1. Efficacy of flecainide in the management of ventricular arrhythmias: comparative study with amiodarone
- Author
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Ricardo Mendelzon, Benjamin Elencwajg, Sergio J. Dubner, Alberto O. Ramos, Susana Palma, and Carlos A. Bertolasi
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Heart Ventricles ,Hemodynamics ,Amiodarone ,Antiarrhythmic agent ,Placebo ,law.invention ,Electrocardiography ,Random Allocation ,Randomized controlled trial ,Double-Blind Method ,Piperidines ,law ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Flecainide ,Aged ,Benzofurans ,Clinical Trials as Topic ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Arrhythmias, Cardiac ,Middle Aged ,Myocardial Contraction ,Discontinuation ,Anesthesia ,Cardiology ,Female ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business ,Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ,medicine.drug - Abstract
The effects on ventricular arrhythmias of a new class IA drug, flecainide, were compared with those of amiodarone in 10 patients with frequent, chronic, and stable ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs). The study consisted of an initial 1-week, placebo-controlled, baseline period followed by two 12-day, randomized, crossover, double-blind treatment periods with incremental dosage and 1 month of placebo between drug periods. Frequent VEBs, which were present in all 10 patients during both placebo control periods (30 or more VEBs/hour every hour, during 24-hour Holter monitoring), were markedly suppressed (reduction greater than 80%) in nine patients with both drugs (p less than 0.01). There was almost total abolition of the VEBs in six patients with flecainide, and the satisfactory results with a minimal dose in three demonstrate its fast onset of action. Side effects from either agent were infrequent and no discontinuation was necessary. We conclude from our study that flecainide is a highly effective antiarrhythmic agent.
- Published
- 1985