MULTAQ

Multaq (dronedarone) is used in people who have normal ‘sinus’ heart rhythms to prevent them from going back into AFib if they have had it before. Technically, Multaq (dronedarone) is an antiarrhythmic, so it has the potential to work against abnormal heart rhythms.

Drug choices for rate control include beta-blockers, verapamil and diltiazem, and digitalis as first-line agents, with consideration of other sympatholytics, amiodarone, or nonpharmacologic approaches in resistant cases.

POSSIBLE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS Inflammation of the lungs, including scarring and thickening. Low potassium and magnesium levels in your blood. Changes in kidney function blood tests after starting MULTAQ. Liver problems, including life threatening liver failure.

These side effects weren’t reported in studies of people taking this medication. However, weight gain may be a symptom of heart failure. And, since Multaq can cause new or worsening heart failure, it’s important that you tell your doctor about any weight gain you experience.

Common Multaq side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Abdominal pain and fatigue are also common. These are usually mild and can be managed at home. Serious Multaq side effects include problems with your heart, liver, or lungs.

Patients should not stop taking Multaq without talking to their healthcare professional.

It’s possible for Multaq to cause long-term side effects. In clinical trials, the drug was found to increase the risk of stroke or heart failure in certain people. * Also, cases of new or worsening heart failure have been reported in some people since the drug was approved.

While taking this medication, your blood pressure and heart rate may need to be monitored on a regular basis. It is critical that you continue to take it until your doctor determines that it is safe to discontinue.

Multaq is only available as a brand-name drug. It doesn’t come in a generic version. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

You should not take MULTAQ if you have a certain type of heart problem called heart block, and you do not have an implanted pacemaker. You should not take MULTAQ if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant as it is not known if it may pass to or harm your baby.

Dronedarone can increase the blood levels and effects of metoprolol. In addition, combining these medications can increase the risk of an excessively slow heartbeat. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

62.3% of patients treated with MULTAQ had no recurrence of AFib symptoms at Year 1.

Take this medicine with food. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

Studies have shown that Multaq is safer than amiodarone5, which is very commonly given and is currently the most effective drug for controlling or stopping afib. Many patients refuse to take amiodarone because of its serious side effects, so Multaq offers a safer alternative.

Heart rate controlling medicines, such as beta-blockers that include Coreg (Carvedilol) and Lopressor and Toprol (Metoprolol), is the best way to treat AFib. These medications can control or slow the rapid heart rate so that the heart can function in a better way.

Multaq is an antiarrhythmic medicine used to maintain normal heart rhythm in adults whose normal heart rhythm has been restored after a period of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation.

Drug class or drug nameDrug examplescertain blood thinners*• rivaroxaban (Xarelto) • dabigatran (Pradaxa) • warfarincertain irregular heart rhythm drugs†• amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone) • propafenone • dofetilide (Tikosyn) • flecainide • disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR)

metoprolol dronedarone Dronedarone can increase the blood levels and effects of metoprolol. In addition, combining these medications can increase the risk of an excessively slow heartbeat. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

This review showed that Multaq increased the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including death, when used by patients in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF).

Interactions between your drugs No interactions were found between Multaq and Vitamin D3.

The oral absorption of dronedarone (DRN), a benzofuran derivative with anti-arrhythmic activity, is significantly affected by food intake. The absolute bioavailability of the marketed product (Multaq, Sanofi, U.S.) was about 4% without food, but increased to 15% when administered with a high fat meal.

WARNING: … WITH DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE OR PERMANENT ATRIAL. … In patients with symptomatic heart failure and recent decompensation requiring. … (14.3) MULTAQ is contraindicated in patients with symptomatic heart failure with. … In patients with permanent atrial fibrillation, MULTAQ doubles the risk of death, stroke.More items…MULTAQ (dronedarone) Tablets – accessdata.fda.govfda.govhttps://www.accessdata.fda.gov › drugsatfda_docs › labelfda.govhttps://www.accessdata.fda.gov › drugsatfda_docs › label

Dronedarone (Multaq), an analogue of amiodarone (Cordarone), was designed to cause fewer adverse effects than the parent compound. Studies have indeed shown dronedarone to be safer than amiodarone, but less effective.

Of all antiarrhythmic agents, dofetilide and amiodarone have been proven safe in patients with heart failure.

Dronedarone has been viewed as a potential therapeutic alternative for amiodarone because of a lower risk for pulmonary, thyroid, and dermatologic adverse effects.

AFib recurrence delayed by 4x The median time to documented AFib recurrence in the cardioverted group was 50 days with MULTAQ vs 15 days with placebo (HR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59-0.97; P=0.02) and in the non-cardioverted group was 150 days with MULTAQ vs 77 days with placebo (HR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.64-0.90; P<0.01).

Patients should not stop taking Multaq without talking to their healthcare professional.

Dronedarone is a benzofuran analog of amiodarone, developed by modifying the structure of amiodarone. Dronedarone appears to share its pharmacological actions, but lacks the iodine component that is largely responsible for the multiple organ toxicities of the latter.

March 15, 2010 (Atlanta, Georgia) — Patients on amiodarone for maintenance of sinus rhythm after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) who are looking to switch to dronedarone (Multaq, Sanofi-Aventis) in most cases can safely begin taking the newer antiarrhythmic agent within two days of stopping the older one, …

Heart rate was reduced by an average of 11.0 beats per minute in patients taking Multaq compared to 0.7 beats per minute in patients taking placebo.

There have been a number of adverse reactions affecting the cardiovascular system including arrhythmias (10), hypotension (10), hypertension (4), torsades de pointes (2), cardiac arrest (1), cardiac failure (2), pulmonary embolism (1), sudden death (2), and several reports of aggravation of chest pain.

It’s possible for Multaq to cause long-term side effects. In clinical trials, the drug was found to increase the risk of stroke or heart failure in certain people. * Also, cases of new or worsening heart failure have been reported in some people since the drug was approved.