Could this be the rock-bottom worst drug ever?
Given all the wretched drugs we’ve known, it would be hard to pick the worst. But I’ve got one to nominate to the Must-To-Avoid hall of fame…
Multaq–for patients who have experienced abnormal heart rhythm (also called atrial fibrillation).
A recent Pharmalot report spotlights a Multaq analysis conducted by The Institute for Safe Medicine Practices. The drug has only been around for a year, but it’s already racked up a stunning list of adverse events.
Here are some highlights from the ISMP analysis:
- May cause heart failure
- May worsen heart failure
- May impair kidney function
But this is my favorite: May cause potentially fatal irregular heartbeats. Gee…too bad there’s not a drug that will take care of that!
The ISMP notes other research results:
- Multaq may cause new heart rhythm disturbances
- Multaq may have serious interactions with other atrial fibrillation drugs
- Multaq may double the risk of premature death in severe heart failure patients
- Animal studies have linked Multaq with cancer and birth defects
Multaq has also been named the possible cause of 24 deaths according to adverse event reports. All this led the ISMP to conclude: “We have seldom seen a drug with so many issues in so many areas of its safety profile.”
Safety profile? More like a total safety disaster!
But I’m sure FDA officials are on the case. Look for them to flex some muscle and push Multaq to be removed from market around 2019.
Source:
“Heartstopping News? More Multaq Safety Signals” Ed Silverman, Pharmalot, 11/8/10, hparmalot.com
