Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 16)
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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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GWB: I am curious if you tried Tikosyn? Tikosyn did not work for me, and defibrillator cardioversions did not work. I have now tried everything but Multaq and have started back on Rythmol/propafenone and cardizem that cause some side effects I don't like.

My EP is leery of Multaq now after the Palas study was canceled by the FDA because of deaths in the group using Multaq.

I had two ablations and then mini-maze over the past 11 years. Then I had 4 great years of normal SR after mini-maze but now have a strong left atrial tachycardia caused by nerve re-entrant through the internal scar tissue. I reacted against amiodarone about 9 years ago so am a bit leery of Multaq, even if it works initially for me. Did you try Tikosyn?

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I've been on Multaq for two years and its great. I had ablation work done when they did triple bypass surgery and had one AF episode after that; then they put me on Multaq and I've been in normal SR ever since.

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Thanks Gary. A lot for me to absorb in just the few days with this new problem. I appreciate it.

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the half life of amiodaraone in the body is 58 days. A rule of thumb in the medical cunity is it takes 5 half lives before the drug is considered to be out of your body and not affecting you anymore. 5 half lives is about 10 months, but reactions like like the thyroid and rash I had can continue for a couple of years or more, even with 2-3 applications of prescription cortisone cream per day. It was about a year and a half on anti-thyroid and synthroid before I stopped mthose meds and my thyroid do return to normal. I was one of the lucky ones.

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Hi Dennis,

It's been working perfectly on me for close to a year now. No afib and no side effects at all. But that's just me.

I haven't heard anything about it causing more afib but I wouldn't say it couldn't, depending on who's taking it. A persons physiology and possibly other meds they're taking can cause different reactions to the same medication. Everyone's physical makeup is unique to themselves. Just because it works for me does not mean it will work on the next 100 people taking it after me. It's very possible it may make things worse or the side effects may be unbearable for the next person.

I do know that many kinds of medications can cause increased effects of what they're actually being taken to prevent. Since there is no single wonder drug for anything, trial and error is the norm for seeing what works and what doesn't.

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New to this forum - Hi!

Didn't I just read that Multaq has now been linked to increased atrial fib potentials instead of the opposite? This gets so confusing. I can't find the article again Does anyone else know of what I'm referring to?

Thanks.

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The half life of amiodarone is 58 days. Most think it takes about 5 half lives before it can be considered out of your body. Thats pretty close to a year and I went through it longer than that when amiodarone blew up my thyroid and I developed skin rash on my ankles knees and elbows, about 10 years ago. If you want to see A-fib/flutter that is out of control, hyperthyroid will really aggravate that.

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Hi Tutsi. Thanks. I'm a humorist by nature. AF just about destroyed that until I got hold of my senses again.

Gayle, I'm just teasing about the half life of Amiodarone. From what I've read. It does seem to stay in your cells for an incredible length of time, however.

It seems that Multaq does work well for some people, with limited side effects. Each of our bodies is different, so don't judge your results from my experience. My cardiologist has seen some good results from it, so he wants me to keep trying it, although he certainly appreciates what my experience has been.

I think magnesium has been part of the key that works for me, although I have no fancy double blind charts to prove it. I wanted to do a double blind test with myself to see what my twin would do without magnesium and having a steady diet of beef fat and vodka, but I couldn't get approval from the genetic cops in Scotland to allow me to clone myself for the trial. I'm going to check and see if perhaps Radio Shack or Home Depot carries cloning kits, however. I'm sure there is a website where I can order one with free shipping.

For me, being off meds is working better than being on them, once I got the cardioversion done and gotten more control of the GI/Vagal issues as well as making some huge lifestyle changes.

If you would like some both plain common sense talk (with a good mix of scientific jargon and explanations) regarding afib, one of the best blogs I've found is Dr John Mandrola's. Google for it. I've learned SO MUCH there. I'll warn you that he is no fan of Multaq. One day, I'll post over there when they let me out of here..

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Hi Trapper,
You have such sensible answers to peoples questions it is a pleasure to read them. This latest one just blew me up. You are so right about Amiodarone - your explanation is true, probably, it was so funny that I am still laughing - you actually made my evening. Maybe you can make these people believers about some of these drugs, I gave up. Same story with Multaq, I fell a victim for it about a yr ago, believed in one of the EP's who told me if I was on it for one week he was 100% sure he could convert my chronic A-Fib, I had my doubts but went along and of course it did not work. I had so many side effects from Multaq, therefore, I would never ever want to take this med again. It is a cousin of Amiodarone.
I have gotten so bad lately that I will research for instance, antibiotics before I take them. I have one that I will stick with for now.
Have a great evening. Keep up the sense of humor!

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Trapper, thanks for the information regarding Multaq dosage. I have been taking 1/2 in the am and the full load at night. So far, so good. I do agree with you about the GI issues. Some days I have issues with indigestion and it hits my heart and hurts in that area . It always seems to be digestive problems that resolves later, but it is rather unnerving at the time. I have mentioned this to the doctor, but they do not seem to be concerned. You seem to be posting some very good and interesting information. I did not know about the half life of amiodarone.

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I'm with Trapper on the amiodarone. It blew up my thyroid. It takes a long time to grab hold of you and a long time to go away. When switching from Rythmol to Tikosyn my doctor told me to stop 5 days b4 the process of starting Tikosyn.

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My warning regarding GI and afib: If you seem to have the connection between GI difficulties and the afib, be very cautious about going on Pradaxa. I call it the Pradaxa Paradox, as it can create the very problem you are taking medications for. . . . I speak from experience.

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Gary, true - unless of course you are on Amiodarone, in which case your grave will be declared a toxic waste site for 30 years after you're buried.

That's the only drug in history with a 500 year half life :-)

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Trapper,

Most meds are safely out of your system in 1 week.

There are some that take about 2 weeks because of how they work in your system. Usually if you are going on a new med that may have negative side effects with the old one is when 2 weeks would be a safe period. But again, 1 week is the norm if this isn't an issue.

Obviously it's best to ask your MD or even better, your Pharmacist.

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no GI or vagus nerve issues here that I have ever noticed. Mine seems structural with large pulmonary veins and it often is triggered rolling onto my left side at night. Unfortunately I am a side sleeper and that sometimes triggers it. Caffeine and decongestants and stress are the worst although I have had MSG triggers. Alcohol only triggers if way overdone. The problem with MSG is they sneak it into your food and don't tell...

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I noticed that earlier I had posted that I was on a 1/4 dose, but afterwards, I did bump it back up to 1/2 dose so I could have a more steady baseline for comparison in the few weeks before my latest cardiology appointment.

There were too many variables going on and I realized I was trying to "shotgun" the situation, so I started trying one thing at a time.

Out of curiosity, how many afibbers here find that their afib is related to GI or other vagal issues?

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I'll also add, that I might bump up the Multaq again once I've determined what side effects go away from the other med. Not sure how long it takes to get out of the system entirely.

I hate being a lab rat . . . .. . .

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Gayle, I am on 1/2 dose twice daily and am feeling better, and no afib. The problems I was having are still there, but less. I plan to drop to 1/4 dose next. I have been talking with my cardiologist while doing this, as well as dumping another bothersome med.

No, I have not had any drinks since my afib reared its ugly head. I'm not taking the risk that it might be related.

Green Tea is about as strong as it gets these days.

I'll keep you posted.

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I do take magnesium 250-300 extrqa per day in addition to my cal/mah/zinc tab. I am going to try the 300mg Hawthorn supplements along with my 250mg/day Tikosyn and see if there is any difference...

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There are two Deborahs here. Sorry for causing confusion. One is ON and one is OFF Multaq.

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