Antiarrhythmic Drugs

Description

The antiarrhythmic drugs are used as primary treatment of arrhythmias and also to prevent device related arrhythmia. The goal of antiarrhythmic drug therapy is to restore normal cardiac function and to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias. The benefits and risks of antiarrhythmic therapy should be considered in every case before initiating the therapy. The cardiovascular risks include increased mortality during long term therapy, heart failure, bradyarrhythmias or heart block and new proarrhythmia (torsade de pointes) or worsened arrhythmias. Non cardiovascular toxic effects can occur due to many agents. The potential benefits include decrease in arrhythmia related symptoms  and reduction in mortality.