a-fib medication: tambocor need help

ojohnr · 01-22-2005, 07:01 AM

hello. 32m. i suffer from a-fib which i get once or twice a year and lasts for no more then an hour. had this problem since the age of 17. have been placed on digoxin, but had allergic reaction to it. later placed on atenelol 50mg x 2 for the last 5 years. doesn't help since the episodes continue.

all ekg, blood work, stress test are okay! but problems started on may 2004 when i started having a-fib once every other month and lasted less then 24hours. last episode was in august, totalling 4. the most ever! had to be admitted to er each time because of the fast heart rate and discomfort.

my cardiologist placed me on tambocor (Flecainide) in september 2004 but i refuse to take it due to what i have read about. he insists that it nothing will happen to me.

Question: how many person here are on tambocor for a-fib and if ever had any problems with it. any information is need. thanks.

Fizzickle · 01-22-2005, 01:42 PM

I have afib. Haven't used tambocor, and looking at the listed side effects I see why you're hesitant.

Are you on a blood thinner (e.g., warfarin)? As I'm sure you know, one of the dangers of afib are blood clots forming in the atria and passing to the brain, causing strokes.

I've had a bunch of afib attacks, with the time interval between attacks decreasing rather dramatically. Mine don't spontaneously convert. They require intervention. My last two bouts required shocking my heart.

Within two weeks of my last last cardioversion, I had an afib attack that was still going full blast a week later. Fortunately, my cardiologist has had me on warfarin for a couple of years. He immediately put me in coronary care and started Sotalol HCl by mouth. That has to be hospital monitored for 48 hours to insure that all is going well with one's heart.

The interval between my attacks was down to about two weeks, and the attacks were having to be medically or electrically converted to normal sinus rhythm.

I started on Sotalol nearly two years ago. I have had no more afib attacks. Sotalol is a beta blocker, so of course my heart rate is about 50 - 53 bpm, but that doesn't seem to bother me.

I observe from the precautions I found on the web that tambocor also requires hospitilization to start. Have you been through that?

Has your cardiologist mentioned ablation? I guess that's another option, but I have no experience with it.

Best regards,

Bill

tracey louise · 01-22-2005, 03:13 PM

Hi ojohnr
I have been treated with I.V flecanide about 20 times in all with no adverse affects.
Why don't you want to take it??

Like Fizzicle suggests have you asked about ablation ?
I have just had my A.V Node ablated 2 weeks ago now i am o.k no more medication just blood thinner as it is important in avoiding any risk of blood clots.

hope you get well.
Tracey louise

ojohnr · 01-22-2005, 10:43 PM

yes, my cardiologist and i spoke about ablastion, but since my afib episodes are only about once or twice a year, he states im not a good candidate.

Fizzickle no, my doc did not put me on blood thinners, because again, my episodes are not as frequent as yours. you stated once a week? i would have gone crazy if that happens to me. my afib always do convert in less then 24 hours. many years ago, i used to just wait out my afib till it converted. but last year, i do not wait a minute. ER!

ojohnr · 01-22-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fizzickle

I have afib. Haven't used tambocor, and looking at the listed side effects I see why you're hesitant.

Are you on a blood thinner (e.g., warfarin)? As I'm sure you know, one of the dangers of afib are blood clots forming in the atria and passing to the brain, causing strokes.

I've had a bunch of afib attacks, with the time interval between attacks decreasing rather dramatically. Mine don't spontaneously convert. They require intervention. My last two bouts required shocking my heart.

Within two weeks of my last last cardioversion, I had an afib attack that was still going full blast a week later. Fortunately, my cardiologist has had me on warfarin for a couple of years. He immediately put me in coronary care and started Sotalol HCl by mouth. That has to be hospital monitored for 48 hours to insure that all is going well with one's heart.

The interval between my attacks was down to about two weeks, and the attacks were having to be medically or electrically converted to normal sinus rhythm.

I started on Sotalol nearly two years ago. I have had no more afib attacks. Sotalol is a beta blocker, so of course my heart rate is about 50 - 53 bpm, but that doesn't seem to bother me.

I observe from the precautions I found on the web that tambocor also requires hospitilization to start. Have you been through that?

Has your cardiologist mentioned ablation? I guess that's another option, but I have no experience with it.

Best regards,

Bill

i read about SOTALOL. it states that it must be administerd in the ER. how did you start on this medication? do you have any side effects? i will make a new appointment with my doc to discuss about this medication. thanks