Finding her Beat: Claire’s Journey Living with AFib

(BPT) - This content is sponsored by Sanofi U.S.

I’m Claire and I’m a retiree living near Orlando, Florida with my husband. Now that I’m retired, I get to spend my time doing the things I love – enjoying the outdoors by going on long bike rides and tending to my garden, visiting my sons and grandchildren who live all over the U.S., and spending time with my husband and friends.

I was fortunate to have a fulfilling career as a nurse – an experience that instilled a lifelong desire to stay healthy.

That commitment to healthy living has been especially important to me given that heart issues run in my family. I’ve always been on the lookout for symptoms, and one day back in 2013 when I experienced a persistently rapid heartbeat that felt irregular and worried me, I went to the emergency room to see what was going on.

At the hospital, after running a series of tests on my heart function, the results showed that I was in persistent atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib. AFib is a type of abnormal heart rhythm where the heart beats rapidly and irregularly. My AFib was the persistent type because I experienced the episode for more than a week and I required treatment to get my heart rhythm back to normal. Many people in AFib, like me, feel a fast, pounding heartbeat – almost like butterflies in their chest. These episodes can be unpredictable and may cause people with AFib to feel concerned about when their next episode may occur. It is important to take AFib seriously, because it can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications.

According to the American Heart Association, over 12 million people are projected to have AFib by 2030. While anyone can develop AFib, advanced age, high blood pressure, underlying heart disease, drinking alcohol, family history, and sleep apnea are some conditions that may increase the risk of AFib. People who are athletes or have other chronic conditions are also at higher risk.

My stay at the hospital ended up lasting four days to get my heart back to normal rhythm. I remember feeling worried about how AFib would impact my life going forward. I had questions, like “Would I still be able to go biking?” and “Can I still travel to see my grandchildren?”

Thankfully, before leaving the hospital, my doctor and I had a conversation about treatments that could help manage my AFib. After reviewing my options, my doctor suggested a medicine to help control the rhythm of my heart called MULTAQ^® (dronedarone).

MULTAQ^® (dronedarone) 400mg Tablets is a prescription medicine used to lower the chance of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation (AFib) in people who currently have a normal heart rhythm and have had certain types of AFib (paroxysmal or persistent AFib) in the past. It is not known if MULTAQ is safe and effective in children younger than age 18 years old. MULTAQ may cause an increased risk of death, stroke, and heart failure in people with a certain type of heart failure called decompensated heart failure or a certain type of irregular heartbeat (rhythm) called permanent AFib. MULTAQ doubles your risk of dying if you have these conditions. To learn more about the risk of serious side effects, see the Important Safety Information below.

During my time as a nurse, I saw first-hand how vital it is to work with your doctor to find a treatment that is right for you. Since starting MULTAQ, I know that I am taking an active role in managing my AFib.

Learn more about AFib and treatment with MULTAQ here.

Every person’s health experience is unique. Remember, your doctor is your best source of information so be sure to ask your doctor any questions you may have.

What is MULTAQ?

MULTAQ^® is a prescription medicine used to lower the chance of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation (AFib) in people who currently have a normal heart rhythm and have had certain types of AFib (paroxysmal or persistent AFib) in the past. It is not known if MULTAQ is safe and effective in children younger than age 18 years old.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about MULTAQ?

MULTAQ may cause serious side effects, including:

• Increased risk of death, stroke, and heart failure in people with:
  • A certain type of heart failure called decompensated heart failure. Heart failure is when your heart does not pump blood through your body as well as it should. MULTAQ can cause new or worsening heart failure. Do not take MULTAQ if you have symptoms of heart failure that recently worsened and you were hospitalized, or if you have severe heart failure.
    Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of heart failure during treatment with MULTAQ: shortness of breath or wheezing at rest; wheezing, chest tightness, or coughing up frothy sputum at rest, nighttime, or after minor exercise; trouble sleeping or waking up at night because of breathing problems; using more pillows to prop yourself up at night so you can breathe more easily; gaining more than 5 pounds quickly; increasing swelling of feet or legs
  • A certain type of irregular heartbeat (rhythm) called permanent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Permanent AFib is when you and your healthcare provider decide not to try to change your heart rhythm back to a normal heart rhythm or your heart rhythm cannot be changed back to a normal rhythm.
  • Do not take MULTAQ if you have permanent AFib. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rhythm regularly to make sure your heart keeps a normal rhythm.
  • Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of AFib during treatment with MULTAQ such as: fast or irregular heartbeat or pulse; chest pain; dizziness or lightheadedness; tiredness or weakness; reduced ability to exercise; shortness of breath

MULTAQ doubles your risk of dying if you have these conditions. Your healthcare provider may give you a medicine to help prevent blood clots and decrease your risk of stroke during treatment with MULTAQ. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of stroke during treatment with MULTAQ such as: numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on 1 side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding things; trouble seeing in 1 or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.

• Liver problems. MULTAQ may cause severe liver problems, including life-threatening liver failure. Do not take MULTAQ if you have severe liver problems. Your healthcare provider may order blood tests to check your liver before you start taking MULTAQ and during treatment.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs and symptoms of liver problems during treatment with MULTAQ: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting; fever, feeling unwell, unusual tiredness; itching; yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice); unusual darkening of the urine; right upper stomach area pain or discomfort

Who should not take MULTAQ?

See “What is the most important information I should know about taking MULTAQ?”

Do not take MULTAQ if:

• you have a certain type of heart problem called heart block, and you do not have an implanted pacemaker
• your heart rate is less than 50 beats each minute
• you have had liver or lung problems after using amiodarone
• you have a certain type of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormality including QTc or PR interval prolongation
• you take certain medicines that can change the amount of MULTAQ that gets into your body such as: nefazodone; ritonavir; ketoconazole; itraconazole; erythromycin; voriconazole; telithromycin; clarithromycin; cyclosporin
• you take certain medicines that can lead to a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm such as: phenothiazines; tricyclic antidepressants; macrolide antibiotics; certain medicines for abnormal heart rhythm or fast heartbeat (Class I and III antiarrhythmics)
• you are allergic to dronedarone or any of the other ingredients in MULTAQ

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking MULTAQ?

Before taking MULTAQ, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• have any other heart problems, including heart rhythm problems, or have had a stroke
• have an implanted pacemaker
• have liver or kidney problems
• have lung problems
• have low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. MULTAQ may harm your unborn baby
  Females who can become pregnant

• • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with MULTAQ
  • Use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 5 days after your final dose of MULTAQ
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you are pregnant or become pregnant during treatment with MULTAQ

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if MULTAQ passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 5 days after the final dose of MULTAQ

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking MULTAQ with certain other medicines may affect the amount of MULTAQ or other medicines in your blood and may increase your risk of side effects or affect how well MULTAQ or the other medicines work.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: medicine for high blood pressure, chest pain, or other heart conditions; statin medicine to lower blood cholesterol; medicine for tuberculosis (TB);medicine for seizures; digoxin; warfarin or other blood thinner medicines; medicine for organ transplant; an herbal supplement called St. John’s wort; water pills (diuretics).

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

What should I avoid while taking MULTAQ?

Do not drink grapefruit juice during treatment with MULTAQ. Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of MULTAQ in your blood and can increase your chance of getting side effects.

What are the possible side effects of MULTAQ?

MULTAQ may cause serious side effects, including:

• See “What is the most important information I should know about MULTAQ?”
• Inflammation of the lungs, including scarring and thickening. Call your healthcare provider if you develop shortness of breath or a dry cough during treatment with MULTAQ
• Low potassium and magnesium levels in your blood. This can happen if you take certain water pills (diuretics) during treatment with MULTAQ. Your healthcare provider may check you for this problem before and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms of low potassium or low magnesium during treatment with MULTAQ: nausea or vomiting; weakness or sleepiness; muscle weakness, spasms, or tremors; loss of appetite; constipation; heart palpitations; tingling or numbness
• Changes in the electrical activity in your heart called QT interval prolongation. QT interval prolongation can increase your chance of getting dangerous abnormal heart rhythms
• Kidney problems and kidney failure. MULTAQ can cause changes in kidney function that can be serious and lead to kidney failure, especially in people with heart failure or people with low body fluid levels. Your healthcare provider will check your blood for signs of kidney problems during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of the following symptoms of kidney problems during treatment with MULTAQ: loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; muscle cramps; dry, itchy skin; swelling of the feet and ankles; shortness of breath; trouble sleeping; urinating too much or too little

The most common side effects of MULTAQ include: diarrhea; weakness, lack of energy, and feeling very tired or sleepy (asthenia); nausea; skin problems such as redness, rash, and itching; stomach area (abdominal) pain; slow heart rate (bradycardia); vomiting; indigestion.

Your healthcare provider may stop treatment with MULTAQ if you develop certain side effects. These are not all of the possible side effects of MULTAQ.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information including Risk of SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS

Please click here for the MULTAQ Medication Guide (English).

If you are a patient experiencing problems with a Sanofi U.S. product, please contact Sanofi U.S. at 1-800-633-1610.