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Taking Atenolol, Ativan And Flecainide. Can I Take These Medications?
Question: Hello. I have been on 37.5 effexor and atenolol for almost ten years. I take ativan 2 mg. a day for anxiety. Now I have been put on flecainide 100m twice a day for frequent symptomatic pvc's. I am only 38 years old and my cardiologist thinks that I should see an EP for a consultation. So now I have a consultation in July with an EP. The lady at the scheduling office said that they had not planned an ablation though. Now I am confused. My cardiologist who is in the same group of Mid-Ohio cardiology doctors as the EP told me directly that 38 was quite young to remain on flecainide or the other serious medications in the same class. I guess I am trying to determine how this process works and if I am a candidate for ablation or if the EP is just going to tell me to stay on flecainide forever. That's not something I am willing to even consider due to the inotropic effects. What is your opinion from your experience with these situations? I do not want to have have 25-30,000 pvc's a day and an enlarged heart they will ablate. I've been dealing with these for over 10 years and my quality of life is very low at this time.
Highest Regards,
XXXXXXX
Highest Regards,
XXXXXXX
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for your query.
Usually PVCs do not indicate any inherent problem with electrical stability in the conduction system of your heart, and are completely benign.
PVCs are extra electrical impulses arising from one of the cardiac chambers. Sometimes the presence of PVCs indicates an inherent electrical instability in the heart, and therefore indicates an increased risk of sudden death. These “dangerous” PVCs are generally limited to patients with significant underlying heart disease, such as coronary artery/valve disease or abnormal levels of "electrolytes" or increased thyroid hormones in your blood.
I assume your doctor has excluded these issues, and is concerned about your new complaints and I agree with his/her recommendations re: Flecainide and the referral for an EP study.
An EP study is performed to:
1. Assess the nature of these PVCs and thus your risk of sudden cardiac death;
2. Assess whether Flecainide is the best drug for you;
3. Assess whether you are a good candidate for ablation.
Regarding Flecainide:
1. It is usually not recommended in patients with patients structural heart disease and/or less severe ventricular arrhythmias (such as PVCs) even if the patients are symptomatic.
2. It may cause new or worsened supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias, such as an increase in frequency of PVCs to the development of more severe ventricular tachycardias.
For these reasons alone I would not recommend long term treatment with Flecainide, but instead use the EP study as a tool to determine what your treatment options are including ablation.
Hope this helps,
Thanks for your query.
Usually PVCs do not indicate any inherent problem with electrical stability in the conduction system of your heart, and are completely benign.
PVCs are extra electrical impulses arising from one of the cardiac chambers. Sometimes the presence of PVCs indicates an inherent electrical instability in the heart, and therefore indicates an increased risk of sudden death. These “dangerous” PVCs are generally limited to patients with significant underlying heart disease, such as coronary artery/valve disease or abnormal levels of "electrolytes" or increased thyroid hormones in your blood.
I assume your doctor has excluded these issues, and is concerned about your new complaints and I agree with his/her recommendations re: Flecainide and the referral for an EP study.
An EP study is performed to:
1. Assess the nature of these PVCs and thus your risk of sudden cardiac death;
2. Assess whether Flecainide is the best drug for you;
3. Assess whether you are a good candidate for ablation.
Regarding Flecainide:
1. It is usually not recommended in patients with patients structural heart disease and/or less severe ventricular arrhythmias (such as PVCs) even if the patients are symptomatic.
2. It may cause new or worsened supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias, such as an increase in frequency of PVCs to the development of more severe ventricular tachycardias.
For these reasons alone I would not recommend long term treatment with Flecainide, but instead use the EP study as a tool to determine what your treatment options are including ablation.
Hope this helps,
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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