Re: Re: Side effects of Dofetilide (not for delicate sensibilities)

[Guest guest]

Kathleen - I second Trudy that it is likely the magnesium causing your tummy

upset... I had no noticable GI upset on the dofetilide (even on 1000 mcg), but

magnesium certainly causes ALL the symptoms you have mentioned. I've also not

really heard any of the others on dofetilide complain about GI upset either..

not that they don't have it, but not much is said about it if they do.

I also second Trudy by saying again that I think the dose of dofetilide is too

low.. all the studies show that 500 is the standard per day, and 1000 the max.

I wasn't controlled at 500, but am nicely controlled at 750 per day.

Did you get off the cardizem yet? When you talk to your dr about this, ask

about going on atenelol for rate control. That's what I take with the

dofetilide.. works like a charm and again.. no negative side effects.. no GI

upset, no fatigue...

but you do need to talk to your doctor if your GI upset continues.. you cannot

stop the dofetilide by yourself, but you certainly can stop the magnesium

without doctors consent. I would let him know, however, that you are doing so

because of stomach upset.

Also, are you taking your magnesium with food? That might help some too...

And don't give up on the dofetilide... but do talk to your doctor about the

dose... you mentioned earlier that your QT time was too long.. ask if there is

something else you can take with the dofetilide that will not affect that

interval.

Stef

Hi, Kathleen,

I'm sorry you're having trouble. It's only 8 pm now eastern time,

why don't you call your doc's answering service and see what he or

she says. No need to be miserable all weekend.

I found a government web page on dofetilide's side effects at

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601235.html

I wonder if the combination of the magnesium you're taking and a

tendency of dofetilide to cause gi stuff in some people is putting

you over the edge into this trouble. You might ask your doc about

stopping the magnesium.

As to dofetilide not working, I have two thoughts. GI troubles are a

big trigger for afib, so I wouldn't draw any conclusions until that

is straightened out. Also, according to our dofetilide database on

the web site, you are taking a relatively low dose.

Perhaps the depression is because of disappointment. Chin up, and I

send you a hug. It is early days yet to draw a conclusion.

Please let us know what's happening.

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

Kathleen - I second Trudy that it is likely the magnesium causing your tummy

upset... I had no noticable GI upset on the dofetilide (even on 1000 mcg), but

magnesium certainly causes ALL the symptoms you have mentioned. I've also not

really heard any of the others on dofetilide complain about GI upset either..

not that they don't have it, but not much is said about it if they do.

I also second Trudy by saying again that I think the dose of dofetilide is too

low.. all the studies show that 500 is the standard per day, and 1000 the max.

I wasn't controlled at 500, but am nicely controlled at 750 per day.

Did you get off the cardizem yet? When you talk to your dr about this, ask

about going on atenelol for rate control. That's what I take with the

dofetilide.. works like a charm and again.. no negative side effects.. no GI

upset, no fatigue...

but you do need to talk to your doctor if your GI upset continues.. you cannot

stop the dofetilide by yourself, but you certainly can stop the magnesium

without doctors consent. I would let him know, however, that you are doing so

because of stomach upset.

Also, are you taking your magnesium with food? That might help some too...

And don't give up on the dofetilide... but do talk to your doctor about the

dose... you mentioned earlier that your QT time was too long.. ask if there is

something else you can take with the dofetilide that will not affect that

interval.

Stef

Hi, Kathleen,

I'm sorry you're having trouble. It's only 8 pm now eastern time,

why don't you call your doc's answering service and see what he or

she says. No need to be miserable all weekend.

I found a government web page on dofetilide's side effects at

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601235.html

I wonder if the combination of the magnesium you're taking and a

tendency of dofetilide to cause gi stuff in some people is putting

you over the edge into this trouble. You might ask your doc about

stopping the magnesium.

As to dofetilide not working, I have two thoughts. GI troubles are a

big trigger for afib, so I wouldn't draw any conclusions until that

is straightened out. Also, according to our dofetilide database on

the web site, you are taking a relatively low dose.

Perhaps the depression is because of disappointment. Chin up, and I

send you a hug. It is early days yet to draw a conclusion.

Please let us know what's happening.

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

Kathleen - I second Trudy that it is likely the magnesium causing your tummy

upset... I had no noticable GI upset on the dofetilide (even on 1000 mcg), but

magnesium certainly causes ALL the symptoms you have mentioned. I've also not

really heard any of the others on dofetilide complain about GI upset either..

not that they don't have it, but not much is said about it if they do.

I also second Trudy by saying again that I think the dose of dofetilide is too

low.. all the studies show that 500 is the standard per day, and 1000 the max.

I wasn't controlled at 500, but am nicely controlled at 750 per day.

Did you get off the cardizem yet? When you talk to your dr about this, ask

about going on atenelol for rate control. That's what I take with the

dofetilide.. works like a charm and again.. no negative side effects.. no GI

upset, no fatigue...

but you do need to talk to your doctor if your GI upset continues.. you cannot

stop the dofetilide by yourself, but you certainly can stop the magnesium

without doctors consent. I would let him know, however, that you are doing so

because of stomach upset.

Also, are you taking your magnesium with food? That might help some too...

And don't give up on the dofetilide... but do talk to your doctor about the

dose... you mentioned earlier that your QT time was too long.. ask if there is

something else you can take with the dofetilide that will not affect that

interval.

Stef

Hi, Kathleen,

I'm sorry you're having trouble. It's only 8 pm now eastern time,

why don't you call your doc's answering service and see what he or

she says. No need to be miserable all weekend.

I found a government web page on dofetilide's side effects at

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601235.html

I wonder if the combination of the magnesium you're taking and a

tendency of dofetilide to cause gi stuff in some people is putting

you over the edge into this trouble. You might ask your doc about

stopping the magnesium.

As to dofetilide not working, I have two thoughts. GI troubles are a

big trigger for afib, so I wouldn't draw any conclusions until that

is straightened out. Also, according to our dofetilide database on

the web site, you are taking a relatively low dose.

Perhaps the depression is because of disappointment. Chin up, and I

send you a hug. It is early days yet to draw a conclusion.

Please let us know what's happening.

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

Stef wrote (about Kathleen):

<<you mentioned earlier that your QT time was too long.. ask if there is

something else you can take with the dofetilide that will not affect

that interval.>>

Rythmol does not ordinarily lengthen the QT interval. It does extend the

QRS so maybe ultimately it shoves the T on down the line too. But it is

said to have fewer untoward effects (such as Torsades) that are

associated with a too long QT interval. Might be worth a question for

Kathleen's doctor.

- OU alum in MI

[Guest guest]

Stef wrote (about Kathleen):

<<you mentioned earlier that your QT time was too long.. ask if there is

something else you can take with the dofetilide that will not affect

that interval.>>

Rythmol does not ordinarily lengthen the QT interval. It does extend the

QRS so maybe ultimately it shoves the T on down the line too. But it is

said to have fewer untoward effects (such as Torsades) that are

associated with a too long QT interval. Might be worth a question for

Kathleen's doctor.

- OU alum in MI

[Guest guest]

Stef wrote (about Kathleen):

<<you mentioned earlier that your QT time was too long.. ask if there is

something else you can take with the dofetilide that will not affect

that interval.>>

Rythmol does not ordinarily lengthen the QT interval. It does extend the

QRS so maybe ultimately it shoves the T on down the line too. But it is

said to have fewer untoward effects (such as Torsades) that are

associated with a too long QT interval. Might be worth a question for

Kathleen's doctor.

- OU alum in MI

[Guest guest]

Stef - The magnesium has caused problems before, so I stopped it after

reading Trudy¹s message. I haven¹t had a chance to talk with the EP about

stopping cardizem yet; my next appointment is August 13. I did mention it

to one of his staff members, whom I asked about using atenelol for rate

control. She said they had found atenelol to cause more fatigue and

drowsiness than cardizem, which is one reason they continue to use it with

dofetilide. However, as soon as I can talk with my EP, I will ask him about

the ramifications of using atenelol and upping the dofetilide dose.

­ I will certainly ask about Rythmol, too. Incidentally, I had an

uncomfortable moment in the hospital when my EP asked me if we had already

tried Rythmol ... But I guess doctors see way too many people to be expected

to remember each history.

Many thanks for your support and advice. I am so grateful for all your

help!

--

Kathleen Stept (Dofetilide 250mcg bid, Diltiazem 120 mg, Coumadin 5mg)

, MS

On 7/24/04 9:02 PM, " Quarter Acre Orchids "

wrote:

>

> Kathleen - I second Trudy that it is likely the magnesium causing your tummy

> upset... I had no noticable GI upset on the dofetilide (even on 1000 mcg), but

> magnesium certainly causes ALL the symptoms you have mentioned. I've also not

> really heard any of the others on dofetilide complain about GI upset either..

> not that they don't have it, but not much is said about it if they do.

>

> I also second Trudy by saying again that I think the dose of dofetilide is too

> low.. all the studies show that 500 is the standard per day, and 1000 the max.

> I wasn't controlled at 500, but am nicely controlled at 750 per day.

>

> Did you get off the cardizem yet? When you talk to your dr about this, ask

> about going on atenelol for rate control. That's what I take with the

> dofetilide.. works like a charm and again.. no negative side effects.. no GI

> upset, no fatigue...

>

> but you do need to talk to your doctor if your GI upset continues.. you cannot

> stop the dofetilide by yourself, but you certainly can stop the magnesium

> without doctors consent. I would let him know, however, that you are doing so

> because of stomach upset.

>

> Also, are you taking your magnesium with food? That might help some too...

>

> And don't give up on the dofetilide... but do talk to your doctor about the

> dose... you mentioned earlier that your QT time was too long.. ask if there is

> something else you can take with the dofetilide that will not affect that

> interval.

>

> Stef

>

>

> Hi, Kathleen,

>

> I'm sorry you're having trouble. It's only 8 pm now eastern time,

> why don't you call your doc's answering service and see what he or

> she says. No need to be miserable all weekend.

>

> I found a government web page on dofetilide's side effects at

> http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601235.html

>

> I wonder if the combination of the magnesium you're taking and a

> tendency of dofetilide to cause gi stuff in some people is putting

> you over the edge into this trouble. You might ask your doc about

> stopping the magnesium.

>

> As to dofetilide not working, I have two thoughts. GI troubles are a

> big trigger for afib, so I wouldn't draw any conclusions until that

> is straightened out. Also, according to our dofetilide database on

> the web site, you are taking a relatively low dose.

>

> Perhaps the depression is because of disappointment. Chin up, and I

> send you a hug. It is early days yet to draw a conclusion.

>

> Please let us know what's happening.

>