Flecainide

Flecainide
Skeletal formula of flecainide
Ball-and-stick model of the flecainide molecule
Clinical data
Pronunciation/flɛˈkeɪnaɪd/ fleh-KAY-nyde
Trade namesTambocor, others
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa608040
Drug classIc antiarrhythmic[1]
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S4 (Prescription only)
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: WARNING[2]Rx-only
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability95%
Protein binding40%
MetabolismCYP2D6 (limited)
Elimination half-life20 hours (range 12–27 hours)
ExcretionKidney
Identifiers
  • (RS)-N-(piperidin-2-ylmethyl)-2,5-bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)benzamide
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.211.334 Edit this at Wikidata
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC17H20F6N2O3
Molar mass414.348 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
ChiralityRacemic mixture
  • FC(F)(F)COc2cc(C(=O)NCC1NCCCC1)c(OCC(F)(F)F)cc2
  • InChI=1S/C17H20F6N2O3/c18-16(19,20)9-27-12-4-5-14(28-10-17(21,22)23)13(7-12)15(26)25-8-11-3-1-2-6-24-11/h4-5,7,11,24H,1-3,6,8-10H2,(H,25,26) checkY
  • Key:DJBNUMBKLMJRSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
 ☒NcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Flecainide is a medication used to prevent and treat abnormally fast heart rates.[1] This includes ventricular and supraventricular tachycardias.[1] Its use is only recommended in those with dangerous arrhythmias or when significant symptoms cannot be managed with other treatments.[1] Its use does not decrease a person's risk of death.[1] It is taken by mouth or injection into a vein.[1][3]

Common side effects include dizziness, problems seeing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and tiredness.[1] Serious side effects may include cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, and heart failure.[1] It may be used in pregnancy, but has not been well studied in this population.[3][4] Use is not recommended in those with structural heart disease or ischemic heart disease.[1] Flecainide is a class Ic antiarrhythmic agent.[1] It works by decreasing the entry of sodium in heart cells, causing prolongation of the cardiac action potential.[1]

Flecainide was approved for medical use in the United States in 1985.[1] It is available as a generic medication.[3] In 2021, it was the 205th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 2 million prescriptions.[5][6]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Flecainide Acetate Monograph for Professionals". Drugs.com. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  2. ^ "FDA-sourced list of all drugs with black box warnings (Use Download Full Results and View Query links.)". nctr-crs.fda.gov. FDA. Retrieved 22 Oct 2023.
  3. ^ a b c British national formulary : BNF 76 (76 ed.). Pharmaceutical Press. 2018. p. 103. ISBN 9780857113382.
  4. ^ "Flecainide (Tambocor) Use During Pregnancy". Drugs.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. ^ "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Flecainide - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.