Multaq

[Mollykin]

Hi everyone, I started Multaq (dronederone) on Wednesday with the intention of being cardioverted Friday. Cardioversion was cancelled as staff off unwell but been told to continue with new meds. I’m very worried as it says in leaflet only to take if being cardioverted and if u can go into NSR. I’ve been in persistent Afib for about 16 months. I also feel really sick and spaced out n very tired. GP surgery saying contact cardiology but cardiac nurse off. Anyone else been on it a while waiting cardioversion, and do side effects ease? Not sure how long I’ll have to wait for cardioversion 🙈🙈

[BobD Volunteer]

Dronaderone (Multaq) is a rhythm control drug and this is the first time I have ever heard it is only for people awaiting cardioversion. Although it dropped from popularity for some time (due no doubt to various legal battles in USA) it has been back on the radar over here in UK from time to time more recently. Although I never took it myself I was involved with a number of initiatives , radio interviews and even a film when the drug was first approved for use and still not heard what you have read. I do believe that the side effectc you mention usually fade after a couple of weeks.

[mjames1]

So yes, new to me as well, but the safety information on Multaq does sort of say what you leaflet does. Apparently, not recommended if you're in chronic/persistent afib. However, you still are scheduled for cardioversion and your doctor seems ok with you staying on Multaq until then.

That said, you don't want to get lost in the cracks here -- and find yourself in situation where the doctor who put you on Multaq loses track of the new cardioversion date and therefore how long you are on it. So I'd keep calling until I got someone in cardiology to advise.

As to the side effects, if they think you're not tolerating Multaq in afib, they might want to take you off of it until they firm up a date for your cardioversion, and then put you back on it, two days before, which was the original plan. Hopefully, once your're in NSR you will tolerate it better, or as been said, the side effects might just get better over time.

If none of that works out and you don't want to stay in permanent afib, you might want to try check out the mini-maze and/or hybrid ablation. Both are more invasive than catheter ablation, but also gives you a better chance of success. There are several threads by one of our members,"MummyLuv" on the topic. There are also other anti-arrhythmic medications that you might want to try first, if you qualify.

Jim

[Jalia]

I was on Dronedarone fir several months shortly after it became available in UK and had no problems. I was given it immediately following a dccv to try to keep me in sinus rhythm.

[etheral]

If you are short of breath you may be be in CHF with fluid in your lungs. You would need a diuretic and possibly more intensive treatment that would warrent a trip to [e-mail],etheral loop

[President2012]

I have been on Donedarone for the past three months as long term Beta Blockers eventually caused problems for me. Side effects lasted a couple Of weeks only. It is working so far and if it continues to work I may stay on it.

[dmack4646 in reply to President2012]

Same here beta blockers causing collapses so far Multaq better

[President2012 in reply to dmack4646]

Thanks. Multaq is working very well controlling my a fibs. Unfortunately I am having a lot of ectopics plus my resting heart rate can go as low as 41. Have just had a holter monitor, awaiting report from EP. Hope all goes well with you.

[dmack4646 in reply to President2012]

Hope all goes well - have only been on Multaq for 24 hours in and out if afib but feel better than on BB’s and `Flecanaide

[Transparency21]

I was put on Dronedarone to control my HR after going into pesistant AF. It was about 3 months before I had my cardioversion and my EP kept me on them for a while longer after the CV. I did feel more tired than normal and a little breathless but not sick. If you are to stay on them for a while you will need to have blood tests to monitor your liver function. James 1 mentioned they are not recommended for people with chronic/ pesistant AF but they are actually not recommended if you have permanent ( not pesistant AF)

[Transparency21]

PS. I don’t think they are solely used as a prelude to cardioversion. As I say I was kept in them after my CV and my EP let me decide when I was happy to come if them, with his recommendations of course.

[Fullofheart]

I've been in persistent afib for many years and been on dronedarone for about 8 months whilst having cardioversions and ablations. Staying on it as awaiting third ablation. If that's successful they'll keep me on it a further 6 months after. No side effects but need blood tests to check on liver function.

[cbsrbpm]

I have been taking it for about nine months and I too started it before my cardioversion. It was as last resort before pace and ablate as have had numerous other drugs that stopped working. I had a three week period of AF in January and was told to keep taking it and returned to sinus without intervention, but been ok since at bit breathless. Have regular blood tests to check liver and QT interval. Hope you get your cardioversion soon. 🤞

[likestosing]

This is just my experience but I believe it is relevant to your situation. I was on Multaq for 2 and a half days prior to cardioversion. It worked . I am still on the Multaq with 3 months of sinus rhythm although a few afib breakthroughs in the first month ( not unusual). Several weeks after my cardioversion, at my follow up visit , my cardiologist told me that he wished I had been on it for 5 days prior to cardioversion, but scheduling being so complicated, he settled for 2 and a half days, and was happy it had worked. I have read the Multaq literature extensively, and it seems to be vague about exactly how long it is okay to be on Multaq prior to cardioversion. We know your doctor has to be planning to cardiovert you. Patients write about their experiences with various time frames around their procedures. Personally, I believe this vagueness from doctors and the drug maker, Sanofi, is part of the reason that Multaq has had less success than originally hoped for. ( I can't complain in my case though). I only found one study initiated to test optimal timing of Multaq prior to procedure, but it was discontinued before results were in, due only to lack of adequate ability to register research subjects. If I were you, I would call cardiologist office on Monday and share your concerns about timing and your side effects. Leave a message on the office tape machine if necessary. Hopefully since they cancelled you, they can get you in quickly for your cardioversion. Or at least they can give you more information. You are entitled to action or a clear answer. I am not sure how things work in the UK, but if I did not get a timely answer to my inquiry, I would call cardiologist again, then GP and then visit the Emergency Room for some professional advice if necessary. Hopefully you will hear back quickly.

[Mollykin]

Thank you all for your comments and support, Multaq had unfortunately put me into heart failure with an ef of 30%. I ended up in hospital for 3 weeks after the cardioversion as the heart kept going back into fast AF and causes fluid on my lungs. I was put back on digoxin (given a loading dose) but was too high a dose for me and I suffered a Cardiac Arrest (fortunately only down 3-4 mins. Had extensive tests and was sent home 18 days later with a CRDT device, off digoxin for good and dronederone and back on good old bisoprolol that I just hate along with dapagliglozin and a higher dose of furosemide. Starting to feel better and hoping this new device works and repairs some of the damage. Been a long and scary journey but hopefully some light at the end of the tunnel.