Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 22)

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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joe
do you have cardiomyopathy? what is your ejection fraction?

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The dr. thinks that carrying your Blackberry over your heart caused your AFIB?

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what is ablation i hve been on multaq since jan and it has helped me stay in rhythm and i am so glad of that i went in afibb two weeks ago and i tell you what that really hurts to feel that way very scary thing so multaq is a great drug to take for afibb retrial flutter i hope it will heal on its on so it will stay in the right rhythmn

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carolann
i dont think it heals its self it gets worse if anything and the abalation is where they go through your groin into your heart and burn the effected part but they may not get it all so you may need 2 or 3 attempts its not a nice op and can last up to 6 hours and your not asleep they want me to have it done again and i dont want but they tried multaq but im also on 6 other meds for my afib so if your only on multaq your doing good

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hi james
if not pills and abalation what could it be death only joking but i am interested

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A couple of days ago, my cardiologist prescribed Multaq for my afib. I decided to do a little computer research about the drug. PLEASE, everybody who is on this drug, read the July 21, 2011 edition of the New York Times. The FDA has issued alerts on the Heart drug Multaq. A study of the drug in patients with a long-term form of atrial fibrillation showed twice as many deaths as those who did not take the drug. Also, a significant increase of cardiovascular events has been cited by the manufacturer, Sanofi-Aventis, in a 3,000 patient trial which was halted by them in early July, 2011. I urge everyone to read this article online.

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After 12 months,Multaq completely stopped working for me. I was relieved as I do believe it will be taken off the market soon. I have just returned from 2 days in the hospital for monitoring of Flecinide - my next choice. This is just my opinion - about the Multaq - fueled by reports and news. Good luck to all.

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Hi Elaine, There have been quite a few tests on Multaq since it is a new drug. But you shouldn't get all panicky or get everyone else panicked, especially if you did extremely thorough research on it., not just the one article you read.

If you had researched some more, you would have also found that in earlier testing that Multaq can effect the liver. The earlier test had a couple of people pass way due to liver problems and there were warnings put out about that also. After they did some research they had also found out that those few people had other serious complications that caused their passing, it wasn't just the Multaq.

If you had researched it a bit more you would find that Multaq was not designed for "long term" Afib. It was designed to work on short term Afib, which means only having Afib for about six or so months, not years. If a doctor is giving anyone Multaq that has had it for at least a few years then you might want to consider finding a new physician. This medication is dangerous for anyone that has long term Afib.

I only started having occasional "Lone Afib" (Afib with no other heart conditions) and was put on Multaq on about the seventh month into it. After 2 weeks it kicked in and it's now been about 6 months and I haven't had a single incident of Afib. I'm also taking certain vitamins and herbs for the heart that I've done some deep research on that "may" be helping to control it along with the Multaq. I've been a heavy studier of vitamins and herbs most of my life.

I also have absolutely no side effects that many others here are having. Maybe that's just my own physiology, everyone will react differently to a certain extent with medications, also taking other medications for other illnesses along with Multaq may change the way Multaq works or effects the body.

Nothing is simple when it comes to drugs. There are many factors and variables in involved that should be researched "very thoroughly" by the person taking them.

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Just another note on Multaq for those that may not know this.

You're instructed to eat before taking Multaq. Some may think that this is to help ease some side effects like diarrhea or stomach problems, which does make sense.

The actual reason they tell you to eat first before taking Multaq is because on an empty stomach Multaq runs right through your system very quickly and will not do what it's designed to do, which will make it useless. Eating food before taking Multaq stops the quick exiting of the drug and lets it get into your system so it can work.

I grill my doctors on everything I can think of to get all the info that they may not be giving out. Some doctors just tell you what to take without giving thorough explanations thinking you might not understand it. I question everything when it comes to my health and life whether they like it or not.

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Multaq (Dronedarone) Prescription Information

"What is the most important information I should know about Multaq?"

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Multaq, or if you have severe liver disease, certain serious heart conditions, especially severe heart failure, "AV block" or sick sinus syndrome (unless you have a pacemaker), a history of slow heart beats that have caused you to faint, if you were recently hospitalized for heart failure, or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with Multaq. You may need to stop taking certain drugs while you are taking dronedarone. Tell your doctor about all other medications you use.

Also tell your doctor if you have liver disease, a history of heart failure, an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood), or if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator implanted in your chest.

This medication can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use Multaq if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood and heart rhythm may need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.


"What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Multaq?"

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to Multaq, or if you have:

*severe liver disease
*certain serious heart conditions, especially severe *heart failure, "AV block" or sick sinus syndrome (unless you have a pacemaker);
*a history of slow heart beats that have caused you to faint;
*if you were hospitalized with severe heart failure within the past 30 days; or
* if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with Multaq. You may need to stop taking certain drugs while you are taking dronedarone. Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

*heart rhythm medication
*an antibiotic or antifungal medication
*an antidepressant
*medicine to treat HIV or AIDS
*medicine to treat or prevent malaria
*medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder
*migraine headache medication
*narcotic pain medicine;
*medicine to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting; or
*medicine used to prevent organ transplant rejection.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Multaq:

*liver disease
*a history of heart failure;
*an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood); or
*if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator implanted in your chest.

FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use Multaq if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use effective birth control while you are using this medication.

It is not known whether Multaq passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication if you are breast-feeding a baby.

"How should I take Multaq?"

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Multaq works best if you take it with your morning and evening meals.

It is important to use Multaq regularly to get the most benefit. Keep using this medication even if you feel fine or have no symptoms. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood and heart rhythm will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Store Multaq at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

"What happens if I miss a dose?"

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

"What happens if I overdose?"

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include weakness, slow heart rate, feeling light headed, or fainting.

"What should I avoid while taking Multaq?"

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Multaq and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

"What are the possible side effects of Multaq?"

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

*slow heart rate, fast or pounding heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out
*a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern *feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion, *swelling in your ankles or feet, rapid weight gain wheezing, cough, chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up mucus
*breathing problems while lying down trying to sleep; or low electrolytes (confusion, jerky muscle movements, uneven heartbeats, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling).

Less serious side effects may include:

*nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, upset stomach
*feeling weak or tired; or mild skin rash, redness, or itching

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

"What other drugs will affect Multaq?"

Many drugs can interact with Multaq and some should not be used at the same time.Below is only a partial list of these drugs. Tell your doctor if you are using:

*a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin) *cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
*digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps
*sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf)
*St. John's wort *theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl) *tuberculosis medications *a beta-blocker such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta, Ziac), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran), and others
*cholesterol-lowering medicines such as cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), or fluvastatin (Lescol)
*heart or blood pressure medication such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others; or seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others.

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can cause serious drug interactions with Multaq. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

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Hi Gary! Thank you for responding. I have had afib for many years and my cardiologist prescribed Multaq, 400mg. 2x daily. After doing research, and finding that Multaq is approved for short-term arrhythmia lasting less than 6 months, I did not fill the prescription. Instead I called my doctor's office, spoke to his nurse, who assured me that he would call me back, and am waiting 4 days now to hear from him. I have been on Metoprolol for a year now and will continue taking it. My afib is not persistant and I exercise and feel fine.

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i, too, have asked my doc many questions re:multaq. he assured me that the danger lies with folks who have or who have had heart failure. i have been on it for a about a month, side effect of being tired about 2 hours after taking pill is lessening. i will have the results of a holter monitor this week to see if there has been improvement - will let you know.

thanks, all, for your replies and information. i am still interested in the comment about a future change - no ablation or pills. anyone have more info?

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Waiting 4 days for a Dr. to call back is a sign to get a new Dr. I have found that Cardiologists deal with many people sicker than AFIBBERS and we can be overlooked. That is my personal opinion of course but I have good reason to believe it. I was in the process of changing Drs. ( 10 days to return MY phone call once even though I called two subsequent times ) when I had a big episode and was put in hospital - to transfer to Flecinide - with that EP as still my Dr. I saw him once in 4 days for 30 seconds. He sent PA's and other Drs. but 30 seconds !!!! Nuts - I will keep my appt. in Sept with new Dr.

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I totally agree maebellino. If a Dr./Cardiologist does not return a call within a day, move on.

When I first got Afib last year I saw a general Cardiologist that dealt with a variety of many of heart conditions. He had no time to talk to me when questioned (in his office yet!). He only wanted to give me tests and try some meds, without explaining what the meds did.

There were 2 Cardiologists working out of the office, both Oriental and I could barely understand what I being told. After my third visit he wanted to try another med without explaining what it did. He wanted to give me a beta blocker of some type but I said NO! I'm on another med that doesn't work well with certain blockers and he already knew this but didn't even bother to check. So I told him no, not until I research it myself.

Obviously I was taking up too much of his time (2 doctors and an average of 10+ patients all at once all doing different things, this was the norm for his office).

So he said, "I'm only a Cardiologist, let me send you to an Arrhythmia specialist". I didn't even know Arrhythmia specialists existed!

So I went to this big new facility in NJ (where I am) which believe it or not was called "New Jersey Arrhythmia Associates" (in W. Orange)

The Doc I saw there was incredible and only worked with Arrhythmia patients. He spent about a half an hour discussing things with me and answering ALL my questions. With the first drug he started me on, he spent about 10 minutes online making sure my other med would not have any issues with the med he wanted to try on me first. Unbelievable. I feel totally safe with him and finally felt I found someone who could really help. Most Doctors today will not sit down with you and have an actual discussion (like in the old days).

Whatever area your in, you might want to try looking up a Cardiologist that only works in, or specializes in Arrhythmia's. They are out there. And it now seems to be a growing specialization.

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I just had an ablation by Dr. wilbur a month ago. I don't know if it has worked yet. It was on my left side of my heart and a few years ago on my right side at South central. That one worked but it took a few months to.

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i didn't get the news i had hoped for today...my holter moinitor did not show improvement in my premature atrial beats so the multaq doesn't seem to be working. yuk!

doc is now talking about trying amiodarone and/or ablation. not looking forward to any of this.

someone on this site mentioned a future radical change in treatment - no drugs or ablation. please respond with more info.
thanks

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I just had an ablation and am on amiodarone right now. I am still in and out of sinus rythem. What I found out is eating healthier helps a lot. Otherwise none of the medicines have really worked for me. I am just waiting to see if the ablation worked.

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I am a 48 Yr 190 lb male and have been on 400 mg twice/day for over a year with excellent results. No AF since I started the drug and have no side effects at all. Moderate and sometime more than modrate use of alcohol has not been a problem. For those of you with severe AF and have had ablations I would strongly reccommend the Maze procedure at the Inova heart center in Fairfax, VA. This procedure has worked on many and cured them for life. I had the procedure with good results for a year but went back into occasional AF, one in a million according to the doctors. They say another ablation to solve the fluter will help. Maybe consider it when I am tired of taking the Multaq. Good luck.

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Hi Greg,
I could not help but answer to this one. Hope you did your research on Amiodarone - the most effective drug for A-Fib and the most toxic drug for arrhythmias - it is suppose to be the last drug anyone is put on for A-Fib. I would not touch it with a ten foot pole. This drug can affect ones heath way beyond when one has stopped taking it.
Multaq is the cousin of this drug and I also would not touch Multaq with a ten foot pole.
One of the websites to check this out is:
heartdisease.about.com/od/drugsforheartdisease/a/amiodarone_lung.htm
I don't take any drugs be it antibiotic or anything else until I have done my research on them.
I wish you good luck!!

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Randy - the Multaq and alcohol also worked for me for about 6 months. No AFIB and my same lifestyle - drink or two at night with my husband - champagne for special occasions - beer with pizza, etc - we just kept up the same routines as if I did not have AFIB. Then, the AFIB started sneaking back but I was in denial about the alcohol. When I had an episode on a day when I had no alcohol the night before, I convinced myself it was NEVER alcohol. As the Multaq finally tanked and I was in AFIB 80% of the time - I even said "what the heck".....already in AFIB so might as well have a glass of wine. Last week I was in the hospital for 3 days to transfer to Flecinade and my husband and I are now committed to a permanent change. NO alcohol for me. It isn't easy - habits die hard. Patterns are hard to break. I am 59 but hope for years on Flec and I need to help that along as much as possible.
I hope you never have anymore AFIB but please know, in my opinion and my Drs. - alcohol and Multaq ( and most other drugs ) are looking for trouble. Good luck to you - sounds like you are upbeat and that is half the battle.

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