Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 14)
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Okay I will start off by saying this drug scares me because it has not been out for very long. I have Afrial Fib which is not behaving I can be 70 beats one min and regular and the next I will be at 190 and in atrial fib and flutter. this is my last chance at a med I have tried all the others I usually end up in the ER two or three times a week. I have had one ablation so far. If anyone else takes it please let me know what it is like. I am starting it on Tuesday.

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You are correct I'm going to a different cardio today 4-23-2012 Amazing how a Dr. can send you home with four drugs that knock you on your butt and mess with your mind without giving a heads up
I'll post after I find the facts. Thanks so much

Deb

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Deb in Cinnci...I was shocked that the cardiologist told you to go home and look it all up on google. That is a cardiologist you DON'T want. What you should look up on google is his credentials, and the bio or rap on ANY cardiologist you see. DEFINITELY get a second opinion, and definitely research THAT physician, too. Google is only your backup to further inform yourself so that you can ask your cardiologist a lot of questions!

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Thanks Tootsi and yes I will post my results, I see the cardiologidt thru Good Sam in CIncinnati on Monday I need to know so I can deal with and try to get my joy back. The unknown scares me so...

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Hi Deb from Cincinnati,

You seem all upset about this and no wonder, you do need a doctor who will explain these things, what you have, and what it is, how did it came about and is it easily controlled with meds, instead of you looking up these things on internet.

Multag I would not touch with a ten foot pole - that is probably making you tired and bloated - I was allergic to Lisinopril and had to stop that, right now I am taking HCTZ as a diuretic, Pradaxa is a relatively new blood thinner, at the moment I am on Coumadin.and the 4th one Bystolic I am not familiar with at all - internet mentioned it is also used for hypertension.

Good thing you are going for a second opinion - make sure you have all your questions on paper - one good idea would also be to have your friend go along, sometimes two sets of ears is better than one.

Good Luck to you. You are so young to have these sort of problems.

I have written on occasion on this blog - I will be watching your comments.

Have a good evening. An do not worry, easier said than done!! If you worry and are anxious your heart just will beat faster and faster..

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God Bless you all, here is my story:
I'm 49 female non-smoker recently diagnosed with dialted cardiomyopathy, left bundle branch block, high BP, AFIB with a EF of 45 April 3, 2012. Symptoms: I first had heart flutters not fast just a slow flutter went to my family doctor had a EKG which showed there was something wrong with my heart. I went to see a cardiologist in Northern KY who had me wear a heart monitor and take a Echo exam. I really did not think much of what was going on because we were laying people off at work and I was extremly stressed out so I figured the heart palps/flutters were normal due to anxiety. On my return visit to the cardio doctor he sat down starting reading my results and said my EF had not failing very much from 2003, that is when my left bundle branch block was first diagnosed I had been taking no medications for my left bundle branch block. He also told me I had dilated cardiomyopathy, high BP and AFIB. I sat there still not knowing what he was talking about except for the high BP, he gave me prescriptions for 4 meds and told me to look up my illness up on google online. He also said you will need to start walking and cut back on salt and I could have a beer every once in awhile. I still did not think very much of this even waited a day to have my prescriptions filled. Went and had the prescriptions filled with little care or fear.
Pharmacist said as I was driving away I hope you feel better, wow I never felt bad what was he talking about. Still I just went on cluless to what I really was diagnosed with. Then it happened I started looking up my diagnosis online....OMG what a mistake I freaked out, there is so much misleading information on the internet. I was even more streesed out thinking am I going to die will I have to go on disability what about health insurance what about my horses and dogs can I sit in the hot tub can I ride my horses? If my job finds out they may let me go next time? Well I have cried everyday since April 3 and today is the 18th. I have a full time job and I'm the director of the department. Thank God he has been with me, there are days I can barely go to work the meds made me feel tired, bloated,sick, and make my chest feel full. On top of this my ears are ringing at times like crazy keeping me up at night and making it hard for me to concentrate driving let alone performing at work. So far so good I don't think anyone at work has noticed any change in me. Personally I feel like my joy is gone. I have decided to get a second opinion my neighbor was a coreg sales rep and she insisted I go see a cardiologist she knows in Cincinnati Ohio. Well today I called and the cardiologist actaully called me back personally and made an appointment. I do not know how this will turn out and I'm very hopeful that I at least get a full explanation of what I have and if the meds are right for me or not. I suggest everyone get a second opinion if nothing else to prepare you to be able to face this head on and not have to rely on the internet for questions that nobody seems to know how to answer. I have read these posts here and there are so many questions but very few answers. I will repost after my appointment on Monday at 4:30. I wish everyone who reads this peace and grace.

These are the meds :

Multaq 400mg 2x a day
Pradaxa 75 mg 2x a day
Lisinopril 2.5 mg 1x a day
Bystolic 2.5 mg 1x a day

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Oh my lord, I must be psychic

iceagenow.info/2012/03/study-blames-obesity-rising-co2-levels

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What seems to have worked for me is twofold:

I take magnesium supplements. Before my cardioversion, they calmed the afib down - didn't eliminate it, but I could tell a definite change in the character of it. I also made a dramatic change in my diet to help eliminate any esophageal and stomach problems causing bloating and reflux.

After the cardioversion, I was on Multaq and continued the magnesium and dietary changes. Since, I've dropped back on the Multaq dosage, and have now stopped it altogether, and continue in NSR.

Magnesium deficiency is generally not tested for, yet some research studies I've read say low magnesium is one of the prime causes of afib in many people.

As is obvious from many people's experiences here, what works for some does not work for others.

Steve, on a different note, I thought of you this weekend when a story popped up on Yahoo news about how dark chocolate has a very positive effect on heart health, similar to statins.

My chocolate trigger seems to come more from the reflux potential of it. My afib episodes had always seems to have been tied to reflux and stomach upsets and bloating, and vagally induced. Fortunately, that has all calmed down, hence my reluctance to start back on chocolate or other things that trigger the reflux or other stomach issues.

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Dear Busycloud,
My heart really goes out to you. Every other day -- and that, AFTER an ablation? Holy cow.
When I was in the CICU, nothing worked BUT amiodarone. My b/p is too low to take meds every day, so I'm on Flecainide and Metoprol AS NEEDED.
Just for the sake of your sanity you might want to consider finding a good yoga instructor for deep breathing and calming postures. It's not a cure, but it's good for your soul. Wishing you well...

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I am on Multaq after being on Amiodorone following a Cardiac Ablation on Mar 1, 2012. Amiodorone. I had 9 side effects including shortness of breath. I told my EP. He switched to Multaq. No side effects but it is not working for me. A fIb episodes every 2-2.5 days . note: it is better than the deadly amiodorone which failed to control me with episdes every 1-2 days. I wonder if there is anything else I can take.

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Trapper: i agree on that. It is strange that I do like dark chocolate and it seems to have no effect on my heart. And the doctors all tell you to avoid it. I can not tell any difference between eating dark chocolate every day and skipping it for a few days. Y'all can tell I am an addict as i buy it in 3 lb bags of Giradelli 60% Dark Chacolate Chips from Sams. It last me a while but I do proabably buy one a month. Life and my decaf coffee seem to be a lot better with it ;-)

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Hi Steve. I speak with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek after years of conflicting advice. As we all see from this message board, people are SO different in their responses to meds, surgery and "guilty pleasures". I was not refering to you in my comment about no alcohol. A mere 20 minutes of internet search will reveal a dozen different opinions, from equally reputable sources, regarding what to do or not do, or what to eat and not eat. Even physicians in the same practice can give completely different opinions as to what to do or not do. Once within 20 minutes, I had one cardiologist tell me to strictly avoid exercise, and another tell me to get lots of vigorous exercise.

The other day when the big overblown red meat scare was butchered (pardon the pun) by the news media, I read a report that many Americans are missing some vital amino acids and other nutrients by avoiding red meats for "their health".

I consider many statistically based "reports" nonsense. Statistically, you could say that the rise in afib worldwide is caused by global warming, and conversely, you can also show by statistics that global warming is caused by the rise in afib cases. Sure this is pure nonsense, but some of the conclusions based on statistics I've seen cause me to just shake my head in wonder at the stretch needed to make the cause/effect connection.

Do what works for you! There are things i used to enjoy that I've given up because of personal preference and research, and I feel that is best thing for me - but that's just for me.

It amazes me that my wife eats cereal and milk and feels energized for the day, yet I eat cereal and milk and immediately feel so tired I want to go back to sleep. We metabolize carbs very differently.

I've wondered about MSG or other similar triggers myself. One for me might be chocolate. There are lots of things I would need to add back into my diet to see if I would get a trigger. I eat a pretty plain, mostly vegs and fish/chicken diet now, so one day I might start adding things back in to see if I get a trigger. Don't know if i want to chance it or not.

Thanks for the tip about Tikosyn. I'll ask my ecp about it if I should need afib help again. Sorry you've had such a rough go of it with meds.

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a couple of clarifications: I never said no alcohol. Alcohol in moderation is usually tolerable by most a-fibbers. God knows I love my beers and wines. Alcohol in moderation is not a heart stimulant or irritant, but illegal drugs, prescription stimulants, caffeine, decongestants and MSG certainly are. I try to stay away from sugars and sweetners, but for other reasons. And I do believe in getting plenty of potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc.

If I didn't have all the scar tissue problems in my left atrium and pulmonary veins from previous ablations, I would be certainly be taking dofetilide (Tikosyn). I do believe it is the safest and best antiarrhythmic for people who do not have long QT syndrome. But not many hospitals, Cardiologists and EPs are trained and registered to prescribe and start you on it, as is specially required, so dofetilide (Tikosyn) usually gets no mention or endorsement by local heart specialists. If you make the startup without problems, it is very safe. A-fibbers should know that, because dofetilide is the most effective antiarrhythmic other than amiodarone, but without all the negative side effects of most other antiarrhythmics. I am not in the business and own no stake, but want a-fibbers to know this.

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Trapper, you've said it all. Enjoy your guilty pleasures!

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Hey Steve and Deborah. I hear you loud and clear. I'm not a huge caffeine drinker, but really need/like one cup of coffee in the morning, and some tea mid day to keep hopping around. Moderation is the key, I'm sure.

Decaf coffee - what's the point?
No alcohol beer - what's the point?
Fat free, sugar free ice cream - what's the point? (although I have found a brand that is both sugar free and either fat free or very low fat that I actually like)
Live on roots and twigs - what's the point?

I suspect the afib connected mechanism of too much alcohol or caffeine comes more from magnesium or potassium depletion than from a direct effect.

Caffeine doesn't seem to bother some afib patients - others it does. Multaq works for some, others it doesn't. Some people can drink like a fish and live to be 110. Some people smell rubbing alcohol and develop fatty liver. Some people derive all of their calories from prime rib and barbecue and have the lipid profiles of vegetarian athletes. Some athletes have total cholesterol levels higher than 300 pound sedentary goldfish.. Anticoagulants save some peoples lives - others are destroyed by them. Eggs are good for you. Eggs are bad for you. High carbs/low protein diet. Hi protein/low carbs diet. Good fats/Bad fats, except on Tuesdays. Eat more fish, but don't eat fish because of the mercury. Eat plenty of green veggies for your AMD, unless you are on warfarin, and it's winter in Peru. Go blind from your anticoagulant, but at least you won't get a stroke, unless you get a brain bleed. Take your Multaq, the greatest thing since green eggs and ham - but wait - new studies show it's useless and dangerous. Take your statins, until they make you so brain dead you can't remember where you left the bottle, and are too weak to walk to where you finally remember you left it (but they keep your NUMBERS good). Eat this - not that. Don't ever eat in a restaurant - they are part of the conspiracy to keep us fat. Exercise is good for you. Exercise can change your heart tissue making you prone to afib.

Use aspartame instead of sugar - wait - aspartame has been linked to every disease known to man.

Diet drinks make you fat

It's all a big mystery designed to show us we really know very little about anything . . . . . I'm 'bout to stop thinking about it all and spend most of my time watching M*A*S*H reruns and let what happens happen.

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Like you, Steve, I've been grinding both decaf and regular and using two scoops each in the mornings. Still, I'm like a narcoleptic by mid afternoon. Nonetheless, I think we all need to be HONEST about what we imbibe and re-examine our over-attachment to food & beverages that for us are triggers. I'd rather go clean on those than imbibe pharmaceuticals every day.

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Going without coffee is a challenge. I did it gradually over time to avoid the headaches and withdrawal symptoms. I went 90, 80 ,70, 60% and so on over a period of 6-8 months and that works. Having said that I am now a coffee snob and I use a combo of 3 different decaf beans to get the taste I like and grind them a pot at a time.

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I agree. But let's be honest. If you're a coffee drinker, going with caffeine is really tough. I miss my wine, too, but I'm doing better with giving that up than I am with caffeine. Still, I don't ever want to go through what I went through in the CICU ever again if I can help it.

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I know all of you have been waiting with held breath for me to reappear (LOL)!

I tapered off Multaq completely, and have been off of it for about 3 weeks now. I am sleeping much better. I wanted to see if it was the multaq that was making me so blessed cold all of the time, but darn if the weather didn't warm up so much that I cannot tell. I also do have more energy - probably from sleeping better. Still no afib, and an ekg this week looked quote: "Like a swiss watch".

Eddie, I don't know whether or not Multaq helped me keep in NSR after a cardioversion, or whether it is from other steps I've taken. It does indeed seem to work for some and not for others. The good thing about trying it before having any surgical procedure is that YOU CAN ALWAYS STOP TAKING IT if you keep a close eye on things, and a problem starts. I think Multaq is on of those drugs - some others might not be as easy to stop before damage occurs.

With an ablation, if something goes wrong, you might not be so lucky, and may end up with a permanent problem. The conservative approach is probably the best route to take unless it doesn't work. Start first with some simple lifestyle changes, like losing weight, exercising and avoiding large doses of caffeine and cutting out alcohol. Having said that, there are plenty of in shape athletes who develop AFIB, so we are in good company, and lifestyle is not the only answer for many, especially with a genetic predisposition.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

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If it works for you, Tikosyn might be a better choice because it is most effective for A-Fib, but without the nasty side effects. Having said that, Tikosyn is not for everyone. People with long QT syndrome must not take it - it can be fatal for those few. Only a fraction of cardiologists and EPs are registered to be able to prescribe it so your cardiologist may not suggest it or want to go there. It must be initiated by a trained and registered physician in a registered hospital facility (3 days and 2 nights) and the pharmacist must also be registered for it. It works well for most and is a Godsend for them.

I will not try Multaq because amiodarone made me go hyper-thyroid about 12 years ago and that can be near fatal is not caught. It is my opinion that amiodarone should not be prescribed for people who are relatively healthy. Amiodarone should only be prescribed for the worst 5-10% of people, with major heart damage, to keep them alive without going to an artificial heart pump - mostly for elderly people with a short time to live.

Multaq is amiodarone's little cousin and does have a number of advocates for whom it works well. My EP has decided not to recommend or prescribe it unless a patient knows the very severe but low probability risks and still insists.

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Unfortunately many forget to give both sides of the story on medical procedure dangers which makes any "research" one sided and therefore flawed.


Facts From the Mayo Clinic:

Cardiac ablation does carry risks, which include:

-Bleeding at the site where your catheter was inserted.

-Damage to your blood vessels where the catheter may have scraped as it traveled to your heart.

-Puncture of the heart.

-Damage to your heart's electrical system, which could worsen your arrhythmia and require a pacemaker to correct.

-Blood clots, which could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

-Narrowing of the veins that carry blood between your lungs and heart (pulmonary vein stenosis).

-Damage to your kidneys from dye used during the procedure.

-Your risk of having these complications may increase if you have diabetes or kidney disease.


Multaq or Cardiac Ablation, they both have deadly risks. Choosing one over the other is not as simple or easy as some like to make it seem.

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