Efficacy of flecainide in the management of ventricular arrhythmias: comparative study with amiodarone

The effects on ventricular arrhythmias of a new class IA drug, flecainide, were compared with those of amiodarone in 10 patients with frequent, chronic, and stable ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs). The study consisted of an initial 1-week, placebo-controlled, baseline period followed by two 12-day,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The American heart journal Vol. 109; no. 3 Pt 1; p. 523
Main Authors:	Dubner, S J, Elencwajg, B D, Palma, S, Mendelzon, R, Ramos, A, Bertolasi, C A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 01-03-1985
Subjects:	Adult Aged Amiodarone - therapeutic use Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - therapeutic use Arrhythmias, Cardiac - drug therapy Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology Benzofurans - therapeutic use Clinical Trials as Topic Double-Blind Method Electrocardiography Female Flecainide Heart Ventricles - physiopathology Hemodynamics Humans Male Middle Aged Myocardial Contraction Piperidines - adverse effects Piperidines - therapeutic use Random Allocation
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Summary:	The effects on ventricular arrhythmias of a new class IA drug, flecainide, were compared with those of amiodarone in 10 patients with frequent, chronic, and stable ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs). The study consisted of an initial 1-week, placebo-controlled, baseline period followed by two 12-day, randomized, crossover, double-blind treatment periods with incremental dosage and 1 month of placebo between drug periods. Frequent VEBs, which were present in all 10 patients during both placebo control periods (30 or more VEBs/hour every hour, during 24-hour Holter monitoring), were markedly suppressed (reduction greater than 80%) in nine patients with both drugs (p less than 0.01). There was almost total abolition of the VEBs in six patients with flecainide, and the satisfactory results with a minimal dose in three demonstrate its fast onset of action. Side effects from either agent were infrequent and no discontinuation was necessary. We conclude from our study that flecainide is a highly effective antiarrhythmic agent.
ISSN:	0002-8703
DOI:	10.1016/0002-8703(85)90557-5