Antiarrhythmic drugs.

Most patients with cardiac arrhythmias require treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs, although recent advances in surgical and electrical techniques are promising. The ideal antiarrhythmic compound should have: (1) A wide range of therapeutic activity in both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. (2) Parenteral and oral formulations to permit simple dosage schedules. (3) Pharmacokinetic properties that permit long term prophylactic treatment. (4) Lack of serious cardiac depressant activity or non-cardiac side effects. Although the ideal agent has not yet been found, many drugs are now under investigation. Here we review the drugs in current clinical use and refer to other compounds at present