Anti-arrhythmics Flashcards
What is the distribution of ions inside and outside a cardiac myocyte?
Na higher outside
Ca higher outside
K higher inside
What are the diff ends phases of the cardiac action potential?
Phase 0 - depolarisation, Na influx
Phase 1 - slight repolarisarion, K+ and Cl- out
Phase 2 - plateau - Ca in, K out
Phase 3 - repolarisarion - K out
Phase 4 - resting membrane potential
Why arrhythmias cause the heart to contract too quickly?
AF
AV re-entry tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia
Torsades de Pointes
What arrhythmias can cause the heart to be too slow?
Sinus bradycardia
First to third degree heart block
What can cause cardiac arrhythmias (at more of a cellular level, not clinical conditions)
Enhanced automaticity
Delayed after-depolarisations
Early after-depolarisations
Re-entry circuits
What are class I anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Sodium channel blockers
What are class II anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Beta blockers
What are class III anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Potassium channel blockers
What are class IV anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Calcium channel blockers
What is the path of the action potential in the heart?
SA node Across atria AV node Bundle of His Left and right bundle branches
Difference between class Ia, b and c drugs?
1a - intermediate dissociation
1b - rapid dissociation
1c - slow dissociation
Give an example of class 1a
Quinidine
Procainamide
What is the effect of 1a drugs?
Slow phase 0 of action potential in ventricular muscle fibres
Increase the refractory period/repolarisation
Decrease automaticity
Increase the threshold
What is automaticity?
A cell’s ability to spontaneously generate an electrical impulse
What changes are seen on an ECG with 1a drugs?
Increase QRS
Increase PR interval
Increase QT interval
Uses of 1a drugs?
Quinidine - maintains a sinus rhythm in AF and flutter, prevents recurrent tachycardia and fibrillation
Procainamide - used for acute treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias
ADRs of 1a drugs?
Hypotension Reduced CO Pro-arrhythmia eg Torsades de Pointes GI effects Dizziness, confusion, insomnia, seizure Lupus-like syndrome
How do 1b drugs work?
Bind to inactive sodium channels in phase 0 and dissociate rapidly in time for next action potential
Stop a premature beat because the sodium channels would still be blocked but have no effect in normal tissue
Increase the threshold for action potential
Use-dependent
Effects on ECG of class 1b?
None in normal tissue
Increase QRS complex in fast-beating or ischaemic (depolarised) tissue
Name some class 1b drugs
Lidocaine
Mexilatine
Phenytoin
Uses of class 1b?
Prevent ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation following an MI
(IV lidocaine given)
ADRs of 1b? (Lidocaine)
Less pro-arrhythmic than 1a due to less effect on QT
CNS - drowsiness and dizziness
How do class 1c drugs work?
Slow dissociation with sodium channels so reach a steady state of block
Decreases automaticity and increases threshold
Increases action potential duration and increases refractory period
Decreases phase 0 in normal tissue
Effects of 1c on ECG?
Increase PR
Increase QRS
Increase QT
Uses of 1c?
Supraventricular arrhythmias (fibrillation and flutter)
Premature ventricular contractions
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome