| name: | Antiarrhythmia Drugs |
| also known as: | Antiarrhythmic Drugs; Anti-Arrhythmia Drugs; Arrhythmia Medications; Arrhythmia Drugs; Arrythmia Drugs; Class Ia; Class Ib; Class Ic; Class II; Class III; Class IV |
| also see: | Arrhythmia; Digoxin; Sodium Channel Blockers; Calcium Channel Blockers; Potassium Channel Blockers; Beta Blockers |
| description: | In a normally working heart, the impulse of contraction originates in the SA node of the right atrium, and then travels through both atrium down to the AV node where the impulse travels through the ventricles. Any rhythm that does not start in the SA node and does not travel normally to the AV node or that is not under autonomic control is an arrhythmia. The two most common causes of death in the USA is heart attack and then heart arrhythmia. Supraventricular arrhythmias are arrhythmias that begin above the ventricles in the atrium and include: atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and various atrial tachycardias. Ventricular arrhythmias include ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and premature ventricular contraction. There are five main categories of antiarrhythmia drugs are: digoxin, sodium channel blockers, calcium channel blockers, potassium channel blockers, and beta blockers. Another classification is: Ia - quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, also known as sodium channel blockers Ib - lidocaine, tocainide, mexiletine, dilantin, also known as sodium channel blockers Ic - flecainide, also known as sodium channel blockers II - beta blockers III - bretylium, amiodarone, sotalol, ibutilide, also known as potassium channel blockers IV - clacium channel blockers Other - digoxin (lanoxin), magnesium sulfate, adenosine (adenocard) |
| signs & symptoms: | Side effects vary depending upon which drug is being used. |
| treatment: | Most antiarrhythmia drugs are given orally. Also see Rx digoxin (lanoxin) Also see Rx procainamide. Also see Rx quinidine gluconate. Also see Rx quinidine sulfate. Also see Rx bretylium. Also see Rx amiodarone |
skynetMD suggests the following:
| if: | If you have questions, problems, or concerns regarding any medication |
| go to: | Go to the phone and ask your pharmacist or your doctor, or go to the doctor. |
Last updated 2/18/2002