs were considered benign (they were having an extremely negative effect on my life).
I went for the ablation and the PVCs stopped two days before the ablation. Still tried the ablation procedure but he recommended he not try as he couldn't provoke them enough.
He told me (and I quote) "In no universe, galaxy, anywhere are these going to kill you or shorten your lifespan". I felt good, left.
That being said...3 or 4 weeks later the PVCs came back hardcore. I called him and he said I'm going to put you on Flecainide. Didn't ask me to come into the office.
I picked up the prescription...haven't tried it yet.
I asked my GP about it. I said..."man I'm petrified to take this stuff". My GP replied to me "Look this stuff is not the poison it's made out to be. I give it to little old ladies with heart conditions. If it comes to it and you want to try it...you'll be fine".
I'm a 43 male, former college basketball player. I exercise somewhat regularly.
The bottom line is for SOME STUPID REASON...if we as human beings have 20 people tell us something is safe and ONE PERSON tells us it's not...then we harp on that one person.
I've never had any cardiologist tell me my PVCs or the short runs of NSVT were "going to kill me". I think that doctor is a bit of an alarmist.
I would honestly FIND A GOOD ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST and see what they say.
I doubt the Flecainide is going to hurt you. That study, from what I understand called the CHAT study, was kind of flawed and dealt with people who had pre-existing heart issues such as Coronary Artery Disease.
I KNOW what these things can do and I KNOW what you are going through/went through. I'm a strong strong individual. Nothing ever phases/phased me. These things...broke me the heck down.
I was one foot off the bridge with these things...with my kids the only thing holding me back.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST:
I recently tried something interesting that all but stopped my PVCs. GAS-X. (active ingredient Simethicone). Think I'm crazy? LOL Try it for yourself and see if it makes a difference.
My PVCs and rhythm issues are ALWAYS accompanied by stomach gurgles/etc...
I read somewhere that GAS-X helped someone and tried it. It seems like it's helped me. I'm about 9 days deep with only a handful of PVCs per day down from thousands.
Who knows... google "simethicone help heart palpitations" and come to your own conclusion :)
Good luck