ajmaline and cifenline

Tachyarrhythmias which originate above the bifurcation of the bundle of His or incorporate tissue proximal to it are classified as supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVT). Primary treatment of SVT attempts to influence the underlying disease. Therapy is subdivided into drug therapy, electrotherapeutic tools (e.g. antitachycardia pacemakers, catheter ablation) and antiarrhythmic surgery. Antiarrhythmic agents which slow conduction and suppress premature beats are efficient for emergency and long-term treatment of supraventricular tachycardias. We evaluated some of the most relevant antiarrhythmic drugs for SVT including propafenone, diprafenone, cibenzoline, lorcainide and sotalol; in addition, usage and efficacy of quinidine/verapamil, disopyramide, amiodarone, ajmaline, adenosine and flecainide are summarized. The principles for acute management of tachycardia episodes with narrow and broad complexes are outlined. The reason for the selection as well as the efficacy in the termination of the tachycardias is described for different antiarrhythmic agents including verapamil, adenosine, ajmaline, propafenone and flecainide.

Topics: Ajmaline; Amiodarone; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Atrial Fibrillation; Atrial Flutter; Disopyramide; Flecainide; Humans; Imidazoles; Pre-Excitation Syndromes; Propafenone; Quinidine; Sotalol; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal; Tachycardia, Supraventricular; Verapamil

A number of conventional and newer antiarrhythmic agents are available for the treatment and prophylaxis of ventricular tachycardia and sudden death. Using a multifaceted approach of programmed electrical stimulation studies, drug level determinations, exercise tolerance testing, and 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, the physician can identify those patients who require therapy and then predict the likelihood of efficacy with each antiarrhythmic agent. This approach affords evaluation of both aspects of the sudden death equation-ectopy frequency (triggering mechanism) and vulnerability to development of sustained ventricular tachycardia (substrate). After institution of therapy, careful follow-up is necessary to document sustained drug efficacy and detect side effects. Serious adverse reactions necessitate a change in antiarrhythmic therapy, as opposed to lowering drug dosage to an ineffective level. The unacceptably high incidence of sudden death due to electrical instability can be reversed only by a rigorous and dedicated long-term approach to the management of serious ventricular arrhythmias.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Ajmaline; Amiodarone; Anilides; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Aprindine; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Benzeneacetamides; Bepridil; Bethanidine; Bretylium Tosylate; Disopyramide; Drug Administration Schedule; Encainide; Flecainide; Heart Conduction System; Humans; Imidazoles; Lidocaine; Mexiletine; Moricizine; Myocardial Contraction; Phenothiazines; Phenytoin; Piperidines; Procainamide; Propafenone; Propiophenones; Pyrrolidines; Quinidine; Tocainide; Verapamil