What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-High or low levels of potassium in the blood
-Heart disease including heart rhythm and heart rate problems
-Kidney disease
-Liver disease
-Recent heart attack
-An unusual or allergic reaction to flecainide, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breastfeeding
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Amoxapine
-Arsenic trioxide
-Certain antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, sparfloxacin, or troleandomycin
-Certain antidepressants, called tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine, or nortriptyline
-Certain medications for irregular heartbeat, such as disopyramide, encainide, moricizine, procainamide, propafenone, and quinidine
-Cisapride
-Delavirdine
-Droperidol
-Haloperidol
-Hawthorn
-Imatinib
-Levomethadyl
-Maprotiline
-Medications for malaria, such as chloroquine and halofantrine
-Pentamidine
-Phenothiazines, such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
-Pimozide
-Quinine
-Ranolazine
-Ritonavir
-Sertindole
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Cimetidine
-Dofetilide
-Medications for angina or blood pressure
-Medications for irregular heartbeat, such as amiodarone and digoxin
-Ziprasidone
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Because your condition and the use of this medication carries some risk, it is a good idea to carry an identification card, necklace, or bracelet with details of your condition, medications, and care team.
Check your blood pressure and pulse rate as directed. Know what your blood pressure and pulse rate should be and when tod contact your care team. Your care team may schedule regular blood tests and electrocardiograms to check your progress.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
If you have had a heart attack, talk to your healthcare provider before taking this medicine. Taking this medicine after a heart attack can increase the risk of a dangerous change in heartbeat or heart rhythm that may lead to death. This medicine is usually only used to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia) that are life-threatening.
This medicine is not recommended in people with certain types of irregular heartbeats called atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. If you have atrial fibrillation or atrial fibrillation, this medicine can increase your risk of developing other types of irregular heartbeats. Talk to your healthcare provider about possible alternative treatment options.