ANTI-ARRHYTHMIC DRUGS Flashcards
How many phases are there in the cardiac action potential?
5 phases
Phase 0,1,2,3 and 4
What is the current flow in phase 0 of the action potential?
Phase 0 begins with fast inward sodium current that taken the membrane potential from resting (-85 mV) to above zero
What is current flow in phase 1 of the action potential?
In phase 1 there is an outward sodium current that causes the action potential to “dip” a little
What are the currents in phase 2 of the action potential?
Phase 2 is the plateau phase marked by a balance between an inward calcium and outward potassium current
What are the currents in phase 3 of the action potential?
In phase 3 there is an outward potassium current which leads to repolarization
What is phase 4 of the action potential?
Phase 4 in non-pacemaker cells is flat but in pacemaker cells there is slow depolarization due to funny sodium channels “If” channels
Surface electrocardiogram is a summation of which action potentials?
ECG is a summation of all the action potentials in the heart cells, i.e atrial mycocytes, SA/AV nodes, His Bundles, Purkinjie fibers and ventricular myocytes
Are all cardiac cell actions potentials the same?
No
Different cells have slightly different action potentials
Which classification is used for anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Vaughan Williams classification
What is Class I drugs in the Vaughan Williams classification?
These are sodium channel blockers
They slow the conduction velocty by blocking Na channels of phase 0
Class I drugs will prolong which interval on the ECG?
QRS interval
They will slow conduction velocity of phase 0 by blocking fast Na channels
What are the three states of the sodium channels?
Resting: Na channels are closed in this state and the membrane potential is at the resting potential
Activated: Na channels are open when the membrane potential reaches threshold potential causing a rapid influx on sodium ions
Inactivated: As the membrane potential depolarizes, Na channels close again in this state and remain closed till membrane potential is restored
What are the subclassification of Class I drugs?
Type 1A
Type 1B
Type 1C
Drugs in Type 1A?
Quinidine
Procainamide (IV)
Disopyramide
Effects of Type 1A drugs?
Block sodium channels
Also prolong action potential duration
Strong negative inotropes
Main uses of Class IA drug Quinidine?
Quinidine has a niche use in Brugada syndrome (ito blockade)
Side effects of Class IA drug Quinidine?
Diarrhea, torsades, thrombocytopenia/leukopenia, drug interactions, hypersensitivity
Main uses of Class IA drug Procainamide?
Pre-excited atrial fibrillation
Terminating monomorphic VT
Inducing Brugada ECG pattern (diagnostic purposes)
Unique metabolite of procainamide and it’s effects?
Procainamide is metabolized to NAPA (N-acetyl procainamide) by plasma acetylation and has Class III properties and can cause LQTS/Torsades
Side effects of Class IA drug Procainamide?
Lupus like syndrome
Torsades
Agranulocytosis
Main use of Class IA drug Disopyramide?
Niche use in HCM and vagally mediated atrial fibrillation
Side effects of Class IA drug Disopyramide?
Anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth, urinary retention and avoid in BPH and glaucoma
Strong negative inotrope effect and avoid in HFrEF
Type 1 B drugs?
Lidocaine (IV)
Mexiletine (PO)
Effects of Type 1B drugs?
Little effect on atrial tissue
Greatest effect on diseased ventricular myocytes
Main use of Class B drugs?
These are used in ventricular arrhythmias
Main use of Class IB drug Lidocaine (IV)
Terminate/prevent VT especially post MI
Torsades de pointes
Note: Not used prophylactically after MI
Main side effects of Class IB drug lidocaine?
Neurologic/CNS
Sinus node slowing
Increased risk in CHF and shock
Lower levels with hepatic enzyme inducers (phenytoin, rifampin, barbituates)
Main uses of Class IB drug Mexilitine (oral)?
Niche use in ICD shocks
congential LQT3
Main excretion/clearence of Class IB drug mexilitine?
Hepatic clearence (90%)
Main side effects of Class IB drug mexilitine?
Neurologic/CNS and GI symptoms
Type 1 C drugs?
Flecanide
Propafenone
Effects of Type 1 C drugs?
Most potent Na blocking drugs (Can prolong QRS on ECG)
Negative inotropes
Main use of Class IC drugs?
Atrial arrhythmias
Idiopathic VT
Class IC drugs are contraindicated in?
CAD
HFrEF
These are strong negative inotropes
Main uses of Class IC drug Flecanide?
Atrial fibrillation
SVT
WPW syndrome
Idiopathic VT
What did flecanide show in the CAST (Cardiac arrhythmia suppression) trial?
Flecanide use doubled mortality after MI including VT and should not be used in MI.
Don’t use in patients with structural heart disease
Unique side effect of flecanide and how to treat it?
Flecanide can cause afib to change to atrial flutter with 1:1 conduction. Give with a beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker
Use dependence of flecanide?
At higher heart rates, flecanide’s effects increase and can cause rate dependent AV block
Side effects of Flecanide?
Parasthesias
Diplopia
Chest pain
Main uses of Propafenone?
Atrial fibrillation
SVT
Propafenone is contraindicated in?
MI & structural heart disease
Note: It wasn’t used in the CAST trial but results apply to it as it is similar to flecanide.
Unique effect of Propafenone?
Propafenone has some intrinsic beta blocker activity
What is Class II drugs in the Vaughan Williams classification?
These are Beta-adrenergic blockers
Examples of drugs in Class II?
Metoprolol
Atenalol
Propranolol
Carvedilol
Esmolol
Mechanism of action of Class II drugs?
They decrease cytosolic calcium
Effects of Class II drugs?
Slow sinus rate
Prolong AV conduction and refractoriness
Inhibit automaticity
Block cardiac sympathetic innervation and effects of circulating catecholamines
Class II drugs effects of ECG?
Increase P-P interval (SA Node)
Increase PR interval (AV node)
Main use of Class II drugs?
Beta-blockers are useful in:
Mortality benefit and anti-arrhythmic effect post MI and chronic CHF
Control of ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation
Useful in VT storm (without cardiogenic shock)
Use of Class II beta-blockers in torsades?
Beta-blockers are useful in preventing torsades in patients with congenital LQTS but not drug induced LQTS (these are bradycardia dependent)
Main side effects of Class II drugs?
Bradycardia
Hypotension
What is Class III drugs in the Vaughan Williams classification?
These are Potassium channel blockers
Drugs in Class III?
Sotalol
Dofelitide
Ibutilide
Amiodarone
Dronedarone
Why are amiodarone and dronedarone unique drugs?
They have properties of all 4 Classes!
Effects of Class III drugs?
They block potassium channels and therefore outward potassium current (phase 3) causing slowing of repolarization and increase in action potential duration.
ECG effect of Class III drugs?
They will prolong the QT interval
Main uses of Class III drug Sotalol?
Atrial fibrillation
Ventricular tachycardia in patients with ICDs
Unique effect of Sotalol?
Sotalol has mild beta blocker effect Class II
Side effects of Class III drug Sotalol?
Major risk is LQTS/Torsades due to reverse use dependence
May lower DFT
Excretion of Sotalol?
Mostly renal
Main uses of Class III drug Dofelitide?
Persistent atrial fibrillation
(on the basis of the DIAMOND studies)
Side effects of Class III drug Dofelitide?
LQTS/Torsades
May lower DFT
Excretion of Class III drug Dofelitide?
Renal
Main use of Class III drug Ibutilide?
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial flutter
Note: Converts 30-60% of afib and flutter. Conversion better for flutter than fibrillation. Can facilitate DCCV of afib
How is Class III drug Ibutilide administered?
1 mg given over 10 minutes and may repeat x 1
Side effect of Class III drug Ibutilide?
Risk of LQTS/Torsades
(Maybe reduced with magnesium pre-treatment)