dronederone and heart failure

[Mollykin]

Hi everyone, has anyone found their EF has gone down after starting Dronederone. Mine had greatly improved to 44% 16 months ago then latest echo showed a decline to 32%. I have taken great care of myself, lost almost 2 stone, walked as much as I could. I started dronederone 2 weeks before my echo and wonder if that’s caused the decline?

[Gumbie_Cat]

I don’t know my EF, but was on dronedarone for A Fib. As it wasn’t really working, and was making me feel really sluggish, I was advised to stop. (It was also raising my liver enzymes.)I felt better almost immediately, with much more energy. It had really affected my ability to go up hills and stairs, at least with any sort of spring in my step.

I’m getting an echo next week, so wondering if I might learn about my EF then.

[Mollykin in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Good luck with your echo. I wasn’t too bad before I started it but I could hardly cross the road when I did. I’m convinced it’s that. Now off it and waiting for a pacemaker

[jrcsheffield in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

I have no faith in echo scans, my EF was 35% on at least two scans over six months after my Stemi Heart Attack. I was then recommended for an ICD/SICD. After much reading on this forum and discussions with my cardio doctors they offered me a cardio MRI.I was told by them the MRI is much more accurate and low and behold the result was found to be an EF of 48%.

So I didn't need and wouldn't be considered by the NHS for an ICD/SICD.

Knowing how much these things cost an MRI every time could save the NHS a fortune. Surprised the NHS don't use MRI's from the private sector more. Pity there doesn't seem to be many about suitable for cardio work.

(yes I know I answered my own question)

Hope your EF improves with time.

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to jrcsheffield]

Thanks! Actually I have no idea if it’s good or bad, as I was just put on dronedarone when my AFib was diagnosed. It did make me really sluggish though. Legs felt weak going upstairs for instance, but back to normal after stopping the drug.

I’m getting the echocardiogram prior to moving to a ‘pill in the pocket’ treatment for AFib.

I’m just a bit curious as to whether I get to know my EF, or if that’s only done if they suspect heart failure.

[HappyPaws in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

I have had two Echos (11 years apart) both recorded my EF. So they certainly measure it as part of the scan.You can talk quite freely to the person carrying out the scan so ask away while you are there.

I only found out the result of my 2010 Echo after having my 2021 scan but the lady who carried it out went as far as commenting that my heart was worse now than it was then! When I questioned further she refused to commit to saying any more until she’d had time to fully check her findings. I was told the cardiologist would write to me with results….. my results letter was actually written by a nurse practitioner.

I also had an MRI scan a few months after the Echo to find out why my EF is below standard. I’d gone from an EF of 53 to 40 over 11 years. The MRI confirmed an EF of 40 too!

I’m on meds now (Bisoprolol and Losartan and they’ve suggested a third, Spironolactone) The MRI was carried out by the NHS and they are a better way of checking structure and function than an Echo and a CT but my MRI wasn’t able to provide a reason for my low EF. But it has been used to say what hasn’t caused it. Although research I’ve seen suggests the way my MRI was carried out might mean vital info is missed!

It would be good to see if the meds have had a positive impact on my EF but no one is suggesting another Echo or MRI for now. So I’m in the dark again….

Good luck with your Echo, they are painless and don’t last too long.

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to HappyPaws]

Thank you - It’s good to know a bit more about it. I had one ten years ago after an odd ECG, but it was all normal. I suppose that gives them some comparison, although I’m now in the over 65s, so I guess some ageing will be a factor. I’m hoping that things are okay enough for them to prescribe something different for my AFib.

Good luck with the medications, and hope that you can get that concrete evidence that they’re working well.