Flecainide Acetate

March 04, 2020

Medicine

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Flecainide Acetate is used to treat certain types of serious irregular heartbeats such as persistent ventricular tachycardia and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. 

Ventricular tachycardia is an abnormal heartbeat that originates in your lower heart chamber called ventricles. It caused by abnormal electrical signals sent across heart tissues. These types of arrhythmias cause your heart to beat too fast which prevents oxygen-rich blood from circulating to the brain and body. That may also result in cardiac arrest. A healthy heart normally beats about 60-100 times a minute when at rest. It is also defined by signals that originate in the upper chambers of the heart. Some signs and symptoms of this condition may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Feeling as if your heart is racing
• Light-headedness
• Seizures
• Chest pain 

This condition can be caused by a disruption in the normal electrical impulses that control the rate of your ventricles’ pumping action. Many things can cause problems with the heart’s electrical system. It includes medication side effects, abuse of recreational drugs, or lack of oxygen to the heart due to tissue damage from heart disease. 

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia is an abnormally fast heartbeat. It has a broad term that includes many forms of heart rhythm problems. Most people with rare episodes of this condition live healthy lives without restrictions or interventions. For some, treatment and lifestyle changes can sometimes or eliminate rapid heartbeats. It may come and go suddenly with stretches of normal heart rates in between. Symptoms may last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days and some people have no symptoms at all. Some signs and symptoms may be:

• Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
• A fluttering in your chest
• Light-headedness or dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Fainting or near fainting 
• A pounding sensation in the neck 

Flecainide Acetate is a type of medicine called anti-arrhythmic drugs. This blocks certain electrical signals on the heart that can cause an irregular heartbeat. Treating an irregular heartbeat can lessen the risk for blood clots and this effect can decrease your risk of heart attack or stroke. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved this prescription. Flecainide Acetate comes as a tablet for oral use. Each tablet has dosage strengths of 50 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg. 

How does Flecainide Acetate work?

Flecainide Acetate decreases the sensitivity of the heart muscle cells to electrical impulses. This slows and regulates the electrical conduction in the heart muscle. In which it helps to restore disturbances in the heart rhythm.

The heart’s pumping action is controlled by electrical signals that pass through the heart muscle. The electrical signals cause the two pairs of heart chambers which are left and right atria and ventricles to contract in a regular manner that produces the heartbeat. If the electrical activity in the heart is disturbed for any reason, irregular heartbeats of various types can result. These can seriously undermine the pumping action of the heart and result in inefficient blood circulation around the body.

How to use Flecainide Acetate?

This medication is to be taken by mouth usually twice a day or as directed by your doctor. Each dose is taken with or without a meal. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to it. Your doctor may instruct you to start at a lower dose and gradually increase it. 

Swallow the tablet as a whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, break, or chew it. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the products you use. The continuous taking of this medication exactly as it is prescribed by your doctor is very important. Do not increase your dose, take this drug more often than prescribed, or stop taking it even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Changing or skipping your dosage without approval from your doctor might treat the condition harder or let side effects get worse. If you missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed dose. Let your doctor know if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

What are the side effects of Flecainide Acetate?

Common side effects:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Tremor or shaking
• Constipation 
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting 
• Nausea
• Headache 
• Shortness of breath 
• Vision problems (blurred vision, seeing spots, or problems focusing)
• Dizziness 

Call your doctor if you have these side effects:

• Jaundice or yellowing of the skin or eyes 
• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms 
• Pale skin
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Unusual weakness 
• Swelling
• Rapid gain weight
• Feeling short of breath
• Slow heart rate, slow breathing, or weak pulse
• Fast or pounding heartbeats 
• Fluttering in your chest 
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden dizziness 

Warnings and Precautions

• Before treatment with this medicine is started your doctor will want you to have a blood test to check your liver and kidney function. It is to give you the correct dose of medicine. The levels of electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, or magnesium in your blood will also be checked and your doctor will correct any problems before starting this treatment.
• Most medications that control abnormal heart rhythms can also provoke them in some circumstances. For this reason, if you feel like your heart condition has got worse or your heartbeat changes, starts to pound, or gets faster or slower, it is important to consult your doctor right away. 
• Use this with caution in people with decreased kidney or liver function, artificial pacemakers, heart disease or an enlarged heart, or those with a sudden onset of irregular heartbeats. 
• This is not recommended for use in people who have had a heart attack, heart failure, heart valve disease, long-term irregular heartbeats, and n children under 12 years old. 
• If you ever had an allergic reaction to this medication, let your doctor know. Tell also if you have any allergies. This drug may contain an inactive ingredient that causes an allergic reaction.