title: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of procainamide given intermittently intravenously in patients with severe ventricular arrhytmias.
abstract: In 15 patients with coronary heart disease and ventricular arrhythmias 100 mg of procainamide was given intravenously every 5 min until arrhythmia was abolished, or the patient received 1000 mg of the drug, or side-effects appeared. Then patients were placed on oral maintenance therapy 3 or 4 g daily according to their weight. In 13 out of 15 patients arrhythmia was completely suppressed after intravenous injections of the drug. Plasma procainamide concentrations, including N-acetylprocainamide levels in some patients, were monitored and a therapeutic range of 6.3--10.3 microgram/ml for intravenous therapy was found. ECG intervals changes, slowing of heart rate and decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were seen but no serious side-effects were observed. The significance of monitoring plasma drug concentrations, including levels of N-acetylprocainamide during prolonged maintenance therapy, have been discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011342:Procainamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011342:Procainamide