Table of Contents
Are antiarrhythmic drugs safe?
Antiarrhythmic agents can have serious side effects. Systemic adverse effects are usually use-related and reversible with withdrawal of the drug. Impairment of left ventricular function is considerable in patients with heart failure.
How effective are antiarrhythmic drugs?
Conclusion: The high level evidence supporting the use of antiarrhythmic drugs during CPR for shockable cardiac arrest is limited and showed no benefit for critical outcomes of survival at hospital discharge, survival with favorable neurological function and long-term survival.
What is the purpose of antiarrhythmic drugs?
Antiarrhythmic drugs are those that act upon the electrical conduction system of the heart in an attempt to maintain sinus rhythm. These drugs block cardiac sodium channels and depress phase 0 of the action potential.
Can you just stop taking flecainide?
Do not stop taking flecainide without talking to your doctor. If you suddenly stop taking flecainide, your condition may become worse.
Does flecainide raise your blood pressure?
In comparison with propranolol, flecainide increased heart rate and QRS duration (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.001 respectively). It increased diastolic BP, PR interval, QS2-Index, PEP, and PEP/LVET ratio, and decreased LVET-Index (p less than 0.05).
What is the most effective antiarrhythmic drug?
Amiodarone, with its multiple extra-cardiac side effects, remains the most efficient anti-arrhythmic drug. Although less efficient, other options for selected cases, are sotalol, dronedarone or vernakalant [4].
When is antiarrhythmic drug used?
Antiarrhythmic drugs may be prescribed if you have tachycardia (fast heart rate) or premature or extra heartbeats. These medications work to correct the rhythm of your heart. They restore a normal heart rhythm by changing the electrical current that makes your heart beat.
Why do antiarrhythmic drugs cause arrhythmia?
Antiarrhythmic agents can worsen existing arrhythmias by increasing their duration or frequency, increasing the number of premature complexes or couplets, altering the rate of the arrhythmia or causing new, previously unexperienced arrhythmias.
How do antiarrhythmic drugs affect the heart?
Class II antiarrhythmic medicines are beta-blockers, which work by blocking the impulses that may cause an irregular heart rhythm and by interfering with hormonal influences (such as adrenaline) on the heart’s cells. By doing this, they also reduce blood pressure and heart rate.