stopping or tapering flecainide

[candi65]

I am on a path to be "drug free" post ablation. I am currently taking 50mg of Flecainide 2 times daily down from 100 mg 2 times daily. I am on this program for 6 weeks with 3 weeks remaining before the stop. I am wondering about tapering off the drug by going to once a day for several days or just stopping on the end date. Any experience with either path out there? Thanks

[candi65]

Thanks for the feedback cindy. Here's the wierd part I was not on Flec after the ablation until around 2 months out I had a bout of high heart rate (in the 120 range)for 3 days along with Afib. The Cardi put me on the Flec at the onset of the problem but after the 3 days of nonconversion I was cardioverted in the er and kept on the Flec. He wanted me to stop taking the Flec at my 3 month checkup but we opted for a lower dose for the 6 week period. All in all I agree completely that a taper off is the bestway to go. He is located 6 hours away so it's all e mail with his nurse...maybe tommorrow I can get a call into him and speak to he man himself.Thanks again

[buddytew]

I have been on flecainide since my heart ablation. (3 months) the doctor told me to get off it to see how i would do. he said nothing about tapering off it so its been about 4 day without it. today i got up and i feel like i'm about to die. does anyone think its because i stopped it all at one time? plus he told me he didn't like to take people off blood thinner medication. has anyone's doctor stopped their blood thinner med's? the reason i done the ablation was to got off the medication. i hate medication.....

[cindy707]

Hi candi...i am glad to see you are doing so well after the ablation that the doc has decided to wean you off of the flecainide.  You cannot abruptly stop any med that has to do w. the heart at all because it could cause re bound and that is an ugly situation....thats why after ablations the docs usually wean people off of them.  This one is 100% on the doc that put you on it in the first place and all docs have a very specific plan for their pts. to slowly decrease the meds to avoid re bound.  I know that one i went thru it after my ablation and wow oh wow i will never go down that path again.  It took me right back to the E.R. w. a heart rate in the upper 200's and a conversion had to be done.  I seriously think this one has to be answered by your doc...do not upset this apple cart when you are doing so great Candi...take it from a fellow community member this one i know for sure........