Quinidine, Beta-Blockers, Diphenylhydantoin, Bretylium *
Pharmacology of Antiarrhythmics: Quinidine, Beta-Blockers, Diphenylhydantoin, Bretylium * ALBERT J. WASSERMAN, M.D. Professor of Medicine, Chairman, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical College of Virginia, Health Sciences Division of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia JACK D. PROCTOR, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Health Sciences Division of Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia The electrophysiologic effects of the antiar adequate, controlled clinical comparisons are virtu rhythmic drugs, presented elsewhere in this sym ally nonexistent. posium, form only one of the bases for the selec A complete presentation of the non-electro tion of a therapeutic agent in any given clinical physiologic pharmacology would include the follow situation. The final choice depends at least on the ing considerations: following factors: 1. Absorption and peak effect times 1. The specific arrhythmia 2. Biotransformation 2. Underlying heart disease, if any 3. Rate of elimination or half-life (t1d 3. The degree of compromise of the circula 4. Drug interactions tion, if any 5. Toxicity 4. The etiology of the arrhythmia 6. Clinical usefulness 5. The efficacy of the drug for that arrhythmia 7. Therapeutic drug levels due to that etiology 8. Dosage schedules 6. The toxicity of the drug, especially in the As all of the above data cannot be presented in given patient with possible alterations in the limited space available, only selected items will volume of distribution, biotransformation, be discussed. Much of the preceding information and excretion is available, however, in standard texts ( 1 7, 10). 7. The electrophysiologic effects of the drug (See Addendum 1) 8. The routes and frequency of administration Quinidine.
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