ANTIARRHYTHMICS

Antiarrhythmics affect the electrical system in your heart . You can understand the purpose of Antiarrhythmics by looking at the root words of the term. Anti = counter or against; arrythmia = an abnormal heartbeat or heart rhythm.

Generic (and Brand) names

All medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a specific patient group or condition. Consult your doctor for which medications are appropriate for you.

• Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
• Disopyramide (Norpace)
• Dofetilide (Tikosyn)
• Flecainide (Tambocor)
• Procainamide (Procanbid)
• Propafenone (Rythmol)
• Quinidine (Quinaglute)

Sometimes other categories of medications-beta blockers and calcium channel blockers area used to help prevent arrhythmias.

What they’re used for

• To prevent and treat arrhythmias (abnormally fast or sow heartbeats, or heart rhythms)
• To prevent the heart from beating dangerously fast
• To restore normal heart rhythms

How they work

Antiarrhythmics drugs work in different ways to change the electrical activity in your heart. Different drugs are used because the source of the arrhytmia can come from different places in the heart.

Taking Antiarrhythmics can:

• Restore a normal heart rhythm
• Prevent abnormally fast rhythms.