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Does Intake Of Dronedarone Help In Treating Atrial Fibrillation?
Question: Dr, my mother is 92. She developed atrial fibrilation 2 yrs ago. She has been taking Multaq (dronedarone) 400 mg twice a day. The cardiologist never says she still has a fib. I attend all her doctors appointments. Should I ask the cardiologist if she can get off the Multaq and not take it anymore? She has HTN and takes metoprolol, nefedipine, HCTZ, and diovan for blood pressure control. She takes no blood thinner due to a fall 2 years ago and risk of another.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your mother medical history and would explain that dronedarone is a rational medical alternative for controlling atrial fibrillation relapses.
For confirming your mother is not in atrial fibrillation it is important performing simply a resting ECG.
If your mother results in normal sinus rhythm (no atrial fibrillation on ECG), for confirming whether she suffers potential intermittently atrial fibrillation episodes time after time, it is necessary to perform an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring.
A- If your mother results in normal sinus rhythm without atrial fibrillation, but she has risk factors for atrial fibrillation relapses (any cardiomyopathy such as dilated, hypertrophic, ischemic, etc.; any cardiac valvular disorders, significantly dilated left atria on echo, increased thyroid function, etc.), then it would be advisable that she continues dronedarone to further prevent any atrial fibrillation recurrences.
B- If your mother is in normal sinus rhythm without any confirmed atrial fibrillation relapses and no underlying risk factors, then she may safely discontinue dronedarone.
C- But, if your mother continues being on persistent atrial fibrillation irrespective of dronedarone therapy, then this means that dronedarone results ineffective for controlling arrhythmia and it would be advisable to stop this drug.
You should discuss with her attending physician on the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I carefully passed through your mother medical history and would explain that dronedarone is a rational medical alternative for controlling atrial fibrillation relapses.
For confirming your mother is not in atrial fibrillation it is important performing simply a resting ECG.
If your mother results in normal sinus rhythm (no atrial fibrillation on ECG), for confirming whether she suffers potential intermittently atrial fibrillation episodes time after time, it is necessary to perform an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring.
A- If your mother results in normal sinus rhythm without atrial fibrillation, but she has risk factors for atrial fibrillation relapses (any cardiomyopathy such as dilated, hypertrophic, ischemic, etc.; any cardiac valvular disorders, significantly dilated left atria on echo, increased thyroid function, etc.), then it would be advisable that she continues dronedarone to further prevent any atrial fibrillation recurrences.
B- If your mother is in normal sinus rhythm without any confirmed atrial fibrillation relapses and no underlying risk factors, then she may safely discontinue dronedarone.
C- But, if your mother continues being on persistent atrial fibrillation irrespective of dronedarone therapy, then this means that dronedarone results ineffective for controlling arrhythmia and it would be advisable to stop this drug.
You should discuss with her attending physician on the above mentioned issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr can I ask a follow up? If mom stays on the Multaq,dronedarone.... (and I know she is 92) is there a known complication that we should watch out for? Something that you have seen that would tell someone NOT to take it? Longterm
Thanks
XXXX
Thanks
XXXX
Brief Answer:
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is true that dronedarone may exhibit several adverse effects such as: prolongation of QT interval (thus leading to cardiac arrhythmia), nausea and vomiting, chronic fatigue, liver injury, etc..
Coming to this point, it is important performing periodic follow up visit to assure that none of the potential adverse effects is present. If properly controlled, dronedarone may be safely taken.
But if any of the above adverse effects appears it would be a rational approach to consider stopping the drug.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
My answer as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that it is true that dronedarone may exhibit several adverse effects such as: prolongation of QT interval (thus leading to cardiac arrhythmia), nausea and vomiting, chronic fatigue, liver injury, etc..
Coming to this point, it is important performing periodic follow up visit to assure that none of the potential adverse effects is present. If properly controlled, dronedarone may be safely taken.
But if any of the above adverse effects appears it would be a rational approach to consider stopping the drug.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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