Has anyone used Tekosyn ??

[Jlaine]

I am scheduled for 2nd ablation next mth. My Dr has wanted me to go on Tekeosyn to control afib but I have read some pretty serious side effects about it. Have to be hospitalized for a few days to monitor you. That leaves me.with concern also!! Has anyone else been brave enough to take tekosyn.?? And of so what have you experienced. ?

[pottypete1]

I take it you are in the USA as this drug is not available in the UK as I have just read.

Sounds a pretty potent drug if you need to be hospitalised for 3 days after starting it.

Perhaps proceed with extreme caution is the best advice followed by maybe considering getting a second opinion.

Pete

[Jlaine in reply to pottypete1]

That's what I said to the CARDIO PA YESTERDAY. If you have to be monitored because you can go into cardiac arrest I think that's not something I want to go on! He said don't believe everything you read on Google as sometimes there incorrect . will wait and see after next ablation!! Thanks for your reply.

[Hidden in reply to pottypete1]

Sound's similar to sotalol

[su14]

I was started on Tikosyn immediately following my 2nd ablation. I did remain in the hospital in order to be monitored during the dose adjustment (5 doses=2.5 days). For me, I do not think it was as effective as other anti-arrhythmics I have been prescribed. I have been on Sotolol, Multaq, Flecainide and Rhythmol over the past 6 years. Tikosyn is the only anti-arrythmic medication that you must initially start in the hospital setting. I am currently on Flecainide (Tambocor) with excellent control of AFib.

[Franny50]

There are several threads on the site about Tikosyn (now also available in a less expensive generic version , dofetilide).

After migrating over the years into permanent and seemingly intractable AF, I was initiated on Tikosyn in Feb., 2016. It worked like a charm for 2 1/2 years, until I gained substantial weight, went back into AF, had an ablation, more AF, and then back on Tikosyn. I am on it as I write. I am doing fairly well, but still have hours-long bouts of irregular heartbeats; however nothing like my previous highly symptomatic AF.

I failed every other drug until Tikosyn, and it completely stopped the AF with no side effects. The downside is you have to be monitored for three days as they initiate it to make sure it doesn't cause ventricular arrhythmia, and that you have proper kidney function so that it doesn't build up in your body. I believe it is very rare to have a bad outcome, but they want to make sure they can fix it immediately if it happens, so you must be in hospital.

[Jlaine in reply to Franny50]

Thankyou for your input. I read that some people went into cardiac arrest their 1st or 2nd dose!! I realize this is probably rare but still leaves me with concern! I have cad so can't take most antiarythmics.

[iredell1]

One year ago, I was admitted to a hospital for a cardioversion (in Afib). While there, I was started on a four day Tikosyn (dofetilide) dosing. I take one 500mcg. capsule twice a day, and have had zero side effects from it, that I am aware of. I have been in normal sinus rhythm ever since (knock on wood!).

[nymima01]

My mother was on it for almost 5 yrs. Her cardiologist put her on it and she had to do a hospital stay to be monitored. It worked well for her for a time, but then her EP took her off it after seeing she had been on it for so long. I think he said that after a time, it wasn’t helping her anymore. Nothing really changed when she came off it. But she never had a problem with it either.

[etheral]

I went into heart failure after afib occurred. Had a cardioversion that put me back to NSR and failure cleared, but it only lasted a week before I went back to afib. I was started on Tikosyn in the hospital , so I could be monitored in case Vtach developed. After3 doses of Tikosyn 500 I converted to NSR and stayed in the hospital for 3 days so I could get 6 doses. I had no further arrythmias and no discernable side effects. I did not need a cardioversion which my doc expected to have to do. I have been on Tikosyn for 2 yrs now and have had no arrythmias or side effects. I don't understand why the drug is not available in Europe, unless the mandatory in hospital monitering is cost pro hibitive for the government. So far it is a miracle drug for me..

[Jlaine]

My other concern is all the meds I take have interactions with Tekosyn. Lipitor, losartin,allopurinol, metopropronol etc. Are you also on meds???