Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 2) (Top voted 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

What fascinates me is the variable response people report to drug therapy. Multaq is a great example. I will say that Multaq left me less fatigued and exhausted than Sotalol and atenolol, and it's really hard to know whether or not it's what kept me initially afib free after the cardioversion until I got in better shape. Certainly by itself precardioversion, it did nothing for the afib and really slowed my heartrate, made me fatigued and "stupid" (wooden headed is how I described it to the cardiologist) and messed up my sleep.

The only way of truly knowing would be by having a Trapper clone (heaven forbid - the world's not ready for 2 of us :-)) one taking it and one not. Part of my dislike of it could have also been because the thought of taking it, along with anti-coagulants, was not how I planned to spend my life. The mind can sometimes conjure up all kinds of nasty bodily reactions to things you dislike.

I really do feel for you guys who have been through the mill with this afib stuff. I'm fortunate that a cardioversion worked, and I hope it sticks.

I think I've figured out what set me up for afib, and I've taken steps to hopefully prevent it coming back.

I really highly recommend the Dr John Mandrola blog. If you haven't found it yet, google it for some enlightening reading. Several of his latest blogs deal with rhythm control drugs, and the reasons to take and not take them. He talks a lot about fitness, anticoagulants, recent medical news and breakthroughs, and many topics about ablation procedures. He even waxes poetic about life from time to time.

I'll keep checking in from time to time to see how everyone is doing.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

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"

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Well, after 2 months being back on Multaq, I've been turned back into an exhausted, brain dead toad. I'd forgotten how overwhelmingly tired and foggy this stuff made me feel last time.

Nice being in rhythm, but . . . . . . . .

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Gary,
I suspected as much. My doctor didn't read the literature or didn't consider St John's wort a problem worth mentioning. Until I get a handle on this everything is a problem. My problem didn't start until i started Synthroid. After synthroid each of the 3 times i had AF something different started it. I have 1 2hr event since starting Multaq. I will start a diary/log and thanks for the info

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Well it is Cdsmith and I have been off the Multaq for a year and off the Nifedipine for almost 6 months. I have not had any AFIB symptoms in about 4 months. Please look at and research all the medications you are taking to ensure that what is supposed to help you is causing your AFIB.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

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

Patty, the Multaq worked for me fine for more than four years. The past six months I have been having more a- fib episodes because the effectiveness of the Multaq is not working as well. Saw my electrophysiologists in May and he is going to do radio frequency heart ablation on me early December. He has a 85 % success rate of it working the first time around. Hopefully I will be one of the lucky ones. I feel as if the A-Fib is controlling my life and am tired of it. I go out of town several times a year and I always must know where the hospitals are just in case I have a bad episode. I also have essential hypertension. May we all get the answers and help we need.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Finn girl , I had my radio frequency ablation on Dec. 3rd. I went into AFib as they were getting to take me out of the prep area to go for the procedure. By being in AFib the procedure did not take as long as it normally does. Mine was radio frequency ablation. They went in both sides of groin and my neck. I had more erratic impulses which really surprised the electrophysiologists. He ablated over 45 different areas on both sides of the heart. He gave us a photo of my heart with the mapping sites. Now the waiting game begins, six weeks with out AFib, then I can get off of the Multaq. I surely hope so, that stuff has made me so tired and my mouth is dry all the time. Blessings to you and everyone. I will give an update later in January.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Well I was two days shy of my six weeks to go off the Multaq when I had an A-fib episode. I cried and cried. Then I called the Medical University of South Carolina and told them about it. They told me this is normal to have an episode or a flutter sensation. I thought they meant shortly after the procedure. Cardiac nurse told me to stay on the Multaq for four more weeks. If nothing happens I can go off the Multaq. So Valentine's Day is the day if all goes well. Yes the radio frequency is done by heat also. So I am playing the waiting game at the moment. Yesterday my husband found out he has prostate cancer. Something else to worry about. The urologist said that he was low risk. So he is scheduled to have radioactive seeds implanted after his birthday next month. Life is never easy. I hope things are going well for you. I just wish everyone good health, happiness and peace of mind.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Daisy I am also on Multaq. Been on it over five years but I am 65 with A Fib. I started having more episodes last fall and had a radio frequency ablation in December. I happened to be in the percentile that it did not work the first time. My episodes are not as bad as before but I am still having them. I never have any energy anymore. I force myself to grow through the motions of everyday life. I can't stay in bed the rest of my life. My housework that I used to do in a day takes me two days now. I try to look on the bright side of things at least I am on this side of the grass. Hope things go better for you Daisy. May you get the answers you are looking for. God Bless

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Age 78, male, on Multaq for 30 months following one ablation and a couple of cardioversions that only lasted a month or two. In retrospect I think that consumption of sugar and alcohol were relapse triggers. I have an enlarged left atrium and thickened left ventricle. There is some mitral valve prolapse. My EKG got progressively more weird over a 30 year period with an inverted T wave causing concern.

I am also taking a baby aspirin and Coumadin to prevent clotting. I take Geritol vitamins on days that I use a complete Coumadin, to smooth vitamin K intake. My INR is stable and I have never had to change dosage. All other blood work is within acceptable range with no meds, blood pressure 110/55, BMI 23.5. I can drink decaf coffee, regular tea, and no more than one alcoholic beverage per day with no ill effect.

I am happy with the results. My pulse initially slowed from 60 to 50 bpm but has come back some. Skipped beats have become rare. If there was a gut function change the microbiome has adjusted. I am good at taking naps, but that may be a function of age. I am still able to play racquetball, doubles not singles. I notice some itching of skin and have had nocturnal leg cramps, neither particularly upsetting and probably not related.

I would love another cardiac ultrasound to see if the heart chambers are changing. I am not tempted to quit Multaq as I am assured that the Afib would return. Could I perhaps cut the dose and save some money? For anyone thinking of simply living with Afib, at least take blood thinners to reduce the chance of stroke. The medical profession loves to tell of the 500% increase in risk, not mentioning that this is from 0.05% risk to 0.25% or something like it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I've had six cardioversions, SIX. Not fun. But a few years ago my heart doc asked me to try Multaq and to take them for 3 days until my SEVENTH cardioversion. I got up for a 'natural break' (I'm an avid cyclist, had to pee) in the wee hours of the morning of procedure day and noticed that I wasn't out of breath from the walk. I was in sinus rhythm! So I get there to the outpatient cardio unit and sure enough I'm fine, as I knew, I know very well when I'm in and out.

This has been going on and off since 2001, last bout, a month-ish ago. I'm 49 years old. Multaq has 'cardioverted' me four times now, less doses each time. A few weeks ago it took six doses, three days. I don't take it daily as I'm an endurance athlete and it PLUMMETS my electrolytes which I found out the hard when I was taking them daily after my 1st Multaq cardioversion. I was thirty miles from home on a fifty mile ride doing everything I'd normally do for medium distance. I literally seized up, thank the Lord I was a 1/2 mile from a convenience store. So I eat some pretzels for the sodium, chug four 16oz V8s and I was okay. V8 is a true electrolyte source while Gatorade is children's sugar water. So instead of going home I can head on. Ten miles, I'm locked up again, repeat steps but head home. I had to drink a total of 11 bottles in forty miles. Explain that to your GI tract.

So to end a long anecdote story I love it, obviously.

Your mileage may vary......

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

18rabbit, I am impressed with your Bp and BMI figures. Along with my A Fib, I had hypertension and was overweight and pre diabetic. My ER trips for A fib were combined with Bp numbers of 200/120 on several trips. I watch my sodium intake carefully. I finally had two ablutions. I was declared A Fib free four weeks ago. Got off the Multaq and regained my energy back within two weeks. I am trying to get some weight off to help with my Bp. Usually runs on average 125/85. I still have spikes every now and then. I wish you help and happiness.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

My husband had an ablation and it worked fine and he takes no medication. This was a few years ago. Worth a try.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was put on multaq in preparation for cardio version. I take Pradaxa and metoprolol. I have pvc's, and svts as well. I'm concerned about these interactions as I have just read about multaq and death. I also take clonidine as my blood pressure spikes to 190/126 at night. I am a 68 year old female, obese .

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I have been on mul taq for close to eight years now - works great at keeping my AFib in check. I take it with Propanolol twice a day. Aside from an itchy scalp and some tiredness which disapated over the years the drug has been excellent for me. Hope this helps

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I seem to be in the same situation you are in, however, my heart is rate controlled and have not been in the 190 range while in afib. I just started on this new medication yesterday. I have not experienced any of the side effects so far. I will go to the doctor tomorrow to determine if I can continue on this medication. I have not had an ablation yet. If this medicine does not work, I will consider the ablation.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Multaq didn't work for me, it didn't change my uncontrolled rates. but it did make the rates and flutters less noticeable. My rate was 225 and I thought it was around 115. Which in respect is not safe, I am scheduled for a 2nd ablation this coming Monday. Lowpressor seems to help bring my rate down but it doesn't stay down for very long. Hope Multaq works for you.

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