Dronedarone (Multaq ®)

What is dronedarone? What if you miss taking a dose? Dronedarone is a medication that If it is almost time for you next dose, skip helps the heart beat regularly when you the dose you missed and just take your next have had abnormal heartbeats. scheduled dose. It is a member of a drug class called Never take two doses at the same time. anti-arrhythmics. Anti-arrhythmics help If you have questions about taking your control the disorganized electrical medications, or missed doses, contact your impulses that lead to irregular heart pharmacist or your health care provider. In rhythms. British Columbia, you can also call 8-1-1.

What is dronedarone used for? Do not take any of the following without . Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter checking with your health care provider . Other irregular heart rhythms . Cough or cold medicines . St. John’s Wort . Herbal products . Chinese medicines How does dronedarone help with . Grapefruit/grapefruit juice abnormal heartbeats? . Other medicines you can buy at a . Reduces episodes of irregular pharmacy rhythm

. Reduces length of time in Health Provider contact information: irregular rhythm

. Improves patient symptoms and quality of life To learn more about dronedarone, go to the HealthLinkBC web site (www.healthlinkbc.ca) or call 8-1-1. How should I take my dronedarone? Take this medication regularly, as prescribed by your doctor. Did you know? It can take several weeks, Dronedarone doses should be spaced and sometimes months, before you notice evenly throughout the day and taken your heart rhythm improving and you with food. start feeling better. Do not stop taking dronedarone without instruction from your health care provider.

Common Side Effects If you get any of these side effects, talk with your health care provider about how best to deal with them. Most side effects improve with time. Contact your health care provider if any of these side effects do not go away or get worse. Diarrhea Nausea, indigestion Dizziness Feeling tired all the time

Rare but Reportable Side Effects Contact your health care provider if any of the following side effects occur. Shortness of breath New or worsening palpitations Dry cough that does not resolve Yellowing of skin or eyes Fainting Swelling of legs Skin rash or sudden weight gain

Medication Tips This medication can sometimes cause Certain medications may interact dizziness or drowsiness; be careful when with dronedarone including: driving or using hazardous machinery . HIV medications until you know how this medication . Hepatitis C medications affects you. . Transplant medications To lower the chance of feeling dizzy, rise . Certain slowly from sitting or if you have been antibiotics/antifungals lying down. . Medications for seizures This medication can affect your liver. . Warfarin Signs of liver damage include dark urine, . Medications for cholesterol loss of appetite, stomach pain, light- (statins) coloured stools, vomiting or yellow skin or . Medications for depression eyes. If you have any of these or psychosis symptoms, contact your doctor. This does not always mean the Please alert your doctor if your atrial medications cannot be used fibrillation is continuous for greater than 7 together. Your doctor may need days and does not resolve. You may to adjust doses to ensure the need to be assessed for a cardioversion medications are safe and to return you to a normal rhythm. effective. This list does not If you have any other medical conditions, include all possible drug are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is interactions. Please check with important to tell your health care provider your pharmacist before starting before starting medications. any new medication. Alcohol can impact your medications and your health condition. You should speak to your care provider about alcohol use.