Afib and Multaq

I went on Multaq in the Summer of 2019, Diltiaziem and Eliquis 5 mg, when I was first diagnosed with AFIB. It all made me feel tired, depressed, and I had itchy skin. It all controlled it until late Summer 2020. I had to go to ER twice and had Cardio Versions, and that didn’t work....The Doctor I saw in my City that does Ablations had a success rate of 40%! I was on an AFIB Site that I read about people having two, three and more Ablations! I was 76 years old last year and concerned and scared because my Medications were not controlling my AFIB. I had an Ablation Surgery on 11-2020 at a Mayo Clinic and feel great now that I am off all Meds except Eliquis..my energy is back and I feel like my old self. I found many Doctors do Ablation Surgeries but there is a big difference in their success rate.

I am going through this now. I seemed to be in AFIB all the time ,however for now at least, it is at a controlled rate. My Doctor would like to Cardo convert but I have heard from many patients also that if it works at all it is temporary. I have a feeling an an Ablation is in my future. Best of luck to you and continued good health.

I am 85 years old. Have had afib since 2013 and was prescribed Multaq which I am still taking. I was diagnosed with Bradycardia a year ago and had a pacemaker implanted. I am concerned about taking Multaq for a prolonged period. I discussed this with my cardiologist, but he does not want to change my medication. My yearly checkups with my primary doctor are always good except for eGFR which is steadily getting lower. My doctor said it is because of my age and that I am probably not drinking enough water, but I wonder if the Multaq is destroying my kidneys. Has anyone been on Multaq for a long time?

Google and read all about it. I cut and pasted some of what they listed.

Multaq may increase your risk of heart failure or worsen your heart failure.
Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking Multaq.
Lung damage including lung inflammation (also called pneumonitis) and lung scarring (also called pulmonary fibrosis) can happen when taking Multaq.
Multaq may cause a rare dangerous heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation and torsade de pointes. Some people have a higher risk of this, including people who are older, have other people in their family who have had these conditions, have low potassium or magnesium, or who take some medicines for other heart rhythm problems

You are right to question it. And question and investigate on the internet ANY med that is prescribed!!! I will be 76 this month. Congratulations on being 85.

Thank you.

I am 85 years old and have been on Multaq 400 mg since I first had Afib in 2013. So far I have had no side effects, but I am concerned about the long term effects. Multaq has not been around for years so possibly it is not known at this time.
I always take Multaq right after I eat my meal. Try to eat something when you take it. That may be the cause of your diarrhea. The rash could be something else.

I am 69 years old and took Multaq for just 4 months
My egfr kept going down and was finally at 54 so I quit it. After 2 months off of it my egfr went back to normal. I am having an afib ablation 10/18 and hoping it works.

I was placed on Multaq for afib. My creatinine went up as my GFR went down. I only have one kidney so I was very concerned. I went to a nephrologist who, after bloodwork and exam, said it was the effect of taking Multaq. After discontinuing the Multaq kidney numbers improved. I had an ablation about 3 months later. That was 9 months ago. I have not had any reoccurrence of afib since then.