Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 24)
(Newest replies first)

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.

REPLY

REPORT

TUTSI - that was so nice of you to reply. I sent you some questions but guess they were deleted. I am still betwix and between hanging in there or starting all over with new Dr. I hate that whole new process. BYW - I live in Middletown after 25 years in Guilford.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Maebellino,

EP at UCONN Medical Center in Farmington, CT who I saw back in Spring of 2010 - I like him and believe he is a good doctor - have not seen him since then is:

DR. CHRISTOPHER PICKETT
CARDIOLOGY, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

There also is another EP at UCONN

DR. HEIKO SCHMITT
CARDIOLOGY, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

I have not seen him.

Yeah, we could be neighbours - you never know.

If you want more info of the doctor at Cornell University NY let me. Have a great Summer Solstice week-end.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I hope you have had success with Multaq as I have had 4 ablations, 8 cardioversions and a pacemaker, BUT I started taking Multaq Feb/March 2010 followed by my 8th cardioversion in April 2010, which touch wood - the Multaq has kept me in sinus rhythym - I am still taking small amount of beta blocker and small blood pressure tablet. I am not taking any alcohol at all - to give this every chance, I hae suffered AF since 2001 - side effects - slight weight gain (7lb) and 1 leg up to the knee has kept slightly swollen, which it already had a tendency to do in hot weather. I am also having 6 monthly liver function tests

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

MPYJRTo TUTSI. TY for replying to me and my search for Ct. Dr. I am so interested in who you have seen - sounds like we have been on the same track. I will check that for the next few weeks, hoping you may respond. Hey, we could be neighbors! It is not "illegal" to give Drs. names, per se.....another Yahoo group I am on talks about specific Drs. all the time. Most of them are in Ca. I do hope you will contact me.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Maebellino, you did not direct the question to me exactly but here come the answers:

First EP was from UConn Medical Center, Farmington, CT. I believe he is an excellent doctor however he does not do too many ablations per year.but then there are other procedures involving heart he does - maybe in CT we do not have too many people with A-Fib who require/want ablations. And I am interested in ablation. (I am still thinking of this UCONN doctor for ablation because I believe anything he does he does well)

The second opinion of EP was at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT but he was too keen on antiarrhythmic drugs and I said no thank you.

The third EP was at Yale New-Haven Hospital, in New Haven, CT - but I had a bad experience with Multaq as you have seen from my other postings - and cardioversion did not work as they told me it would, they used the paddle on me 8 times and I believe that was too many - so that was a bad experience for me amongst other - so consequently I would not go there for anything else either. In my opinion that hospital is extremely discombobulated - they seem to do things after the fact when it should have been done before the fact.

The fourth EP was from Cornell University, NY - and he does about 3-4 ablations a week. So I am more or less inclined to go there once my Thyroid is heading for normal direction - which it is doing now two months after that radio active iodine drink on 4/7/11. And depending on if my heart is still in A-fib. only time will tell.

Hope this is of some help. No more opinions for me.
Have a nice week-end!! I would give the names of these doctors but I do not know if it is legal.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

This is for Bobby, I'm in Canada and they do heat ablation (Ontario) but also do Cryoablation in Montreal, Quebec. They insert a balloon next to the nodes that go haywire and when they start up the balloon freezes them. Apparently a quicker type of ablation and more effective. I'm going for a pre-assessment in another week for heat ablation, they say 8 weeks later I would have ablation done, I'll keep you posted.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Some background on my Afib first......

My Afib started about 8 months ago after I was put under and received dye and steroid injections right before I was to get an MRI for my hip afterwards.

My heart has been healthy and strong until that day. After the injections while under my heart went erratic and they had to lower it. The doctor did not look at the meds I was on to check for drug interactions. I checked what had injected and found that 2 of the injections warned not to use them with someone taking an MAOI antidepressant, which I had been on for 25 years with no problems, until the injections. Two of the injections had the warning that said they can cause erratic heart beat and Arrhythmia. That's when it all started for me.

Yeah, probably could have sued but I'm not that type of person.

So anyway I was recently put on Multaq for Lone Afib after trying a few other drugs that really didn't work. I was getting attacks a few times a week

It's been about three months now and I haven't had the slightest hint of Afib, my life is normal again!

The one thing I did learn from my own experience and some others here, is that you must take Multaq for at least "two weeks" before it fully kicks in. You'll notice some small changes during the first two weeks but it takes two weeks to fully work.

I mention the above because neither my doctor, nor the directions say anything about the two week period. I also searched all over the net and found nothing on the effective time period for taking Multaq.

The only side effect I have is an occasional watery stool which the drug mentions as a side effect and why it says to eat something before taking it. I also take a lot of herbs and vitamins and that sometimes causes that also, so it's really a matter of scheduling when I take something to balance things out.

Do not expect it to take effect in a few days etc., stay on it for at least two weeks or you will never know if it works or not.

Good luck to all!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am also from Ct. and just wondering what EP's you may have used? And you are right - it IS hot here.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Vaino, it has been a while since I wrote in this blog and will not be writing too often. It seems everyone is happy with Multaq regardless of what the outcome is in years to come. I am concentrating on my Thyroid - TSH results - I am still overactive (after that RAI, "radioactive iodine drink back on 4/7/11) latest result was 0.05 - hopefully in a while it'll start the climb to 1. The normal should be between 1-3 - I have noticed in my heart rate-it's been OK and not all over the place as it was prior to the RAI.
Like I said before I would not touch Multaq with a ten foot pole or any of the other Antiarrhythmic drugs.
I never realized that overactive thyroid has so much to do especially with A-Fib. It also has a lot to do with other cells in your body. I am glad that those two electrophysiologists pointed that to me and told me until my thyroid is fixed it does not pay to do the ablation because it will not work.
It is hot here in Connecticut about 34 in Celsius and tomorrow is going to be even hotter and more humid.
Have a great Juhannus!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I have been taking Multaq since Dec 2009. I tried coming off Multaq once and my heart rate elevated (which was a sign I was going out of rhythm) so I continued taking it. It has now been a year and a half with no negative side effects. I like many others in post have been on or tried what seems like alll the other rhythm meds but Multaq is the only one that has seemed to work.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I also do the mag and potassium - but stopped at that. Enough with the supplements. I have been on Multaq for 9 months with intermittent episodes - I'm staying the course for now. Good luck !

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Multaq for 5 months. At first, I got more short incidents of A-Fib but once I started taking an over the counter potassium (99mg) at night, no more a-fib. I take SLO-MAG twice a day too. According to many reports, magnesium and potassium are the most important elements to take to control A-fib. They work for me. I am a little worried about the Multaq potential side effects, but so far so good. I also tried every other medication on the market for a-fib.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Bobby, I too am afraid to drink alcohol as it did seem to trigger my afib, I have been afib free after my ablation though I am on multac and cumadin, for right now, off in 20 days! In order to prevent clots from forming during and after an ablation cumadin is necessary or another anti-coagulant drug. I had to keep my INR level between 2 and 3 for 4 weeks before my ablation and have continued to do so after my ablation that was on April 12th. It was performed by Andre Natale at Cleveland Metro in Ohio. I highly recommend speaking with him and if possible scheduling an ablation. I found that most people who have success dont post reports online so you hear the "horror" stories when researching online. Talk to other people, family, friends, co-workers i was amazed by how many people had one or had heard of someone who had an ablation. good luck an here's to a nice stiff drink!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Well the "dream is over" had another extended episode last week which landed me in the hospital for a day or so. It lasted about 30 hours before converting after dioxigin and continuing the multaq. That is the first episode in almost 6 months which isnt terrible. I am thinking of talking to my doctor about the ablation surgery at our next meeting but I just hear so many mixed results. I just want to be able to have a couple of glasses of scotch again, LOL. Over the past year and a half I have become so sensitive to alcohol that Im scared to drink now. Any thoughts on the ablations, if so please also state the type of ablation if possible since I thought there were a few options. I am a 36 year old male, otherwise healthy at 73 inches 212 pounds. All bloodwork is always good, and I refuse to go on Coumodin...

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Tutsi, I started Multaq on the 20th January 2011, 2 x 400 mg per day. This moment my other medicines are: Spiresis 1 x 37,5 mg, Emconcoor 1,25 mg, Amlodipin Orion 5 mg, Primaspan 100 mg (Acid. asetylsalic.)and Magnesium 375 mg. I am 69 yars old, my length is 171 Cm (5 ft 19 in) and my weight is 76,2 kg (168 lbs). My blood pressure is typically 128/79 and HR 50. according to the latest blood test for liverenzymes were 38, the value was 30 before I started Multaq. Once the value has been 78, but now it is better. I do not drink alcohol and coffee. I had my first A-fib 3 years ago and CV has been made 7 times, in January this year twice. Multaq seeems to be working for me, because I had 8 A-fibs afterI started Multaq, one lasted for 15 hours, second one for 3 hours and others 15 minutes, some have been mini A-fibs. I went tree times a week in training centrre and stayde there for one hour. I also walked for one hour 2-3 times a week in such a speed that my heart rate is max 110. Usyally I sleep very badly that is my problem, I am sure this depends on the medicines I used. When I was 30-50 years I went during twelve years skiing marathon 75 km (47 miles) Finland Skiing) and run also several marathon.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Thanks, maebellino, I thought alcohol was the trigger for my Afib as well so I have not had any since New Years Eve. I dont engage in alcohol events frequently and know it is bad for me but I certainly feel left out in a crowd when the guys go out or want to have some drinks with my lady friend. But I would much rather be in normal rhythm with no complications...Dr. follow up on June 29th

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

FDA Drud Safety Alert: Multaq Liver test

"Severe liver injury associated with the use of dronedarone (marketed as Multaq)"

http:/­/­www.fda.gov/­drugs/­drugsafety/­ucm240011.htm

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was in High AFib for 5 months and on Meds to lower my Heart Rate.

Did not work.

Cardiac Conversion only lasted 4 days.

Within 7 days on Multaq, normal Heart Beat with Afib now maybe once every 2 weeks with improving Fatigue issues.

Age 48

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

it was done in Madison, WI

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on Amiodarone for 10 months , and it worked great for my A-Fib - no attacks for a whole year . But I had a reaction to it ( there is a long list of possible reactions, and mine was the last one on the list in the PDR) I got pancretitis , my pancreas was inflamed and after eating any food was extremely painfull for about 4 hours or more . ( except one food , fresh juiced vegetables) . However it took another 4 months for the Doctors to figure out what was causing my pain and then take 4 different tests to prove it was my pancreas and then to figure out that it was the amiodarone that caused it . ( and since it has a lingering life after stopping the pill of another 2 months
the pains didnt stop until 10 months after I started it ,) for any food except fresh vegtable juice , which I lived off of for 4 months and gave up other food. Then 4 months after stopping amiodarone I had an A-Fib attack and ended up back in the ER . After puting me back in to sinus rythem with Digoxin they put me on multag but 2 hours after taking it I went back in to A-Fib. so that was the end of that (my Dr. says she has found it is to hard on the liver anyway.) NOW when I start going in to A-Fib , my B.P.
goes up and my heart beat goes up 5 or 10 points every few minuets and I feel the flutter I run for the magnesium and take 1ml in liquid form and an extra Digoxin ( slows heart beat ) which I normally take 1 every 24 hours anyway and an extra 1/2 metoprolol
( which I normally take one every 12 hours for B P any way . ) For the past 4 months that has worked 3 times and it brings me right back in to rhythm .
I feel a bit tired the next day but am normal by the
2 day. Hope this helps some one.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

How long does it take Multaq to get into your system and actually work? I started taking it this morning and it has been...

2 REPLIES

I just started taking Multaq and was told to stop taking Ranexa why? What happens when you take both ? The Ranexa was wo...

2 REPLIES

I was diagnozed in Feb with a-fib. Started taking Multaq at that time. So far I have refused Coumadin. Have had some min...

4 REPLIES

Can 1,000 MG of acetaminophen cause elevated pulse rate while patient is taking 400 MG of Multaq twice daily? ## Multaq ...

2 REPLIES

Atere 3 months of Multaq, I began to run dangerously high potassium levels, not low! Any other similar experiences? ## I...

3 REPLIES

Does the tiredness go away after being on Multaq awhile or does the tiredness continue? ## Multaq made me tired for abou...

19 REPLIES

I have been taking Multaq for almost 5 months. Yes it helps, maybe to much, I am exhausted it keeps me so low and irregu...

19 REPLIES

Are there any coupons available for Multaq tablets? I've just been prescribed this drug, which is very expensive. Th...

17 REPLIES

Has anyone else experienced notably increased shortness of breath attributed to Multaq? ## Multaq contains the active in...

10 REPLIES

I was started on Multaq after ablation got my heart to beat normally. I has previously been in Afib 62% of every day. Th...

7 REPLIES