Dronedarone - new anti-arrythmic

[cynthia]

Has Dronedarone (the cousin to Amiodarone but without the nasty side effect) been approved by the FDA? I know I read and my doctor was telling me a few months back that it was soon to be approved....seems like a pretty effective med for AFIB but without the nasty side effects

[Largehearted]

I've been watching for that one too. Can't wait to see if it works.

Leon

[Joyce Leinart]

Hello Cynthia and Leon,
It has been several years since my last post and I'm not sure if you will remember me. I'm very encouraged to see that a new drug for afib is waiting for FDA approval. I went into afib after my surgery and have been having problems since that time. I took Amiodarone for several years, and it worked very well for keeping me out of afib, but I had to stop taking it about a 18 months ago because of liver toxicity. That would be wonderful if it doesn't have "nasty side effects". I'm going to go do a little research and see what I can find. This is the first I've heard about Dronedarone. I see my cardio in several months and will talk to him about it. Thanks for the info.

[LindaSo]

Dronedarone was approved by the FDA on 7/3/09. From the article in Heartwire, "the current approval states that dronedarone is contraindicated in patients with severe heart failure or those with NYHA 2 or 3 heart failure with a recent decompensation requiring hospitalization. The ANDROMEDA trial, also reported by heartwire, showed that dronedarone increased the risk of mortality twofold among those treated with the drug."

Since HCMrs frequently have dyastolic dysfunction, it would appear that would disqualify them for dronedarone.

Linda

[THW]

Unfortunately I don't have anything I can add about Dronedarone, but thanks for that timely info, Linda. And Joyce, I remember you. I believe you had your myectomy just before me at CCF. Just wanted to say welcome back. Wishing you well -- Theresa

[Largehearted]

Well drat it! Thanks Linda for the info. but I was looking forward to another possibility other than massive doses of sotalol.

Leon

[Joyce Leinart]

Sigh! Linda, thanks for the info.

Theresa, Yes, I remember you well. I think you had surgery the day after I did. Mine was on 12/12/05.