Flecainide treats and prevents severe, life-threatening irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).

Heart arrhythmia is when your heart beats improperly. The electrical activity that coordinates your heartbeat can be disrupted by medical conditions, leading to a heartbeat that is either too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia), or irregular. Arrhythmias can occur without causing any symptoms or indications. During a normal examination, your doctor may discover that you have arrhythmia before you do. However, having noticeable signs and symptoms does not always imply that you have heart disease.

Symptoms of arrhythmia may include:

• You feel a flutter in your chest
  
• A pounding heart (tachycardia, or a heartbeat over 100 BPM)
  
• A sluggish heartbeat (bradycardia or a heartbeat under 60 BPM)
  
• Pain in the chest
  
• Breathing problems
  

Other signs and symptoms could include:

• Anxiety
  
• Fatigue
  
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
  
• Sweating
  
• Syncope (fainting) or near-fainting
  

Some common causes of arrhythmia include:

• Heart attack
  
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
  
• Scarring of heart tissue
  
• Electrolyte imbalances
  
• Thyroid conditions (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism)
  
• Coronary artery disease (blocked arteries)
  
• Changes to the heart muscle
  
• Sleep apnea
  
• Diabetes
  

Flecainide has been shown to cause some mild side effects. If these adverse effects become severe or do not go away within a few days, talk to your health care provider.

Common side effects reported while taking flecainide include:

• Dizziness
  
• Vision changes
  
• Headache
  
• Tremors (uncontrollable shaking in different parts of the body)
  
• Weakness/ fatigue
  

This is not a complete list of adverse reactions. Seek medical attention right away if you experience symptoms such as a change in your heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, bleeding or bruising, or a cough with bloody mucus.

As with all prescription medication, be sure to inform the prescribing doctor about any medical conditions you have been previously diagnosed with, as well as any medication/ supplements you are currently taking before starting treatment with flecainide. Flecainide can interact with other forms of medication and substances, causing potentially serious side effects. In addition, let your doctor know if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant before starting treatment with this medication.

Flecainide is commonly administered as an oral tablet. Your first dose may be given to you in the hospital if you have been hospitalized for arrhythmia. Your doctor may observe you after your first dose to make sure that you do not experience any side effects of the medication. Flecainide works best when there is a constant level of the drug in your body. Because of this, it is important that you don’t miss a dose.

For adults, 50-100 mg of flecainide is to be taken twice a day (12 hours apart). It is recommended that you take the medication once in the morning and once in the evening. Your doctor may increase your dosage as needed.

Do not discontinue or increase your dosage of flecainide without consulting your doctor first. Take the medication exactly as prescribed, and inform your doctor if you begin to experience any side effects while taking the medication.

Flecainide is currently only available via prescription. This means the use of this drug must be authorized by a licensed health care provider.

Providers on Sesame can write a prescription – or refill an existing one – during a virtual or in-person visit. Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at a pharmacy near you. Book an online consultation with a real, licensed provider on Sesame today to determine whether or not flecainide is right for you.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Providers on Sesame cannot prescribe controlled substances.

Good news! If deemed clinically appropriate, providers on Sesame can write a prescription for flecainide to be picked up near you – often within the same day! Simply talk to a clinician and get your online doctor prescription or refill ordered right away for fast and convenient pickup from a pharmacy of your choice.

Note that all prescriptions are at the discretion of your healthcare provider.