Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? My EP prescribed Flecainide 50mg BID alone for me to treat my Afib. From what I read online most people seem to take Betablocker with Flecainide for safety reason (Nodal protection). Does this mean taking Flecainide alone is unsafe? I am very symptomatic with Afib, my resting HR in Afib is 90-100, I am afraid to do anything but lying down as my HR would jump too high (120-160). https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190657#msg-190657 Tue, 28 Jul 2026 22:08:19 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190735#msg-190735 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190735#msg-190735 Yuxi AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 16 May 2023 21:06:14 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190731#msg-190731 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190731#msg-190731
Dr. Natale, however, recommended I take a small dose of a beta blocker (25mg of metoprolol) with every 150mg of flecainide I take. This was the protocol he gave me when I was having break through episodes of atrial flutter during my blanking period. Fortunately, I never had to take the drugs because I converted on my own!

As for a wait to get an ablation with Natale, it's about 4 months right now if you're not an urgent case. This is based on my recent ablation I just had with him in late April.

Travis]]> tvanslooten AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 16 May 2023 19:35:13 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190697#msg-190697 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190697#msg-190697 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 14 May 2023 23:10:15 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190691#msg-190691 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190691#msg-190691 Yuxi AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 14 May 2023 21:30:22 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190688#msg-190688 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190688#msg-190688
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GeorgeN

Thanks George, do you know how long is the wait for Natale ablation?

My friend says it is variable, based on how bad your situation is, they triage the list. As flec is working pretty well for him, he's not at the top of the queue. I'm guessing Carey may have more insight. Also, I think you can sign up to be on a cancellation list, if you are willing to go on short notice.

Yes, triage, which is really important as there are patients who need an ablation on an urgent basis and they will go first. I waited 6 months from initial contact to my ablation date because I was stable on meds. However, toward the end the meds failed and I was totally ready to jump on the table when the date came around. The cancellation list is a good option though it might mean paying more for your plane ticket and hotel.]]> Daisy AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 14 May 2023 20:18:12 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190686#msg-190686 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190686#msg-190686
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Yuxi
Thanks George, do you know how long is the wait for Natale ablation?

My friend says it is variable, based on how bad your situation is, they triage the list. As flec is working pretty well for him, he's not at the top of the queue. I'm guessing Carey may have more insight. Also, I think you can sign up to be on a cancellation list, if you are willing to go on short notice.]]> GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 14 May 2023 20:08:05 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190685#msg-190685 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190685#msg-190685 Yuxi AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 14 May 2023 19:53:22 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190681#msg-190681 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190681#msg-190681
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Yuxi
Thanks George and Carey, I will check with my EP next time.

One question you could ask is if you should take a BB if you have a breakthrough and you increase your flec dosage for conversion. This would mitigate the flutter risk from the larger dose. Also, a friend, also diagnosed with afib in 2004, recently went on daily flec to hold him in NSR till he gets a Natale ablation. During a visit with a new local EP, that EP mentioned to him that a BB would help increase the efficacy of the flec for this purpose. My friend is also taking flec without a BB.]]> GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 14 May 2023 17:26:29 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190670#msg-190670 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190670#msg-190670 Yuxi AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 14 May 2023 02:31:59 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190664#msg-190664 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190664#msg-190664
The risk of 1:1 conduction is low, and as George noted goes up with dosage and your dosage is small, but if you don't like a HR of 120-160 then you're really not going to like the 250+ that 1:1 conduction can produce.

Some EPs feel that the risk is so low it's not worth adding another drug, particularly if you're taking a fairly low dose as you are. Like everything in medicine, it's a judgement call and your EP likely has good reasons for their decision. Ask them about it next time.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 13 May 2023 22:29:32 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190661#msg-190661 Re: Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190661#msg-190661 GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 13 May 2023 20:44:38 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190657#msg-190657 Is it safer to take Flecainide with Betablocker? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190657,190657#msg-190657 Yuxi AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 13 May 2023 20:01:09 +0000