Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 34)

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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Yes, Gary - the Cardizem calmed down the rate effectively, but the rhythm is still whacked out even on the Multaq. I thought I had spontaneously converted the other night, but it was short lasting.

Just finished season 5 - we might take a break for a couple of weeks and try something else. After all, that was about 125 continuous episodes, plus the original movie - all in a row. Some nights we watched several episodes back to back.

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I am multaq since. 2009. It is my miracle drug. I have fibrillation. At 7am I take 1mg of Coumadin with my vitamin b complex with vitamin c .At 1:30pm I take my multaq with Korea and at 1:30am I take multiagency. The importance thing is never take Coumadin with other drugs and as far as you can of multaq and Korea. Once a week I ate salmon and twice a week dark green leaf. I check my blood every week and I am always between 2.1 to 2.9 in my Coumadin levels. Every 6 month I check my liver enzymes and they are o.k.

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To "Done with Multaq"

I am glad you are off the deadly medication which has so many side effects it ain't funny - some people say they have no side effects at all which is great, however, these side effects and big problems don't necessarily have to start immediately - they can be hidden for years and all of a sudden they just appear out of nowhere.

After all this medication is a cousin of Amiodarone - personally I will stay hunndreds of miles away from either drug. (here she goes again Trapper and Gary will say, they have a bit different opinion on these meds than I do which I respect).

One thing I do not really agree with i if just relying on aspirin to take the K vitamin out of your system - it does not "thin" your blood or has anything to do in taking "K" out of your blood, not sure, have not researched it, it rather works on your platelets - I know as I had a procedure recently when I had to go on Plavix and aspirin at the same time for keeping my platelets "smooth" I was also on Coumadin. I believe I am one of those women who cannot handle all sorts of medications because Plavix gave me all sorts of side effects - I was suppose to be on it for 3 months but only lasted 5 weeks and I said to my doctor that is it can't handle it any longer.

My cousin in Europe was on Antiarrhythmic drug but no blood thinner - my brother and I always wondered how odd it was to have A-Fib and not be on some sort of blood thinner. Until this past Christmas eve she had a blood clot develop in her brain, due to blood pooling, due to silent A-Fib, thank goodness she did not have a stroke. So now she is on their equivalent of Coumadin for ever.

I would definitely check with you doctor on blood thinner I would not chance it. At one point I had A-Fib episodes couple of times a year but I was put on Coumadin at the onset of A-Fib, some thirteen odd years ago. Now I am in chronic A-Fib which I blame for an operation back in 7-2008 when all sorts of drugs were used on me.

Good luck to you "Done with Multaq". There is one blood thinner called Pradaxa if you would be a candidate for that. I believe it is used on people depending on what caused their A-Fib in the first place. Unfortunately I am not a candidate for it.

That's it - I am done for now - you all have a Healthy and Happy New Year.

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Hey Tutsi, I'm not rolling my eyes. I agree with you. I do not want to be on Multaq long term. I've read recently that it is not meant to be a long term solution. However, I was put on it prior to a cardioversion a year and a half ago, and maintained NSR for a year and a half. I've been off of Multaq for a year, with no afib re-occurrence until now.

The thinking is short term use to help the cardioversion be successful, and then come off it again. By itself, it doesn't seem to help me.

One thing I've read recently that is interesting regards how the heart tissue will "model" itself around a condition. In other words, if you are in afib for a long time, the heart will tend to keep itself in afib. The longer you are in NSR, the heart will tend to model itself around NSR, until there is some kind of trigger. Finding the trigger tipping point is my goal. I think I'm on to mine, but I've got to get back into NSR as soon as possible. Last time the afib went on entirely too long prior to the cardioversion, so I think the heart still had a lot of the afib "modeling".

I've got a long list of things to avoid I've now pieced together - we'll see.

This time they put me on the new Xarelto for the temporary anticoagulant, and I'm having none of the dreaded Pradaxa nonsense i had n THAT evil drug.

Good luck!

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Hi Tutsi, We all know Multaq is no miracle drug and I don't think any of us want to be on it. As I just stated in my recent post, I don't like taking drugs and I try to get off them ASAP (or at least lower the dosage). But It's the only way to stay level headed for awhile and not be in misery so I can find a way to get off it and that doesn't happen overnight.

Some of the meds you are taking I fortunately don't need, and some of those same drugs you are taking I cannot take because "for me" they are very dangerous. Obviously you've had a very bad experience with Multaq but that does not make you an authority on who should take it or not, you are not a physician. If someone wants to try it then it's their decision and you should not be using your scare tactics to keep them from trying it. That's ethically wrong and scaring someone away from it can be equally as dangerous as taking it. It may actually save someone's life by keep their heart rate down, but if that same person took your advice they could just as easily die also. Think before you speak. You're failing to look at all the possibilities and only seeing things with tunnel vision.

You "assume" it may have bad effects after taking it for a long time, you don't know this and you should not "assume" something based on your emotions or hearsay. You seem to keep forgetting (or you just don't want to hear it) that any drug taken for a long time can have very bad effects, but then again they may not. You don't know this as fact and should never assume it when advising someone else.

None of us wants to be ill, none of us "want" to be on meds.

We're here to tell of our "own" experiences and sometimes provide "factual" answers, not give out nonfactual advice and play with other people's lives. I know you're trying to help but in reality you may just be hurting others by trying to scare them based your own "personal" experience's. That's just outright wrong and could actually cause someone more serious problems or even their death. But I guess you've never looked at the whole picture and the damage you could possibly do by trying to scare people.

I know I come on harsh but I tell things like they are. I'd would say it the same way even to my own doctor, it doesn't matter what kind of sheepskin is on the wall, so don't take this personally.

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Hi Gary,

I make it short. My apologies to you because you took it very personally - and besides I did not tell this individual what to do - I suggested she'd check with her doctor on a blood thinner.

I have done my research on Amiodarone as well as Multaq if I ever find my print out I shall put the link on this blog.

One good thing is that you cannot get any of these drugs without a script unless one orders them on line. without a script, but that certainly would be crazy without consulting their doctor. I guess anything is possible to get on line now-a-days.

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HI Tutsi,

No need to apologize, I just tend to get carried away a lot on many subjects. I sometimes I let passion take over when I write something I'm concerned about. But again, it was not meant in a personal way. I've told many a doctor (and others) off face to face for not acting professionally or not giving me the proper attention. So don't be too concerned about my sometimes overzealous rants :)

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Just wanted to post that I had an unsuccessful electocardioversion 2 weeks ago.

They decided to try again, put me on Multaq for about a week prior, and continuing after, and it was successful, and I'm back in nice, slow NSR. Whether the Multaq was the true reason or not remains to be seen, but the evidence points to it. For sustained, long term use, I'm still not convinced, but for this purpose, perhaps it is indeed a good thing.

I'm not sure how long the doc wants me to remain on it, but I think I know my triggers now, and will avoid them like the plague, if at all possible.

After all, I went a year and a half without an episode since the last cardioversion (and one year off of Multaq). Certain things over the holiday probably created a tipping point.

I wonder if anyone else has had this same experience, or did the Multaq itself convert you?

Trapper

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Trapper, I did not stay converted until after I had been on Multaq awhile. In 2010 they converted me after I had been on Multaq and I am still in rhythm. I am still on Multaq, but I see the doc in March and I will see what they say about getting off it. I also think magnesium helps one stay in, so I take that everyday. I had been out of rhythm from fall of 2008 and I was getting worse. They put me on Multaq,but I did not convert on that alone. I am happy to hear that you are back in and I hope it stays that way for you. Good luck with your heart and please keep us filled in what what is going on.

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Thanks Gayle. That was my experience for both cardioversions. The Multaq alone did not do it, but the two together worked.

I found an interesting read on Magnesium a while back that said it was only effective on certain types of afib. I'll see if I can find it again. It makes sense, as magnesium is a natural calcium channel blocker, so in theory, it should be similar in effect to cardizem, given for rate control.

My main objections from my last round of the Multaq were:

Low pulse rate, as low as the lower 50s at times. One time it dropped to 48.
Feeling Tired and spacey all of the time.
Weird sleep patterns.

All of the above made it difficult for me to get any exercise.

I also suspect it might be what had adversly affected my glaucoma, cataracts, and a retina problem the last time I was on it. The timing of those events corresponded to the time I had been on Multaq. The opthamologists are keeping track of me now that I'm on it again. This is circumstantial evidence, perhaps, of an involvement, but it's worth noting. There is nothing in the available literature regarding eye problem "side effects" that we've found yet, however.

Were you ever able to pinpoint the triggers for your afib episodes?

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Trapper, I too, had a very low pulse rate in the beginning and that does make you tired. They put me on a small dose of amlodipine besylate which raised my pulse rate to the point that I run about 60 now. There are days I feel very well and other days I am just sluggish, however, at my age I am even happy to be sluggish!

In the beginning I noticed what I felt might be afib, but I just ignored it. Then one day I was going to take a girl friend to the hospital early in the morning. I was worried about over sleeping and I could not go to sleep.
I decided to have a couple of glasses of wine to make me sleepy and it worked. However, when I was carrying her bag to my car in the morning I could feel that something was wrong. I did not see the doctor for about a week and then I found out that I was out.
They put me on medicines that did not work, and many of them I could not tolerate.

In August of 2009 they put me on Multaq but I was afraid of it and I was only taking one a day. Later in the year I went on a larger dose, but I still did not convert.
In the spring of 2010 they decided to cardiovert me again and see if it would take. They put me in the hospital for 2 1/2 days and ran all kinds of tests and got me very dehydrated with big doses of lasix. The attending doc at that time said that dehydration helps when you cardiovert. It worked! And, I have been in ever since.Regarding the eyes, I do have problems. I feel they are getting worse, but I have never related it to Multaq. I have a retina issue, but I think that started before the Multaq. I do have cataracts as well, but not too badly. If you find out anything more in regard to the eyes, please post it!

I am happy that you posted back to the group, as it helps all of us to know about different cases. I hope you continue to stay in rhythm and hopefully they will find a cure for this sometime soon.

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Trapper,
I posted a reply but they say it has to be reviewed. The last time they reviewed one, it did not show up for a few days, so please be patient. When it comes in, it may be a few replies down. Hopefully, what I had to say has some relevance. Take care.

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Gayle, your story sounds very similar to mine. They tried a variety of meds, and I never converted on my own. They just made me more tired, dopey and cranky. In my job. I need to be ready instantly for an emergency, and they just wouldn't work with that scenario.

The cardioversion lasted a year and a half - a year of which I was not on the Multaq. Then came the first of this year, and wham - back again. The combo of Multaq and the cardioversion got NSR back, where a cardio alone did not, so I think that is where the effectiveness of this med for some people is its strong point, rather than as a conversion tool by itself.

My afib episode several years ago I believe started one night when I was DJing a big event, and while having lots of fun, it was also very stressful. I felt very tense, andnervous, like my body was electrified. I grabbed a cold beer when I got home, hoping it would relax me, but the weird feeling continued. Actually the beer might have been part of what kept the afib going. It felt like the esophageal spasms associated with GERD, but different. It would come and go for a while, and I went to the doctor to see if I could calm the "indigestion" down, and they picked up on the afib right away.

Your comment regarding dehydration is interesting, as I have a handout that tells me to keep well hydrated, and they gave me IV fluids before the cardio as well.

The past episodes - the ones that were short lived and required no treatment - always seemed to start with reflux and bloating.

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An Afibbers Superbowl Party

"Thanks for inviting me over! This is the first superbowl I've been able to watch in a couple of years. I don't follow either team, so there's less chance that I'll get excited or enjoy the game, so my blood pressure will remain under control."

"Limping, well yes I am. My arthritis is acting up. An Aleve? No, can't have NSAIDs. They might trigger afib, and I can't have them anyway because of the anticoagulants. It will get a bit better on its own in a few weeks."

"Something to drink? Sure, what ya got . . . . a selection of imported beers? Oh, guess not . . . alcohol and carbs, you know . . .could be a trigger. 12 year old scotch? Sounds fantastic, but I don't dare. A soft drink. Thanks, but no . . . high fructose corn syrup has been linked to afib, plus there's caffiene. Diet drink, well they have Aspertame, so can't do that. Apple juice? Definitely not - empty fructose overload. I brought a decaf green tea bag with me, so if you have some hot water, I'll make that."

"Something to eat? Well, I see you have chili. Sorry, that has beef - a no-no with that protein and fat. I have a handout from one doc who says to limit my protein, and have more of the "good" carbs. Vegetarian chili? sorry, beans have purines - bad for systemic uric acid, another trigger, according to a recent study. Take out chinese - yum! But wait, MSG - can't eat that. Chips and salsa? Well no, empty carbs and spicy stuff - might give me reflux that will trigger the afib. Besides, I have a handout from another doc who says to avoid all carbs, good or bad, and to eat more protein. That sandwich looks good, but the multigrain wheat bread has gluten, another afib trig found in a recent study. Guess I'll stick with these carrots and celery strips I brought, just to be safe."

"Don't be alarmed if I leave the room during commercials. All those food advertisements, you know. Plus, some of them might be interesting and excitng, so I need to be careful."

"Well, it's halftime, and the afib pills I took with my carrots and green tea dinner make my loopy, so I'd better drive home now, while I still can. Gotta get to bed early anyway, as the same meds wake me up 5 or 6 times a night, and up for good at 4AM. Doc says I gotta get more rest, but meds make it impossible. He can't give me anything to help the sleep, 'cuz they might cause apnea, and trigger the afib."

"Anyway, thanks for the invite. I probably won't make it next year though - too depressing"

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Thanks, Trapper! I was looking for something to make me depressed today! LOL!

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Trapper: I agree with you about the arthritis. I don't think they believe it hurts the way it does and they just say "get more exercise" and "lose weight". Well, I have lost 25 pounds, and it's as bad as ever. I guess I'll just keep losing weight, and then they can put me in the eating recovery hospital.

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Hi folks. A little off the Multaq topic, but I wanted to let you know my experience with my pre/post anticoagulant.

Last cardioversion, I was on Pradaxa, and had endless heartburn and indigestion. In addition, my skin became quite brittle and sensitive to the slightest touch, creating bruising and tearing. I had an elbow that tore open and never fully healed. It also was one of those frugs that simply made me feel weird.

This time around, I was put on Xarelto, one of the latest to market and have had none of the problems like with Pradaxa. The only problem was a conflict with some eye supplements I was on that added to the anticoagulant properties and resulted in a bit of bleeding. Fortunately, I caught the interaction quickly, figured out what it was, and stoped the supplements and the babay aspirin. FYI, the supplements contained a high concentration of Bilberry and some other natural anticoagulants.

If you are having problems with Pradaxa, you might want to ask your cardiologist about Xarelto.

My experence may be different than yours, but I thought I would pass this on.

Of course, next week a study will be released that says Xarelto wil cause your teeth to fall out, and cause you to inadvertantly paint your house purple in your sleep.

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"Of course, next week a study will be released that says Xarelto wil cause your teeth to fall out, and cause you to inadvertantly paint your house purple in your sleep."
------

So then I guess I'll be seeing you in the next Jacoby & Myers commercial? LOL!

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I have had one ablation they. Did my ablation only for atrial flutter because they said the flutter. Was first then the a fib and if they could stop the flutter it might stop the a fib attacks. Where my heart would change rthym to a fib and beat non stop 150 to 200 until I would be put to sleep and cardioverted. By them running something down my esophagus. And shocking my heart back into a normal rythum. My doctor for my ablation was Dr Cheng at the heart institute in Houston. He's. One of the best because he had to do an ablation on an iternational patient. He did my ablation and I have never had another sudden onset attack I think sleep apnea causes mine but. My ablation. Interrupted the path my king to change rythym but also I have been on 2 400 mlg tablets a day for 2 years and I haven't had the problems anymore my heart stays stable with it no hospital for almost 3 years. I also love my heart Dr. In beaumont he is great Dr. PARIS BRANSFORD HE IS ALSO AN ELECTROPHYSIOLIGIST. A great heart doctor and refers when you need something he does not do.but he always gets his patients help.And a very caring person.

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on solatol 40 mg 2x a day took it this morning now the dr s putting me on multaq in the morning will anything happen if i do not take my 40mg sotal tonite my pulse went up to 80 it has been low 48 that is why i am changing

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