According to information gathered in a new meta-analysis and published in the February issue of the Journal of American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure,beta-blockers don’t work very well in heart failure (HF) patients who have atrial fibrillation (AF).

“This finding is important, as most patients with HF and AF receive beta-blocker treatment,” says Dr. Michiel Rienstra, University Medical Center, Groningen, the Netherlands, and colleagues in their paper.

“AF is very common in patients with HF,” explains the study’s senior author, Dr. Dirk J. van Veldhuisen, University Medical Center. “We assume what we have found with beta-blockers in HF patients in sinus rhythm — a very powerful effect of about a 35 percent reduction in mortality — will be the same in those with AF, but remarkably, this meta-analysis shows really clearly that it’s not found in those with AF; all the effect is in those with sinus rhythm.”

At the moment, van Veldhuisen is recommending that doctors don’t refrain from prescribing beta blockers for AF patients with HF, but it is worth noting that the drugs may not be effective for all patients. This information is expected to be controversial, since many doctors — including those who conducted the research — are using beta blockers in treating their AF patients with HF. In fact, van Veldhuisen stated that his research paper was rejected when first presented because the reviewers didn’t know what to do with the information.

AF is a heart condition that causes patients to suffer from an irregular and/or fluttering heartbeat, and is treated with various medications including Multaq. Like many prescription medications, Multaq can be a dangerous drug to take once the side effects are considered. Some of the serious side effects linked to Multaq include a worsening of the heart condition, liver failure, lung disease and pulmonary toxicity.

If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure, a worsening of the heart condition, lung disease or pulmonary toxicity after taking Multaq, contact attorney Greg Jones for a free consultation today. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.