Dronedarone(Multaq) The good and the bad.?

[Nyhyttan123]

Am curious to know the experiences of others taking this drug. Hav e been on it for more than three years now with diminishing effect on my PAF. Breakthroughs every 10 to 20 days with an AF duration of about 6 to 7 hours which I help to abort by then taking Bisoprolol 2,5 mg which reduces my heart rate from approx. 130 to 65.

The only possible side effect I have noticed is a slight tiredness which diminishes when I move around and take walks etc.

I would be interested to hear from others on this drug and if they have been free from AF when taking it.

[Tommyboy21]

Was on it for 3 months. Didn't stop AF. Made them weekly for a month or so. Then 36 hours every couple of days. Went on to flecainide. Not working either.

[Nyhyttan123 in reply to Tommyboy21]

Sorry to hear that you did not respond to your medications. Have your doctors discussed Amiodarone as an alternative or even possible an ablation?

[Gumbie_Cat]

I was on it for six months after my A Fib diagnosis. Went back to NSR, but had monthly breakthroughs of A Fib - which lasted about a week each time. Came off it and had Flecainide/biopsrolol as pill in the pocket. Worked once. Then the next time that didn’t work, and I went into persistent A Fib. Tried daily Flecainide - didn’t do anything either.

I think I’m just unlucky with medications.

Had an ablation in December, and was put on dronedarone to keep me in NSR. Lasted less than 48 hours. Now on Bisoprolol for the rate until I get check up.

I didn’t get a lot of side effects on dronedarone, though I called it ‘the drone’ because it made me tired. Liver enzymes were raised, and I did have to dash to the loo after breakfast!

[Nyhyttan123 in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Sorry to hear that you did not get the desired effect of your medicines. Hope that you will get the right medication for you in the near future.

[JayDJ]

I've been on it for 2 yrs along with Bisoprolol 2.5 and whilst it reduced the episodes it didn't stop them from happening. I asked my Cardiologist if I could come off of Bisoprolol due to feeling cold and tired, he agreed and I tapered down. Unfortunately I had a bad leg accident which caused immense pain and anguish which also made my Afib worse but I persevered hoping that as my leg got better then the strain on my system would lessen. To cut a long story short my Afib was back daily and I returned to Bisoprolol, only this time it was a reduced dose of 1.25 mg and had immediate relief and for much longer periods.

As with all tablets if they were the cure then an Ablation/Mini Maze would not be needed, as such we need to find the combination that works for us. In my case I started off with Bisoprolol 5 mg which imo takes the HR too low (44 bpm) and can in my case bring other problems. At the moment my resting HR is 58 bpm and although things are not perfect they are giving me the best run for yrs and yes it will break through from time to time which is something that I have to handle. I would suggest that your Dronedarone might work better if it had a bit of help from [say] Bisoprolol or Nebivolol bearing in mind that a higher dose is not always the answer ie start off low and take it from there.

[Nyhyttan123 in reply to JayDJ]

Thank you for your informative reply. Yes I too was advised to take Bisoprolol once a day together with Dronedarone. Unfortunately I was more than tired with that combination. I was lethargic and just like you suffered from cold hands and feet. We decided to just keep me on Dronedarone (and Apixiban) and that I take Bisoprolol when in A fib. As the break throughs are becoming more frequent I may consider going back on a daily dose of Bisoprolol but only 1,25mg as opposed to the previous dose of 5mg per day. It is rather strange that my Afib nearly always occurs at 4 am in the morning .

[JayDJ in reply to Nyhyttan123]

With your Afib breaking through at that time on a regular basis then I would be looking at what was in my last meal or drink. A good test is to go to bed on a stomach as empty as possible, if that works then its certainly a food or drink cause.

[Nyhyttan123 in reply to JayDJ]

Thank you for your reply and suggestion. Will definitely give it a try.

[cbsrbpm]

Hi, I have been on Dronedarone for about 1.5 yrs. have had two breakthroughs during that time that lasted about a week each time. I have a long history of AF and 3 failed ablations with other conditions also on lots of meds but for the heart I am also on Diltiazem 180 mg a day, edoxaban and Furosimide. Since this time last year I have been suffering with breathlessness after a stay in hospital with pneumonia which also happened again this year. They have diagnosed late onset asthma so am now on an asthma inhaler routine but it is still not getting much better. Dronedarone can cause lung toxicity and I keep mentioning this to hospital and GP but don’t seem to be taken seriously. Although I have had chest X-ray and CT scans, so maybe I am being harsh. I don’t really want to come off it as fingers crossed it does seem to being doing the trick so far. Hope you can get sorted with the combination of bisoprolol. Good luck 🤞

[john-boy-92]

Some people tolerate it, whilst others like me have a problem. That said, it's a very small chance that it will have an adverse affect. Watch out for a noise in your chest like Velcro strips being separated. Also coffee coloured urine. Make sure that you have a baseline liver function test before starting it and, that the hand over procedure is followed between Secondary and Primary Care.