My father has been taking it for about 2 years without any problems. He came to visit me a few weeks ago and decided he wanted to drink a beer. I ask him if the doctors told him not to drink while taking Multuq. He told me "yes but I do". He will be 84 next week so I guess he can do whatever he wants to do at his age.

I took multaq without any problems or noted side effects.

I read Multaq wasn't good for permanent afib. There are plenty of FDA warnings and lawyers waiting to take your call on this drug also. I have no idea about this drug. If you want a reason not to take the drug, try this website. http://multaqsideeffects.org/

petey

Petey,
my episodes of Afib are months apart, and clearly identifiable by a heart rate that's almost double my sinus heart rate. I check my rate very frequently, even at night when I wake up every 2 hours for a prostate problem. If my rate is high, I am at the ER within few hours, where I am always diagnosed in Afib and cardioverted.
I am now wearing a 24/7 monitor to verify this assumption. The first week of monitoring has shown a low 50, 60, sinus rate.
I don't think that my Afib can be called permanent.
If so, the question is what are the benefits/dangers of Multaq, prescribed by the EP.
I see two alternative:
(1) See if Multaq works
(2) Ablation
Living with Afib and blood thinners does not seem a good idea, I would still have to go from time to time to the ER to be cardioverted, because a constant high rate is in the long range bad for the heart.
Waht do you think? I really value your opinion.
Ecofr

RN52 and weld,
thanks for the info.
Ecofr

ecofr: You are DEFINITELY paroxysmal (or maybe possibly persistent at worst). I have been thinking about people in your situation. You don't have to worry about rhythm meds having a cumulative effect with how you use them. In fact, cardioversion is also a good idea for people in your situation to buy time. The more you can stay in sinus rhythm, the less chance for progression. Of course, not going to the ER is a positive side of a rhythm drug that works and that you don't have to take every day or for years. .. and if you are thinking of ablation... it will tide you over and help the chance of success for ablation if you minimize your time in afib. If you had an ablation that lasted only 7 years... you still win... even if it wasn't forever.I'm wondering how old you are and if you have any other contributing conditions (sorry if you mentioned it and I don't remember). I have never taken rhythm drugs so I can't give you my personal experience. Remember... I'm just another Bozo on the Afib Bus. :-) petey

I am taking Multaq and have no problem with it . Would suggest that you carefully read about it instead of sharing your unprofessional opinions. While a lot of your sharing has been very helpful and i am appreciative, I am astonished at patients who are proving medical and prescription information on this site. This is a forum to share your experiences, not your medical opinion!

yippyskipp,
thanks for your reply. I have read everything I could find on the web about Multaq, that's why I mentioned the evidence that I am in paroxysmal (or maybe pesistent) Afib, opinion shared by my EP.
What made you decide to go for Multaq rather than ablation? What did your doc say about the probability that Multaq may stop working after a while?
How long have you taken Multaq? Any Afib episodes after you started taking it? Is your Afib paroxysmal/persistent, etc?
Thanks again for your reply, I am trying to decide whether to try Multaq (prescribed by EP) or go directly to ablation. My EP says the choice is mine.
ecofr

Ecofr,

I was in your same position of trying to decide between rhythm control drugs or an ablation. For myself, I decided to NOT take Multaq because at the time it had just been approved and I'm always leery of new drugs until they have been in use for a while. A few months later when some of the reports regarding some patient's bad experiences with Multaq came out I was very glad I did NOT try this drug. I did however try Rhythmol and did not like the way it made me feel and it ended up making the afib episodes worse and more frequent. So I ultimately decided to go the ablation route.

Sorry Yippyskippy and ecofr... I was only making a point that you can find something bad about every drug and an attorney, no matter how good the drug. I guess I didn't do a good job. I also was trying to make the point that I have no experience with rhythm drugs when I was asked a direct question.

I did feel safe saying that having episodes months apart is not even persistent afib. My doctor said that Mutaq was good for permanent afib, so I looked it up on the FDA wedsite to understand it. I have persistent afib (long duration), so the subject came up. Never took it thiough for the reasons I stated.

The FDA says it shouldn't be used for people like me. People that have paroxysmal afib do well with drugs and ablation and anything that can slow the progression down sounds good. Hope this clears things up. I got your point. petey

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm264059.htm

typo... my doctor said NOT goog for permanent

This is my experience with Multaq.
After cyro-ablation I was started on Amidarione and had to stop taking it after 2 days----too toxic for me. The EP then started me on Multaq and I tolerated it well for about 4 months. At that point started having stomach pains, and gradually lost all desire to eat meat (and the smell really bothered me) At 5 months after ablation EP told to stop Multaq. After 5 days the stomach pains gradually left, and I could eat meat again.
Before my ablation I failed rthymol after 8 days on it.
D.

I had a good deal of hesitation about taking Multaq, however, after carefully reading all info available felt I could take it since I do not have heart disease and it appeared to me to be the lest toxic and with the fewest side effects. I have been on the meds for 9 months and also a beta blocker and do have some break throughs, however, my overall experience has been satisfactory. I suspect that down the line, I will need to change meds since I am guessing that my body along with the aging factor will have an impact. Right now, I function very well and have Parax AF and prior to be dx'd was reverting to NSR without any help. Almost any med will have different bodily impact (not just for AF) so it is up to you to be knowledgeable about you, your condition, your doc and your body. My condition is somewhat complicated since I have a chronic low platelet count a long with some RBC and anemia considerations. Today I am well, blessed and grateful. Eileen