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Overview: Multaq is a medicine taken to reduce your risk of going to the hospital for certain abnormal heart rhythms. It seems to help keep your heart in a normal rhythm. Common side effects can include a slow heart beat or stomach problems such as diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or upset stomach. Serious side effects are less common but may include liver, lung, or heart problems. Tell your health care provider if you have shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or unexplained weight loss. You should not take Multaq if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medicines. Tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions and any medicines that you take before taking Multaq.  

Uses

What is Multaq used for?

Multaq (dronedarone) may be prescribed to you to reduce your risk of going to the hospital if you have an abnormal heart rhythm (also called atrial fibrillation) that either lasts less than a week (also called paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) or that lasts longer than a week (also called persistent atrial fibrillation). Atrial fibrillation can happen when the top part of your heart (called the atria) and the bottom part of your heart (called the ventricles) are not working together, which can lead to your heart not beating in rhythm.

Multaq may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does Multaq work (mechanism of action)?

Multaq helps your heart stay in a normal rhythm.

How is Multaq supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Multaq

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 400 mg oral tablets

How should I store Multaq?

Multaq should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F and 77 F (20 C and 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F and 86 F (15 C and 30 C), for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Multaq?

The most common side effects of Multaq are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Stomach pain 
  • Vomiting 
  • Upset stomach
  • Slow heartbeat
  • Skin problems such as redness, rash, or itching
  • Feeling unusually weak or tired

There may be other side effects of Multaq that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088 (800-332-1088). In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Multaq?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Multaq are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Multaq can cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Multaq and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching or skin rash
  • Bumps on the skin called hives that can be red, pink, white, or brown depending on your skin tone
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Heart Failure. Multaq may increase your risk of heart failure or worsen your heart failure. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of heart failure.

  • Shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially while lying down
  • Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
  • Unusually fast weight gain
  • Unusual tiredness

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking Multaq. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach or belly pain
  • Fever
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Itching
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Light-colored poop
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Lung Damage. Lung damage including lung inflammation (also called pneumonitis) and lung scarring (also called pulmonary fibrosis) can happen when taking Multaq. Call your health care provider right away if you have symptoms of lung damage, such as shortness of breath or cough.

Electrolyte Imbalances. Multaq may cause low potassium levels (also called hypokalemia) and low magnesium levels (also called hypomagnesemia) in your body if you are also taking other medicines that will lower your potassium levels (such as diuretics/water pills). Your health care provider will ask you about other medicines you are taking and will monitor your electrolyte levels.

Heart Rhythm Changes. 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. Tell your health care provider right away if you faint or have changes in your heart rate or rhythm, such as fast or skipping heartbeat.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Multaq?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Multaq.

  • Dronedarone
  • Multaq
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Drug Interactions. Multaq should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking Multaq, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section below for more details. or sinus sick syndrome

Heart Problems. Multaq should not be taken if you have heart failure with symptoms that required you to go to the hospital such as shortness of breath or trouble breathing, especially while lying down, swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs, unusually fast weight gain, and unusual tiredness, as it can increase your risk of death. Multaq should not be taken if you have second or third degree atrioventricular (AV) block or sinus sick syndrome and you do not have a pacemaker. Multaq should not be taken if your heart beats less than 50 beats a minute (also called bradycardia).

Heart Rhythm Problems. Multaq should not be taken if you have abnormal heart rhythm that cannot be corrected by treatments (also called permanent atrial fibrillation), as it can increase your risk of having a stroke and increase your risk of death. Multaq should not be taken if you have a certain type of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormality including QTc or PR interval prolongation.

Liver or Lung Problems. Multaq should not be taken if you have severe liver problems or if you have liver or lung problems that happened after using a medicine called amiodarone. 

What should I know about Multaq before using it?

Do not take Multaq unless it has been prescribed to you by a health care provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share Multaq with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep Multaq out of the reach of children.

Take Multaq with food.

What should I tell my health care provider before using Multaq?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them know if Multaq is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Heart Failure. Tell your health care provider if you have any heart conditions, including permanent atrial fibrillation, as this may increase your risk of having heart failure while taking Multaq, or if you have been diagnosed with heart failure, as your condition may worsen.

Kidney Problems. Tell your health care provider if you have any kidney problems. Multaq may cause changes in your kidney function, especially if you have been diagnosed with heart failure.

Other Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your health care provider if you have any of the following.

  • History of stroke
  • Liver problems
  • Pacemaker
  • Low magnesium or potassium levels

Pregnancy. Multaq may cause harm to a fetus.  Tell your health care provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your health care provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Multaq. Your health care provider will ask you to be on birth control during treatment with Multaq and for 5 days after your last dose of Multaq.

Breastfeeding. Do not take Multaq while you are breastfeeding and for 5 days after your last dose. It is not known if Multaq passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

How can I get more information about Multaq?

For more information about Multaq, you can visit the manufacturer’s website at https://www.sanofi.com/en or call them at 1-800-633-1610.

Interactions

Does Multaq interact with foods or drinks?

Do not take Multaq with grapefruit juice. Grapefruit juice interacts with Multaq. It can increase your blood levels of the medicine, which can increase your risk for side effects. 

You should take Multaq with food. This helps your body absorb the medicine so it can work better.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Multaq.

Does Multaq interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Multaq.

  • Any medicine that can cause QT prolongation, which is a potentially dangerous heart rhythm problem, such as a tricyclic antidepressant, certain antibiotics, or any other medicines used for irregular heart rhythm
  • A medicine for high blood pressure
  • Itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura) or voriconazole (Vfend), which is a medicine used for fungal infections
  • Clarithromycin, which is a medicine used for bacterial infections
  • Nefazodone, which is a medicine used to treat depression
  • Rifampin (Rifadin), which is a medicine commonly used to treat an infection called tuberculosis
  • Any medicine for seizures, such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin
  • Digoxin (Lanoxin), which is a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and some types of heart failure
  • A calcium channel blocker, such as diltiazem (Cardizem CD and others), nifedipine (Procardia, Procardia XL), or verapamil (Verelan, Verelan PM), which is a medicine used for high blood pressure or other conditions
  • A beta-blocker, such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, and others), or propranolol (Inderal LA, Innopran XL), which is a medicine that may be used for certain heart conditions or to lower blood pressure
  • A statin, such as simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor and others) or rosuvastatin (Crestor), which is a medicine to lower cholesterol
  • A blood thinner, which is a medicine used to treat or prevent blood clots
  • A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of Multaq, and vice versa. Tell your health care provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Multaq. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Multaq?

If you or someone else has used too much Multaq, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Multaq?

If you miss a dose of Multaq, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your regular scheduled time. Do not take double or extra doses to make up for a missed dose.