Multaq Side Effects

Severe Side Effects of Multaq

• Multaq may cause heart failure in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.  Please see the black box warning.
• Liver failure may occur in some patients who take Multaq.  Multaq may increase creatine levels.
• Multaq has caused pulmonary diseases such as pneumonitis and severe inflammation and scarring in the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis).

Common Side Effects of Multaq

• The most common gastrointestinal side effects are upset stomach and vomiting, loose stools, general stomach pain, and dyspepsia or indigestion.  
• Other common side effects include rash, dermatitis, and other skin reactions.
• Some patients taking Multaq have reported general weakness and tiredness.

Warnings & Recalls for Multaq

Black Box Warning for Multaq

• Patients with permanent atrial fibrillation or a history of heart failure should not take Multaq due to increased chances of heart failure, stroke, and/or death.  Permanent atrial fibrillation is when cardioversion procedures  fail to regulate the patient's heart rhythm.

Other Warnings for Multaq

• Multaq may negatively interact with the heart drug Digoxin.
• Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking Multaq.
• Patients taking Multaq should get their heart rhythm checked at least four times a year.  If atrial fibrillation occurs, stop taking Multaq.
• The patient should monitor his or her magnesium and potassium levels while taking Multaq.  Multaq may lower magnesium and potassium levels.
• Multaq is a pregnancy category class X drug and is extremely dangerous to take during pregnancy.  Multaq may cause fetal harm or death.
• Tell your doctor if you are on beta blockers such as Lopressor before taking Multaq.
• Patients on statins such as Simvastatin should notify their doctor before taking Multaq.
• Patients taking Multaq and Warfarin concurrently should have their INR levels measured regularly to prevent  dangerous bleeding or clotting.

Multaq Treatment and Use

Multaq| Dronedarone is an antiarrythmic drug prescribed for a certain irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation.  It is only recommended for paroxysmal or episodic atrial fibrillation.  Recently, Multaq has been correlated to deaths of patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.  There is currently a debate on whether the FDA should recall this drug since it may aggravate what it is supposed to treat.  Multaq is marketed by Sanofi-Aventis.

What does Multaq do?

Multaq works to stabilize an abnormal heart rhythm by interacting with sodium, potassium, and calcium channels in the patient as well as the anti-sympathetic nervous system.

Dosage

The usual dosage for Multaq is 400 mg twice a day.  It is recommended that each dose be taken with food.  Multaq comes in a film coated white tablet with 4142 printed on one side.

Other Names for Multaq

Brand Name

• Multaq

Generic Name

• Dronedarone

Lawsuits & Legal Information for Multaq