title: Long-term treatment of ventricular arrhythmias with oral mexiletine.
abstract: Twenty-four patients with ventricular arrhythmias were treated with oral mexiletine for periods of from one to 16 months (total 10.4 patient-years). In 19 patients arrhythmias were satisfactorily controlled and plasma levels previously shown to be within the therapeutic range were maintained on an 8 hourly regimen. The drug was well tolerated in most patients and regular hematological and biochemical screening revealed no problems of toxicity.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008801:Mexiletine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011437:Propylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D011437:Propylamines; D008801:Mexiletine