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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This medication is made by Sanofi Winthrop Industries for sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC.
This medication comes in one strength -- dronedarone 400 mg tablets.
