Lecture 20: Antiarrhythmic agents Flashcards
What happens during phase O of cardiac AP
Voltage gated Na+ channels open causing depolarization
What happens during Phase 1 of cardiac action potentials
Na+ channels remain open, correct overshoot
What happens during phase 2 cardiac action potentials
Ca2+ channels open and release more ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum
What happens during phase 3 cardiac action potentials
K+ enters to hyperpolarize
What happens during phase 4 action potentials
Begin slow depolarization back up to threshold
What are the 2 causes of clinical arrhythmia’s
- Disturbances in impulse formation
- Disturbances in impulse conduction
What factors play a role in disturbances in impulse formation
- Duration of action potential
- Duration of diastolic interval
- maximum diastolic potential
- slope of phase 4 depolarization
- threshold potential
Black is normal and purple is abnormal, what is the change a result of
Change in maximum diastolic potential causing a greater hyperpolarization resulting in longer time to reach threshold and fire a new action potential. Will decrease HR
Black is normal, purple is abnormal, what is the change a result of and what nerve is stimulated
Change in the slope of phase 4 depolarization, result of activation of the vagus nerve via ACh on M2 receptors- prolonging depolarization to threshold
Black is normal, purple is abnormal what is this change
Increase in threshold potential required to generate AP
Black is normal, purple is abnormal what is the cause of this change
Lengthen duration of AP
What are the 2 primary mechanisms that can a disturbance in impulse conduction
- Simple block (AV node or bundle branch)
- Recently mechanism- unidirectional block
Describe the normal electrical impulse conduction
Two impulses extinguish each other due to trying to activate cells in the effective refractory period, all electrical activity stops and ion channels reset
Describe what happens in a unidirectional block and reentry
Impulse traveling through the unidirectional block is extinguished in anterograde direction but it will re-enter in retrograde direction and cause re-entry arrhythmia circuit
What are the 2 aims of therapy for arrhythmias
- Reduce ectopic pacemaker activity (premature heartbeat)
- Modify conduction or refractories to disable reentry
What are the 4 mechanisms to coutneract arrhythmias
- Na+ channel blockade
- Blockade of SNS effects
- Prolong effective refractory period
- Ca2+ channel blockade
What do Class I channels do
Block Na+ channels
What do class I type A Antiarrhythmic drugs do and what are they
Preferentially block open or activated sodium channels, lengthening the direction of AP and ERP
Drugs:
1. Quinidine
2. Procainamide
What do class A type B Antiarrhythmic drugs do and what are they
Preferentially block inactivated sodium channels (prevent recycling) and shorten the duration of AP and ERP
Drugs:
1. Lidocaine
What do class I type C Antiarrhythmic drugs do and what are they
Block activated and inactivated Na+ channels and have no effect on duration of AP
Drugs:
1. Flecainide
What type of class I Antiarrhythmic drugs are most likely to cause arrhythmias
Type C
What do Class II Antiarrhythmic drugs do and what are they
Reduce adrenergic activity on the heart
Drugs: beta blockers
What do class III Antiarrhythmic drugs do and what are they
K+ channel inhibitors, increasing ERP
Drugs:
Sotalol, amiodarone
What do class IV Antiarrhythmic drugs do and what are they
Calcium channel blockers, decrease HR and contractility
Drugs: diltiazem
What phase of action potential dose quinidine effect
Vmax of phase 0, slows maximal rate of rise of cellular action potential
What does quinidine do to K+ channels
Blocks, prolongs depolarization
What receptors does quinidine bind/block and what is the effect
- Muscarinic- increase HR and AV conduction (atropine-like)
- Alpha receptors- hypotension and reflex tachycardia
What are the two mechanisms in which quinine increases HR
- Muscarinic receptor blockade
- Alpha receptor blockade via reflex tachycardia from hypotension
How does quinidine work
Binds to open and activated Na+ channels, prolonging AP duration and ERP
How is quinidine administered
Oral administration
Why is the bioavailability of quinidine variable
First pass effect
T or F: quinidine passes into milk and placenta
True
What is the t 1/2 of quinidine in dogs and horses
Dogs- 6 hours
Horses- 8 hours
T or F: quinidine is used in cats
False
What is quinidine indicated for
- Supraventricular arrhythmia’s
- ventricular arrhythmia’s
- Re-entry arrhythmias- ex: a-fib
When is quinidine contraindicated
Patients with myasthenia gravis, patients with AV block, patients with digoxin toxicity
What are some adverse effects of quinidine
Diarrhea, hypotension, widened QRS and QT complex, AV block, ventricular tachycardia
What are some adverse effects of quinidine in horses
Colic, ataxia, swelling of nasal mucosa, urticaria, laminitis
What does procainamide do
Binds to open and activated Na+ channels, prolongs AP and ERP
Quinidine or procainamide: less prominent Muscarinic and alpha receptor blockade
Procainamide
Procainamide is better at treating ___ than quinidine
Ventricular arrhythmias
Which has fewer drug interactions: quinidine or procainamide
Procainamide
Which is more effective at treating arrhythmias in horses: procainamide or quinidine
Quinidine
What does lidocaine do to treat arrhythmias
Blocks inactivated Na+ sodium channels, decreases APD and ERP due to block of slow na+ “window” currents
What arrhythmia is lidocaine only indicated for
Ventricular arrhythmias
How does lidocaine impact QRS or QT complex
It doesn’t
Lidocaine has little to no effect on myocardial ___
Contractility
T or F: lidocaine blocks vagal activity
False, but quinidine and procainamide do
How is lidocaine administered and what kind of dose is usually needed
IV, typically given a loading dose since t1/2=3hrs and takes 5 1/2 lives to reach steady state
Why can’t lidocaine be administered orally
First pass metabolism
Lidocaine is not effective at treating what arrhythmia and why
Supraventricular, only treats arrhythmia’s of ventricular origin
What is the loading dose for lidocaine
1-2mg/kg given every 3-5 minutes
To maintain an anti-arrhythmic effect of lidocaine what does the maintenance rate need to be
40-80ug/kg/min
What are lidocaine toxicity signs
Usually CNS related- drowsiness, agitated, muscle twitching, convulsions
Hypotension can develop of bolus given too fast
How does propanolol bind
Beta receptor antagonist
What is propanolol indicated for
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- A-fib/a-flutter
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in ferrets
- Hypertension
- Thyrotoxicosis
What is more effective at treating ventricular tachycardia in horses: propanolol or lidocaine
Lidocaine
What does atenolol bind
B1 selective block agent
What does atenolol treat
- Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia’s
- Systemic hypertension
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in ferrets
How does esmolol bind
B1 specific blocker
What is esmolol used for
- Acute management of supraventricular tachycardia
- Decrease heart rate in severe ventricular tachycardia in dogs and cats
- Test drug to determine if long lasting B-blockers are effective to
What does sotalol bind
Nonspecific beta receptor antagonist
How does sotalol and amiodarone tx arrhythmias
Inhibits K+ channels, prolongs AP and ERP
What arrhythmia does sotalol traditionally treat
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
A patient comes in with asthma and a ventricular arrhythmia, what drug should you NOT give them and why
Sotalol because Beta nonspecific antagonist- bind b2 causing bronchoconstriction
How does dilitiazem affect AV nodal conduction and HR
Slows AV node conduction and decreases HR by blocking Ca2+ channels
Does diltiazem cause vasodilation or vasoconstriction
Vasodilation
T or F: diltiazem produces reflex tachycardia
False, inhibits AV node
(not like quinidine which blocks alpha receptor causing hypotension and reflex tachycardia)
When is diltiazem indicated
- A-fib
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats and ferrets
- Hypertension
What are some adverse effects of diltiazem
- Bradycardia
- GI or CNS disturbances
- Increase bioavailability of Beta-blockers so should not be used together
- Negative inotropic effect and/or AV block
a patient with a supraventricular tachyarrythmias, what should you use: quinidine or diltiazem and why
Diltiazem because quinidine tx supraventricular arrhythmias but can cause reflex tachycardia by blocking alpha receptor causing hypotension and reflex tachycardia