Multaq
Alert
This I did not want to hear...
If you're taking Multaq for Atrial Fibrillation, this is a MULTAQ
ALERT - the FDA wants you to call your doctor right away.
Strange coincidence - I had just fully recovered from my Catheter Ablation to try and cure my
Afib. I was much improved - BUT - I still get the occasional flutter episode and "MANY" PAC's (Premature
Atrial Contractions), then I hear the latest Multag Alert, Multaq may be bad for a
number of reasons. Off I went to see my Electrophysiologist. On top of this my latest blood work came
back with slightly elevated liver enzyme levels, liver problems are another "new" complication related
to taking Multaq.
The FDA says "Don't stop taking the drug -- that could be dangerous". But the FDA
wants patients to be aware that a clinical trial of Multaq, called PALLAS, was halted when the drug doubled the
risk of death, stroke, and heart failure hospitalization in heart patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.
Since I started taking Multaq as a way to smooth out some early on recurrences of flutter
after my Ablation I decided my best course of action
was to lose the Multaq and see if the Ablation would hold my heart's rhythm or if I was ready for the next and
dreaded - "Round 2" ablation.
Multaq is approved to treat paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (intermittent), persistent
atrial fibrillation, or atrial flutter. The big question -- now the subject of an FDA investigation -- is exactly
how the PALLAS findings apply to current patients.
Multaq was approved in 2009 after the ATHENA clinical trial showed it decreased deaths in patients with
non-permanent atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.
But this is now the fifth time the FDA has reported signals of possible risk from Multaq:
Other Multaq Alert Warnings
Early 2010: The FDA warned of possible signals of congestive heart failure.
On Feb. 22, 2011, the FDA revised the warning section of the Multaq label to note cases of worsening heart
failure in some patients taking the drug.
Second quarter 2010: The FDA warned of possible signals linking Multaq to a form of heart arrhythmia called
torsade de pointes.
Third quarter 2010: The FDA warned of possible signals that Multaq interacted with warfarin to increase
warfarin's anti-clotting effect. I was on warfarin at the time and had a heck of a time keeping the correct
INR level - now I know it was probably the Multaq.
On March 21, 2011, the FDA changed the drug-interactions section of the Multaq label to reflect this
possibility.
In the last three months of 2010, there were possible signals linking Multaq to liver failure. On Feb. 11, 2011,
FDA changed the warnings section of the Multaq label to note that the drug should be stopped if liver injury is
suspected.
The FDA is telling patients:
Talk to your health care professional about whether you should continue to take Multaq for paroxysmal or
persistent atrial fibrillation. Do not stop taking Multaq without talking to your health care professional.
Discuss any questions or concerns about Multaq with your health care professional.
The FDA is telling doctors:
Do not prescribe Multaq to patients with permanent atrial fibrillation.
Now the FDA is evaluating whether and how the preliminary results of the PALLAS study apply to patients taking
Multaq for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, persistent atrial fibrillation, or atrial flutter.
The PALLAS study results are considered preliminary at this time.
I had heard enough!
I went off Multaq - COLD TURKEY...
Strange result, my residual flutter and PAC's actually got better! I am a year and a half after my first and
only ablation so only time will tell. My recommendation....
GET OFF THE MULTAQ!!
P.S. - Report any side effects you experience to the FDA MedWatch program (800-332-1088).
Multaq Updated Videos - Click
Here!
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