Multaq

[Evefay]

Has anyone taken this medication and if so how did it work for you?

[BobD Volunteer]

Multaq is the Sanofi Aventis trade name for Dronedarone to widen the field.

[Evefay in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob!

[Gumbie_Cat]

I took dronedarone for a few months at the beginning of last year, when I was diagnosed with AFib. It did bring me out of that episode, but I had breakthroughs about once a month. I was taken off it, and tried Flecainide ‘pill in the pocket’, but that only worked once. Then my AF became persistent.

Following an ablation last year, I went on dronedarone again - but it didn’t keep me in rhythm. Apparently I have a lot of fibrosis in left atrium, so I can’t really blame the drugs for not working. (Now permanent and on a beta-blocker.)

I did feel tired on dronedarone, but not awful side effects - I simply referred to it as ‘the drone’. My level of the liver enzyme GGT rose while I was on it, but not to a worrying level. That returned to normal after the first time of taking it, but that hasn’t happened after this time. Maybe the Bisoprolol is also having this effect.

Also, let’s say, I certainly didn’t need to worry about constipation while on dronedarone…

[Evefay in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Thank you so much.

[President2012]

I have been on Donedarone for over a year. It lessened the number of episodes and shortened the length of the episode. I got a pacemaker earlier this year for sick sinus syndrome and the two together work very well. I have had one episode in the past four months. Multaq does not work for everyone but it certainly works for me so far. Best of luck.

[Evefay in reply to President2012]

Thank you for letting me know about your experience.

[Jajarunner]

Apparently it was marketed as a safer version of amiodarone but is much less effective. I took it for six months before I went back into afib. Now in amiodarone.

[Evefay in reply to Jajarunner]

It has helped me to read about all your experiences, I have such a hard time with new drugs.

[Tomred]

Hi eve, ive been on multaq 3-4 years now , it has not stopped afib bouts for me along with bisoprolol, but it seems to quieten episodes somewhat, definately not a cure.

[Evefay in reply to Tomred]

I have been on it 5 days. It is the hope that it will keep me out of afib long enough for my heart to heal from my ablation on 6/12/23. My main problem with it is anything I do that raises my heartrate makes me extremely short of breath. I also have soreness in my chest when I eat or drink water, it's like I'm overfill. I hope it straightens out soon. Thank you for your response.

[bassets in reply to Evefay]

I hope you will feel better soon when your heart has healed, but in the meantime take it easy - best wishes.

[lovetogarden]

I’ve been on Multaq for 2 years. It has helped keep my tachycardia slower and less frequent. But it also makes me tired and very sensitive to heat and sunshine. Imagine me sitting in the car in the beach parking lot with the AC running, while the rest of the family take a nice long walk on the beach. 🤬 But, everyone reacts differently to meds, so it’s worth a go if your doctor thinks it might help.

[Evefay in reply to lovetogarden]

I was given enough samples for 28 days, after that I will stop it regardless of the results. I have no idea how much it would cost me but without insurance it runs in the 800 dollar range which I could not afford so I hope the ablation results are good by then. Thanks for your reply.

[lovetogarden in reply to Evefay]

yikes, that is pricey! Mine is covered by insurance, so it’s affordable. Hope your ablation is successful and you can get off meds!

[Evefay in reply to lovetogarden]

Thank you!