When taken exactly as prescribed, medications can do wonders. They can help prevent heart attack and stroke. They can also prevent complications and slow the progression of coronary heart disease. Show
Some of the commonly prescribed medications used to treat arrhythmias are summarized in this section. It's important to discuss all the drugs you take with your health care team. It's important to understand how they work and the possible side effects. Never stop taking a medication and never change your dose or frequency without first talking to your health care professional. Antiarrhythmic drugsSymptomatic tachycardias and premature beats may be treated with a variety of medications. These may be given intravenously in an emergency or orally for long-term treatment. These drugs either lessen the abnormal signals from the sinus node or inhibit the movement of signals in the heart tissue that may conduct too fast or allow signals to re-enter. In patients with atrial fibrillation, a *blood thinner (anticoagulant or antiplatelet) is usually added to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke. Learn more about AFib medications. When tachycardias or premature beats occur often, the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drug therapy may be gauged by electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring in a hospital, by using a 24-hour Holter monitor or by serial evaluation with electrophysiologic testing. The use of antiarrhythmic drug therapy must be balanced against two disadvantages. One is that the drugs must be taken daily and indefinitely. The other is the risk of side effects. While side effects are a risk of all medication, those associated with antiarrhythmic drugs can be very hard to manage. One such side effect is proarrhythmia, the more-frequent occurrence of preexisting arrhythmias or the appearance of new arrhythmias. Calcium channel blockersCalcium channel blockers, also known as "calcium antagonists," work by interrupting the movement of calcium into heart and blood vessel tissue. Besides being used to treat high blood pressure, they're also used to treat angina (chest pain) and/or some abnormal heart rhythms. Beta blockersBeta blockers decrease the heart rate and cardiac output, which lowers blood pressure by blocking the effects of adrenalin. They're also used with therapy for cardiac arrhythmias and in treating angina pectoris. AnticoagulantsAnticoagulants (blood thinners) work by making it harder for the blood to clot or coagulate. They aren't designed to dissolve existing blood clots. They prevent new clots from forming or existing clots from getting larger. Because a common type of stroke is caused by a blood clot obstructing blood flow to the brain, anticoagulants are often prescribed for people with certain conditions to prevent a first stroke or to prevent recurrence of a stroke. Anticoagulants are also given to people at risk for forming blood clots, such as those with artificial heart valves or who have atrial fibrillation. Taking medications
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. Which of the following is an adverse effect of the class II antiarrhythmics?Class II Antiarrhythmic Drugs
and reduce the ventricular proarrhythmic effects of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. Beta-blockers are generally well tolerated; adverse effects include lassitude, sleep disturbance, and gastrointestinal upset. These drugs are contraindicated in patients with asthma.
What are the risks of using antiarrhythmics medications in older adults?Elderly patients are also more susceptible to the side effects of many antiarrhythmics, including bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, urinary retention, and falls.
Which of the following is used as antiarrhythmic drug?The most common medications in this class are: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) flecainide (Tambocor) ibutilide (Corvert), which can only be given through IV.
Which antiarrhythmic has the least side effects?Rhythmol and Tambocor are relatively well tolerated as long as they do not cause proarrhythmia. 3 In patients who are young and healthy, who have no underlying heart disease and are at very low risk for developing heart disease, they also cause very little proarrhythmia.
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