NHS phasing out 2 drugs AFIB related

[dmac4646]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-46361639

[Mike11]

Yes I saw this as well. Whilst neither drug worked for me, a friend is totally dependent on dronedarone to keep his heart in rhythm. With use of sotalol also discouraged I wonder what whoever behind this things will work to control rate rather than rhythm. I suspect half the problem is that so many people have bad reactions to these drugs and have to stop them, but that doesn't mean they aren't effective for those they do work on.

[dmac4646 in reply to Mike11]

I suspect anyone who is dependant will still get but, they will not use unless last resort..

[Mike11 in reply to dmac4646]

I hope so. Problem is this sort of thing puts even more worry on his already overstressed heart. You can buy the other things on the list off the shelf so no reason they should be available on prescription, but in the UK it's impossible to buy drugs without a prescription.

[Hidden]

Seems a little bizarre to me - I suppose those of us with Heart Failure and AF should just harden up and stop wasting valuable medical resources?

I don't know about the NHS but here in Australia Amiodarone is cheap compared to the other medications I have had to take for various conditions. For me it was highly effective in getting me back into NSR and keeping me there, though I confess I was pleased when several months later I was able to leave it and Bisoprolol behind - the list of side effects is nothing to sneeze at even if you are not experiencing them. I had no real side effects from the Amiodarone but I found the Bisorolol made me into a zombie.

Interestingly when I went off Amiodarone and Bisoprolol I was put on Sotolol - another drug that seems to be underappreciated by the NHS. My NSR was maintained and the zombie effect was very greatly reduced to the extent that I was mostly able to get on with my life. I noticed that Sotolol was also conspicuously cheaper than most other drugs I need to take.

Are these decisions really as un-nuanced as they seem from a distance? Surely protocols can be developed to permit use of these medications in appropriate cases whilst not prescribing them when there is something more appropriate?

Is there a modern alternative to Amiodarone for people with HF? For Sotolol? Don't recall seeing that discussed. I have every reason to believe that my EP is highly competent (I've looked him and his research record up in detail) and his treatments have been highly effective so I'm surprised that his prescribing pattern is regarded so negatively in the UK.

[Barb1]

I was under the impression that despite the side effects amioderone is extremely effective, especially for short term after an ablation.

[Maura5]

I’m a last resort case on amiodarone

[Hidden]

Interesting. In the US Flecainide, already a generic, has been upgraded to a Tier 4 drug. So, instead of paying $7.00 per prescription I will have to pay $61.00. They suggested I switch to Amiodarone!

I am thrilled to see they are ditching Minocycline. Our youngest son developed Drug Induced lupus from it! He was misdiagnosed and put on heavy duty meds that caused liver damage.

[dmac4646]

bad news re Flecanaide - the suggested switch seems dangerous.