title: Efficacy of flecainide in the management of ventricular arrhythmias: comparative study with amiodarone.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005424:Flecainide; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D010880:Piperidines; D005424:Flecainide; D000638:Amiodarone