Multaq Anyone Else Take It (Page 11)

Okay I will start off by saying this drug scares me because it has not been out for very long. I have Afrial Fib which is not behaving I can be 70 beats one min and regular and the next I will be at 190 and in atrial fib and flutter. this is my last chance at a med I have tried all the others I usually end up in the ER two or three times a week. I have had one ablation so far. If anyone else takes it please let me know what it is like. I am starting it on Tuesday.

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My new cardiologist dropped my amiod since I am only 54, I was on amio since 2001! I didn't like amio's sun sensitivity and possible vision issues. I am in fib a lot with it, actually, but with warfarin, what is the real problem? I would rather have less toxicity and a little more flutter. I find that going out to the deserted park, bynthe river for a hike, and lying down, resting on some towels is a real lifesaver! The slight exec rise then rest, has brought me back into rhythm so many times! Work, life, traffic, this economy, etc., are all so stressful that we all need a peace and nature break each day, during lunch and after work. I find this works as it allows my heart to go back into NSR. I have thought of purchasing the parks I frequent, because they work so well, but
they are free!! Try this, I am saddened to read of so many running to the ER whenever their heart jumps out, when, really, on warfarin, this is not a problem. Or had to undergo 2-6 ablations! Really, ablation is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but it's your heart! Based upon these comments, it obviously does not work. How many maps and burns can anyone's heart really take?!
I am not a nature freak, but I am a lover of hiking off trail, finding an isolated spot and resting and
Feeling my heart go right back in! Maybe its kind of like yoga relaxation, so someone else may have to add their experiences here. We all have to live with this fib, and I think Rx and relaxing, resting in nature can work well together.

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I have had A-fib for many years. I'm 78 yrs. old. My cardiologist put me on Multaq 4 weeks ago. The last 2 weeks my mouth, gums, lips and throat have started burning. My Dr. doesn't think it is a side affect to Multaq but doesn't know what is causing this. Has anyone out there had this side affect? Would appreciate any answers.
p.s. So far Multaq is working great and would hate to have to stop taking it.

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I started taking Multaq 10 days ago -- 400 mg 2X/day. I am fine during the day but I can sleep 10 hours a night. I am also on 12.5 mg Metropolol and 3-4mg Warfarin daily. My biggest change has been extreme bloating. I thought I had an ulcer -- I have NEVER had bloating/GERD/Acid Reflux or anything like this before. I may see if I can cut the Multaq in half. Otherwise, it is working -- still have irregular beat, but I have to check my pulse to feel it. No more of the rapid heart rate. I have a low pulse (50 resting/63 during the day) anyway and low blood pressure.

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Been on Multaq for 4 weeks, after doctor's appt. this week I was told it is not working for me. I am to keep a log of when I feel tired, then that will be matched with my pacemaker (to keep my pulse above 60) check up to see what I am doing when I get a tired feeling. I am an active 69 year old, but do have tiredness from time to time. After a little rest I can usually go again. I'm not looking forward to another ablation. I don't know if it will cause problems to go on with irregular heartbeats mostly PVC's. And forget all this guess work.

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The day after my last post I decided to cut my dose in half myself. This was just yesterday -- I took half a 400 mg pill a.m. and p.m., always with food. I also am eating activia. It's only been a day, but the bloating is gone! I am not concerned about cutting the dose. I am still on a low Metrop at night and Wafarin. The afib is really an aggravation, but not life threatening if you are on a blood thinner. I have never had it bad enough to go the ER, though and I am sorry for those of you who have! This bloating started so soon after I started taking Multaq that I'm sure it is the cause. I will post in a week to let you know how it's going. Also trying to switch from Warfarin to Pradaxa (which is a new blood thinner than does NOT require IRN testing) but until my ins covers it, it is about $200!! a month. Best to you all and thank you for sharing your experiences.

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for NancyO what is Metrop you reference in your post. I am on Multaq 400mg twice a day, seems to be working but am very tired, not on a blood thinner, have been on Multaq for 5 weeks

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I have been in the hospital since Friday. While on Multaq, I was given a z-pac for congestion by doctor at a MEC. The day after starting this my atrial flutter flared up, with pulse over 150. Didn't feel it, but found out it started the day after starting on the z-pac. This was told to me when my doctor's office check my pacemaker. This pulse had been going on for a week. The doctor had me go right into the hospital to try to get it converted. That was yesterday, my pulse is till not right, but under 120. I am off of Multaq and now they are trying something else. Just be aware that the Z-pac can possible cause this problem.

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I have been on Multaq for almost 3 weeks. I have noticed a few side effects but they seem to have gone away. At first it felt like I could not take a deep breath and I also felt like I was stuffed after just eating a normal meal. I take several medications in addition to Multaq....tenormin, diltaziam, crestor, lovastatin, metformin, glimiperide. Since I started with the Multaq I no longer feel the irregular heartbeats I was having (A-Fib). The one thing I have noticed is that now my blood sugar is near perfect every morning. I have had readings of 91 to 104. I wasn't super high before, somewhere around 130 or more. I have not changed eating habits and was never a very good diabetic, eating just about anything I wanted. This lowered blood sugar level I consider a
benefit. I see my cardiologist next week and ask him if he ever heard of this.

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I am writing on behalf of my 81 year old dad who's suffering from Atrial Fib and is on Multaq 400mg. He has had Congestive heart failures in the past and has a pacemaker. His cardiologist put him on Multaq 2xdaily, however on his first dose he felt extremely tired. So he cut back on only 1 Multaq daily taken at night. My question is - is there any harm in taking a 1/day dose instead of the normal 2/day dose. Should he NOT take Multaq as 1./day may not be effective, therefore should stop? Or is taking 1/day is still better than not taking any? He is desperate as he appears to have no strength to walk while on Multaq. Can he regain his stamina back if he stops taking Multaq?

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I had a follow up visit with my cardiologist on Monday. My BP was 112/70 and my EKG was perfect he said. I no longer feel any irregular beats and the bloating has gone away. I take 400mg of Multaq 2 times a day. I have not felt the exhaustion others have said they have felt. My irregular beats were almost entirely felt at night when I would try to go to sleep. They were very disturbing to say the least. Those are gone and I am happy for that. Oh, and my blood sugars continue to be great. This morning I was at 97. The doctor had not had anyone else report this coincidence (?).

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I have just been prescribed Multaq after several years on Flecainide. Being in the UK I imagine I may be one of the few on this medication as it has only just been cleared by NICE for use here. In response to queries about dosages, my consultant started me off on 200mg morning and evening as I suffer adversely to most medication. Having said that I had to increase to 400mg as it did not seem to be helping me and I felt I was having irregular heartbeats nearly 24/7. I have now reduced the meds to 200mg 3 times a day to see if that helps (was scared about the toxic effects of the drug). At the moment I have periods of normal sinus rhythm then periods when it is still slow but not in rhythm, I just hope this is not harmful. With Flecainide, My stomach used to get chewed up so was apprehensive about Multaq but thankfully stomach issues do not seem too bad. My blood pressure appears lower and at the moment I have a dry cough but this could be brought on by something else, not many people on this forum highlight chest or cough symptoms. Anyway though I would just share my experiences thus far. Will see cardiologist in the next few weeks.

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I have been Multaq 400 MG (1 dose twice a day) for almost 6 weeks, noticed skin rash on palms of both hands about four days ago...some dots look almost like tiny blood blisters. I came to this site to see if others have the same issue.

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Have been on Multaq for three months 400 mg twice a day I was also taking Diltiazem along with Multaq and did develop a rash on my back and upper chest, Cardiologist discontinued the Diltiazem and rash has cleared. Has anyone experienced unusual sensations in hands , I seem to be very sensitive to anything hot or cold, metallic objects. My A Fib episodes have decreased, seem to come on when I am under stress, but I will say I think the Multaq is working. Also am experiencing periods of tiredness.

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I have been taking Multaq (400 mg twice daily) for a year. It worked well for me until a couple of months ago, am now in A-Fib nearly every day and sometimes 2-3 times per day. Am on the waiting list for ablation, but that may be 2 or 3 months from now. Since I have been taking Multaq, I have developed acid reflux (now on a med for that), have developed red pin-like rash on my feet and and get hand, foot and leg cramps regularly. It almost seems as if the Multaq is now causing me to go into A-Fib. Any thoughts from anyone would be appreciated.

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hAVE BEEN ON MULTAQ FOR 2 MONTHS. NSR IS USUAL FOR ME. I HAVE PERIODIC AF ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH LASTING 20 MINS. UP TO TWO HOURS BEFORE GOING BACK INTO NSR. I EXPERIENCE DRY COUGH/SCRATCHY THROAT. I REALLY LIKE MULTAQ. MUCH BETTER THAN DILTIAZEM AND DIGOXIN. I ALSO STARTED THE NEW PRADAXA TO REPLACE THE WARFARIN. LOVE STOPPING THE MONTHLY INR/PROTIME REQUIREMENT. OVERALL I ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU TO TRY MULTAQ IF YOU ARE ABLE/INCLINED. I WAITED ALMOST A YEAR SINCE APPROVAL TO TRY IT AND WISH I HADN'T PUT IT OFF. MERRY CHRITMAS TO ALL OF YOU.

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I have had A-Fib since Dec 1999--it went away for almost two yrs. It re-surfaced around fall of 2001--I was put on some diltiazem or was it cardisem--for some time it worked-then it did no longer do it's job-I was given Tiazac which originates from Canada and have been on that for maybe 7-8 yrs-it controlled the A-fib great until I had gall bladder surgery 7/2008-then holy hell broke out --I became Chronic A-Fib as well as developed high blood pressure--
Had a cardio version 6/2010 did not work out--then I was put on MULTAQ on 12/21/10 was told it would put my heart in sinc--I took it until 12/29 when I had the scheduled cardio version and obviously it did not work-since I have been in chronic A-Fib since 7/2008 I knew 99% it would not work. I was hoping it would work.
MULTAQ DID NOT AGREE WITH ME - MY PULSE WENT ALL OVER THE PLACE HIGH, MY FEET AND ANKLES SWELLED LIKE CRAZY AND I ALSO HAD WHEEZING SO CONSEQUENTLY I WILL NEVER TAKE THIS DRUG AGAIN NOR WOULD I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE. You must have gotten answers since your write up was back in 2009.
Thev we talked about amiadorone, the most effective a-fib drug and also the most toxic and deadly. I did my research and I do not think I would ever take that drug.
It is too deadly.
Only option I have is to get the ablation which might have to be repeated the 2nd time or maybe the third time.
Before you take any of these antiarrythmic drugs please do you research--because there are couple of them that I know of which could turn the a-fib into ventricular fibrillation and then one is done in abt 5 minutes.
And of course there is also the pace-maker in which case they burn some node--I understand some people had had it done, it does not cure the a-fib but the pulse don't go haywire. Hope this is of some help. I am 76 yrs old. Happy New Year 2011!!

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Just got home 1-4-11, from Cleveland Clinic. The cardiologist said he never recommends Multaq, it doesn't work. That was his comment. We went for a second opinion, and trust their view. Have been off Multaq, but when mentioning medicine tried he said he wasn't surprised it didn't work. This is for your information, ask your doctor.

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MULTAQ doesn't work for me. I am a 70 year old man with a 10 year history of A-Fib. I started with RHYTHMOL which did nothing, then spent about 3 years on AMIODARONE before tending towards hyperthyroidism. My EP then put me on MULTAQ. Besides persistent episodes of A-Fib, I am experiencing unusual aches and pains in my back and knees, sleeplessness, and the inability to exercise strenuously to work up a sweat. I don't know tha there is any other recourse other than ablation which terrifies me. Someone did mention vitamin and mineral supplements as being of some help. Has anyone had experience with vitamin B-6, magnesium, etc.?

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I have afib I recently was converted 1.5 month ago . I have been taking multaq 2 times a day. this week I misssed one dosage,but did not double up as specified by my pharmacist. I just went into arythmia . by continuing with multaq at the prescribed correct dosage ,do you think I may get out of afib without a cardio conversion

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How did the mini maze work for controlling your afib

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