Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 38)

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

Fin girl, I am so sorry that the ablation did not work for you.Which ones did you have and when were they both performed. If I may ask what age are you and what type of A Fib do you have? All this stuff is scary when it is related to your heart. It is the uncertainty of it all. Medicines leave you feeling fatigued or dizzy. You are trying to do everything right but still have the episodes. My family lives out of state so when we visit, I take my medicines plus bp monitor because I have hypertension also. Any where you visit, you have to know the route to the nearest hospital in case of an emergency. It all just gets very tiring and frustrating. We just have to keep pressing on and hope for the best. I kept trying to find a local A Fib support group here in South Carolina but did not find one. I am glad I found this site. You know that someone understands what you are going through. I hope that things will improve for you. I know that we have a greater purpose in life than to be chained to A Fib.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I just started Multaq a few days ago and I don't like it already. My dr took off of Zebeta so now my BP is going up and my PACs are almost constant . How long does it take for Multaq to work? Has anyone taken Zebeta with it??

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I took Multaq for 4+ years until it did not work for me anymore. Multaq was the best drug from all I have taken. ( Flecanaide, Amiodarone, Rythmol, Sotalol) I am back on Amiodarone which I took 11 years ago, I am scared of taking it! Too many side effects. I have had 2 ablations. I am also at the end of my rope......may be another ablation. My last one was a disaster, very close call with internal bleeding.
Good luck to you....try the Multaq, I think you will like it. I always had blood work every 6 mos. to watch my liver etc.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Anyone out there......what is the longest time that you have used Amiodarone?
I used it about 11 years ago for 3+ years until the drug did not work any longer.
This is my second time using it. I am currently taking 200mg twice daily.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have Supra ventricular tachycardia. I am 72 yrs. old. My ablation last one 4/12 yrs. ago was done radio frequency .......the new machine.....Drs. are in the other room.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Multag since Jan. 2014. I was previously on propafenone 325 mg but the doc changed it. I have medicare and AARP and when I went to get the Multag filled this week, they informed me that my co-pay was $171. I had previously been paying $45. When I checked with AARP they informed me that I was in the gap period and until I had spent $4550, I would continue to pay the higher price. I am in the process of asking my doc to put me back on the propafenone, as I have not seen any difference in my afib with the change of prescription. There is no generic for Multag at the moment..........

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I start my first ever dose in about two hours..I was diagnosed with CHF four years ago..ICD implanted..no issues until a month ago..a-flutter..ICD shock 10 times in over 30 mins...hospitalized for several days and put on eliquis and sotalol..side effects from sotalol were horrendous..dr took me off immediately..I sure hope the multaq doesn't give me the same side effects...wish me luck

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I hope the change in medication works for you..it's absolutely disgraceful the prices they charge for lifesaving medication..I just had my first ever episode of atrial flutter about a month ago (i'm 65) so this is all new to me..fortunately for me I have a really good retirement medical/prescription plan and got the Multaq for a $25 co=pay..there certainly is a lot of anxiety associated with these conditions and it seems to be the one area the doctors seem to ignore..today will be my first dose..I will keep you in my thoughts..feel free to update me on your condition..

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi FinnGirl..since I am new to this condition (afib flutter) and now taking Multaq and Eliquis I decided to participate on this site..I certainly follow my doctor's instructions but I think it is important to share information and concerns with folks who live with heart conditions..I have spoken to my doctor about ablation..he thinks I would benefit from the procedure..with that in mind I was under the impression that following 3 months post procedure these medications could be eliminated..It appears you are still on the meds..would appreciate your input..thanks

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Anxiety is Huge and is definatley one of my triggers. I'm on my second week of Multaq and I think I am getting used to it. But my heart rate is feeling more regular than when I first started taking it. I wish you the best of luck!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am on my second day of Multaq..the first pill really elevated my BP and HR..the second pill a little less..today's dosage seems to be better..my numbers appear to be returning to normal..didn't see that in the list of side effects..I have been spending some time questioning the risk vs benefit of taking all the drugs..I'm okay with my doctor but he's really no different than anyone else..he has no skin in the game and I get that..

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hi everyone just checking back in. I see a lot of new posters among the "old timers".

Been a year and a half since my last afib episode.and I've been off of multaq and all other meds for over a year now.

I attribute my lack of episode recurrences to the following:

Losing 50 pounds

Total alcohol abstinence

250 mg Magnesium daily

Aerobic swimming 5 or more times a week (but not to excess - about a half mile per session).

For me multaq's main benefit was the use before and after cardioversion. After several unsuccessful cardioversions, utilizing multaq in the mix helped the cardioversion "stick". This tactic worked twice. Once three years ago, and a year and a half ago. I was afib free for a year and a half, until I had several brandies, some food that upset my stomach, and took an anti-inflammatory in one night. That combo caused some really bad GERD, and an afib episode followed. I'm firmly convinced that many cases of afib are related to GERD and vagus nerve responses.

For those of you struggling with afib, and are looking for more information, I recommend Dr. John Mandrola's blog. He covers many aspects of afib, exercise and cardiac issues in general. I've learned a lot there. He is NOT a fan of multaq.

Good luck to you all.

BTW, Pradaxa was a hellish drug for me - a switch to Xarelto was a godsend when I was on anticoagulants.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

A couple of other points.

Multaq slowed down my heart rate dramatically (near 40), and decreased my exercise tolerance. After being on it for several months post cardioversion, I started a half dose 2x daily. This improved the rate and exercise problem, and still helped maintain NSR.

I forgot to mention that an attempt was made prior to my first successful cardioversion to let the multaq convert me to nsr on its own. It did not.

Please keep in mind that everyone is different, and like any med, your mileage may vary.

Also, be very wary about taking multaq and pradaxa together. Do a web search - multaq can dramatically increase the blood levels and dangerous side effects of pradaxa - I know from experience. THE SAME IS TRUE for Zocor (simvistatin) and multaq, and perhaps other drugs as well. In fact, there is a list of 274 MAJOR drug interactions with multaq.

It's no wonder multaq use is questioned by many.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Please use the drug...I was on it for 4 1/2 years until the Multag stopped working.
Best drug that I have taken, no side effects. I have been on all the others. Now I am back on Amiodarone, which has lot of side effects, but I do not have other choice. I hope this helps.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Glad it's worked for you, FinnGirl. It seems to work quite well for some people. Gary, a frequent poster, for example, said its been good for him long term without side effects. We all are so different in responses to afib treatments. (I guess to drugs in general, for that matter)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Yes, I am on the meds.....2 ablations....they did not work for me. I am currently on drug called Amidorone. I have had AB/Flutter for the last 12 years. My last ablation fixed the flutter. I had have a cardio version twice this year to convert me back to regular sinus rythem (sp?)
Good luck to you!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Has anyone had a reaction that is similar to itching inside your body--not on your skin? That's the best I can describe it. I don't know if it's from this drug or a different one. I have been taking this for about 4 1/2 years with no issues, but lately I have been having these sensations. They seem to subside when I haven't taken any drugs for several hours.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

My doc changed me from Propafenone to Multag in Jan. It seems to be doing a good job, I don't go into afib very often and it only lasts a short time. I have medicare and AARP; I was paying a $45 co-pay, last refill I had to pay $192 co-pay; the new rules with what they call the "gap", check it out.........

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Well, it's now been a month and I'm not sure Multaq is the drug for me. I'm having more episodes of Afib than ever before.... Like every few days. I'm thinking I want to go back onto the Sotalol and see if it will work for me... I should have never stopped really. I also take 10mg twice a day of A beta blocker which helps with PACs exept when I'm in Afib. Ugh. Taking 400mg a day of magnesium, prozac, Xanax , and xerelto . This really sucks.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I started multaq a month ago and it has been a life saver. I have not had any a fib since I went on it . It sometimes takes a week to build up in your system. But I don't know what I would do with out it. I was going to the hospital once or twice a week. I don't like taking medication but it works for me and that's better for me than a fib and a chance of having a stroke.

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