Following the change of cost by the country's healthcare board, Sanofi-Aventis's heart drug Multaq (dronedarone) is to be used in a limited quantity by Britain's State Health Service.

This drug was launched last year and according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, it was a medicine which could be used to treat atrial fibrillation or irregular heartbeats. The sales of this drug last year were very disappointing.

On Tuesday, it was shared by Andrew Dillon, who is the Chief Executive of NICE, that this drug was better than older generic drug amiodarone because it has a few adverse side effects.

"Whilst dronedarone has not been shown to be as effective as existing treatment options in controlling atrial fibrillation, and is more expensive, short term evidence suggests that it is associated with fewer side-effects", he Dillon.

It noticed by NICE that against the older medicine, which was a mere 5 pence, Multaq cost around 2.25 pounds each day.

Because of the cost of this drug NICE has decided to use this medicine as a second line treatment for those who cannot take the medicine because of its side effects or for those whose condition cannot be controlled by the conventional treatment.

The side effects of this drug are liver problems and severe sunburn on exposure to sunlight.

Later this year, NICE would be making its final recommendations.