Dronedarone

Dronedarone is a prescription drug licensed for the treatment of certain irregular heart rhythms. Specifically, it is used to prevent heart-related hospitalizations in people with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. The product comes in tablet form and is typically taken twice a day. While most people tolerate this medication well, potential side effects include vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

What Is Dronedarone?

Dronedarone (Multaq®) is a prescription medication approved to treat irregular heart rhythms known as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. It is chemically related to amiodarone (an older arrhythmia medication) but is easier to dose and appears to be less likely to cause certain dangerous side effects, compared to amiodarone.
 
(Click What Is Dronedarone Used For? for more information on what the medication is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Potential Side Effects

As with any medicine, dronedarone may cause side effects. As with other arrhythmia medications, some dronedarone side effects can be life-threatening. However, it is expected that this drug may be less likely to cause some serious side effects, compared to similar arrhythmia medications.
 
Some of the most common side effects include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
  • Vomiting
  • General weakness.
     
(Click Side Effects of Dronedarone to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
 

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Using It?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking dronedarone if you have:
 
  • Severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting
  • Low electrolytes (such as low potassium levels)
  • Long QT syndrome
  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
  • Liver disease, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver failure
  • Heart failure
  • Sick sinus syndrome
  • A slow heart rate (bradycardia)
  • Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
     
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
 
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Precautions and Warnings With Dronedarone to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
 

How Does Dronedarone Work?

It is not yet clear exactly how dronedarone works to treat arrhythmias. Most arrhythmia medications are classified using the Vaughn-Williams classification system, which divides arrhythmia medications into four classes depending on how they work. At this point, it seems that dronedarone has activity that belongs to all four of the classes.
 

Effects of Dronedarone

This medication has been thoroughly studied in various clinical trials. In general, these studies showed that dronedarone was more effective than a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients) for preventing heart-related hospitalizations. Some studies also showed that dronedarone could delay the time until the first recurrence of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.
 

When and How to Take This Drug

Some general considerations include the following:
 
  • Dronedarone comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth twice a day.
     
  • This medication should be taken with food (with the morning and evening meals). Taking it on an empty stomach will make it less effective.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Dronedarone will not work if you stop taking it.
     

Dronedarone Dosing

The dosing for dronedarone is surprisingly uncomplicated (compared to many other arrhythmia medications). There is only one standard dosage, regardless of your age or weight. As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 
(Click Dronedarone Dosage for more information.)
 

Drug Interactions

Dronedarone can potentially interact with a number of other medications (see Drug Interactions With Dronedarone).
 

Dronedarone Overdose

It is not entirely clear exactly what to expect from an overdose of this medication, although it is likely that serious effects could occur. If you happen to overdose on dronedarone, seek medical attention immediately.
 
(Click Multaq Overdose for more information.)
 

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of This Medicine?

If you forget to take your dronedarone dose, simply skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose of this drug.
 

Storing Dronedarone

This medication should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Keep this and all other medications out of the reach of children and pets.
 

Is There a Generic Version of Dronedarone?

Dronedarone is currently not available in generic form.
 
(Click Generic Multaq for more information.)
 

Who Makes Dronedarone?

This medication is made by Sanofi Winthrop Industries for sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC.
  

Available Strengths

This medication comes in one strength -- dronedarone 400 mg tablets.
 
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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