What is an anti-arrhythmic medicine?
Antiarrhythmic drugs are medicines that correct irregular heartbeats
and slow down hearts that beat too fast.
Sotalol (Betapace) and amiodarone (Cordarone) are examples of
anti-arrhythmic medicines. Some drugs that are used for other reasons,
like beta blockers, also can be used to treat heart rhythm
problems. Which medicine is best for you depends on your
condition and health.
How do anti-arrhythmic medicines work?
An electrical impulse within your heart causes it to pump.
Normally, this impulse starts in the right upper chamber of the
heart (the right atrium). It then moves along a pathway to the
lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles). Sometimes the
electrical impulse does not follow the usual pathway. This makes
the heart beat irregularly. This irregularity can affect the
ability of the heart to pump enough blood to your brain and other
organs. It can also make the heart beat very fast.
Anti-arrhythmic medicines affect how quickly sodium, calcium, or
potassium move across cell membranes in the heart. This affects the
way that heart tissue conducts electrical signals.
When are anti-arrhythmic medicines used?
Anti-arrhythmic medicines help stabilize the heart muscle tissue and
may be used to slow the heart rate. They may be used to treat:
- atrial fibrillation
- tachycardia
- ventricular fibrillation
- ventricular premature beats.
What should be monitored while taking anti-arrhythmic medicines?
Your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure and heart
rate regularly. You may also need regular blood tests.
Report these side effects to your healthcare provider right
away:
- chest pain
- severe dizziness or fainting
- skin rashes
- trouble breathing.
Some abnormal heart rhythms cannot be treated with drugs alone. You
may need a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator
(ICD). Medicines are sometimes used along with ICDs to treat
certain kinds of fast heart rhythms. Some heart rhythm problems may
be treated with radiofrequency ablation.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2007 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
