Flecainide Versus Quinidine for Treatment of Chronic Ventricular Arrhythmias

vs 57% of the quinidine patients (p < 0.0001). Sixty-eight percent of the flecainide patients met the above criterion and also had complete suppression of couplets and beats of ventricular tachycardia, vs 33% of the quinidine patients (p < 0.0001). PR and QRS intervals were prolonged by flecainide without clinical consequence, but they were not substantially affected by quinidine (p < 0.0001). Quinidine prolonged JT (QT minus QRS) intervals significantly more than flecainide (p < 0.05). Nineteen of 141 flecainide patients and 21 of 139 quinidine patients discontinued therapy because of side effects (p > 0.50). Flecainide side efects included dizziness, blurred vision, headache and nausea. Quinidine side effects included diarrhea,