Hi. Does anyone take dronedarone for the daily management of AF and/or a high burden of atrial ectopics? Please can you let know how effective it is for you?
I currently take flecainide which reduces my high ectopic burden to around 2 ectopics per minute, but I would like to reduce my burden further. I am planning to ask my cardiologist about trying dronedarone.
I have to state interest here as I was the "star" in a film made about AF for marketing purposes when Dronedarone (Multaq) was first released here in UK. There was a great deal of excitement surrounding this new drug (around 2008 I think ) and it was widely touted as the new hope . Amiodarone without the toxicity.
Sadly it failed to live up to expectations and was further damaged in USA by various class actions after some adverse reactions mainly due to poor vetting of recipients. Regular liver tests were recommended but such was the clamour for the drug that this was not always done correctly with one or two fatal results.
Over the last few years we have seen more and more people try this drug but in terms of efficacy my view is as follows. Amiodarone, Flecainide or Propafanone, then Dronedarone. I must stress I never took the latter. NB we are all different so what suits one may not another.
I was on it for a short time and it worked. It really helped my heart rate but only for a couple of weeks so I was taken back off it. It was a last ditch effort to try to bring my heart rate down until I got my pacemaker. I was so excited when it worked and my heart became quieter, but as I said, I was beyond help like that at this point. Best of luck finding the right fit.
Morning John , I take dronedarone for maintaining sinus rhythm post ablation for AF, not ectopics . So far it has done its job with no visible side effects . Currently been on it for 9 months , but longer in the past .
I have been on Dronedarone for over two years with mixed results. I can get four or five months AF free or I could have an episode every seven or ten days for a month or two. I was to have an ablation this month but had an accident so it is put off.
I have been on Dronedarone for more than six years. Initially very efficient but with a gradual diminishing effect. I now suffer from PAF two or three times a month but sofar self convert withinn 12 hours becuse of the Dronedarone. To reduce the heartrate I also take 1,25 mg of Bisoprolol. Next stop if or when Dronedarone does not work anymore will probably be pace and ablate a prospect I am not looking forward to.
I am soon 84 years old but active so I should not complain.
Why do you think it performed that way? Thanks.
Hi John
I’ve been on Dronedarone for 9 months since being diagnosed with SVT. Dronedarone is an arrhythmic drug and helps to maintain rhythm. I also suffer with ectopics and for this I take 2.5mg bisoprolol.
I have found the combination of both drugs to be extremely effective and I have not had a single SVT incidence since going onto Dronedarone. I occasionally still get ectopics but I can usually trace these to a trigger such as anxiety. I have cut out all of my known triggers such as intensive exercise (sadly had to let my Concept2 rower go), caffeine and ultra processed foods.
I focus on eating well, regular steady state exercise such as power walking, 8 hours high quality sleep, 2 to 2.5 litres of daily water and daily meditation.
I always had a low heart rate of low 50’s but the only side effect is the combination of meds has reduced my resting hr to low 40’s. However I do not suffer any of the symptoms of bradycardia and my cardiologist is happy.
Hope this helps
Jezza
HI John, I have been taking dronederone approx 4-5 years now along with bisoprolol, i currently have approx 48 hr bouts of af at least once per week, so ,you can gather how effective it is or isnt, it does subdue bouts , but thats it in my experience.
Why do you think it performs this way? Thanks.
Sorry P, i am not getting the gist of your question.
Why do you think the medicine in question performs as it does for you?
Maybe its trying its best to hold me in rythym but just not getting there 100 per cent.
I am starting to feel like I should just be thankful that flecainide reduces my ectopic burden from from around 20% of beats to 2%.
changeover to Dronedarone
Flecainide v Dronedarone 
