Dronedarone(Multaq) and lungfibrosis

[Nyhyttan123]

As a teenager suffered from pulmonary sarcoidosis which healed up after 15 years leaving me with a slight restriction of my lung function. During the years up to recently (approx. 60 years) I have had had a few bouts of bronchitis every year. Always treated with antibiotics.

My PAF started in 2003 and the AF becoming more and more frequent. My cardiologist suggested I start with Dronedarone four years ago and I was clear in telling him of my reduced lungfunction but he reassured me that there was no risk of my developing lungfibrosis with Multaaq (Dronedarone)as opposed to the original drug Amiodarone.

My kidney and liver function tests were ok but during the last few years I developed a persistent dry cough and recurrent bouts of bronchitis. The cardioligst said it had nothing to do with my medication but I went and was examined by a lungspecialist who found a profound drop of my lungcapacity which after scanning the litterature he thought most likely was due to Dronedarone.

I would like to know if anybody else on this thread have had a similar experience with Dronedarone as myself?

[CDreamer]

I have never taken Dronedrone however looking at the manufacturing company’s literature lung inflammation and scarring is a known, serious side affect:-

multaq.com/discover-multaq/....

So sorry this has happened to you but hopefully you can return to your doctor armed with specific information, however, this leaflet does warn that this is for US residents’ only.

You may want to research the European guidance on this and I am wondering what the leaflet enclosed with your medication says?

Dronedrone is not commonly used in UK and from what I remember by EP saying about it is that it was a disappointing drug as it wasn’t as affective as Amiodarone but still had many of the undesireable affects.

[Nyhyttan123 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your reply. My cardiologist was as mentioned of the opinion that my lungs would not be affected with dronedarone although I voiced my worries. I will now be visiting him next week and I feel certain he will stop the medication. However I don,t know what the alternatives will be as I am probably not a candidate for an ablation. I also am not a good candidate for betablockers. Here in Sweden the waiting time for an ablation is considerable shouls that option be considered.

[BobD Volunteer]

I must declare a slight interest here as I volunteered as a patient to take part in a film about AF made by Sanofi Aventis, (the company that makes Multaq) which was used to promote the new drug when it was first released.

Such was the faith in and demand for this new anti arrhythmic drug that sadly many unsuitable patients were prescribed it especially in USA where some deaths from liver failure ensued resulting in lots of lawyers getting very rich.

Here in UK results from the drugs were dissapointing and it gradually fell from favour although more recently there has been a resurgence. CDreamer has sign posted you to some good literature which I was not previously aware of. I do hope that your condition improves quickly.

[Nyhyttan123 in reply to BobD]

Yes I knew about the possible side effects of Multaq and my liver and kidneyfunction have been tested on a yearly basis. As mentioned I have taken Dronedarone now for four years and I wonder if there are other people on this thread who have had the drug as a long term treatment option and of course of any experienced side effects?

I had an Uncle living in the UK who was perscribed Amiodarone for his PAF and and the results were excellent as far as his arrythmia was concerned. he took the drug for eight years but we noticed when visitng him on a trip from Sweden that he had signs of hypothyroidism of which I have some knowledg. His GP took thyroid tests and found that he was very hypothyroid and perscribed him synthetic thyroid hormone in too high a dose which unfortunately caused him to die of a heart attack.

The thing I was aware of when starting my Multac medication was that it did not affect the thyroid gland otherwise I would have said NO to the treatment.

[coppercrazy in reply to Nyhyttan123]

I didn't have the reaction you had, however I took it for about one week and the whites of my eyeballs got huge blisters on them. The blisters covered the entire white part! I was panicked, thinking I was going blind but my optometrist assured me it would go away when I figured out what was causing the reaction. It was the Dronedarone. My doctor refused to believe me but I refused to take any more of it so he prescribed Flecainide, which I only take when I go into Afib and the Afib goes away within 5 hours. ( It never goes away without cardioversion or Flecainide) Flecainide also has bad side effects for some, but it has been great for me.

[Nyhyttan123 in reply to coppercrazy]

Thanks for your most interesting reply. Yes specialists can sometimes be narrow minded when it comes to side-effects. The side effect that you and I have had are rare when it comes to Multaq and therefore it could take some time for them to admit the possibility. One has to rely as much as possible on ones own experinced side effects and tell the Doctor to make a note of it in the journal.