Comparative study of tocainide and lidocaine in patients admitted for suspected acute myocardial infarction.
The antiarrhythmic effects of tocainide, administered as a bolus injection of 750 mg followed by oral therapy, and conventional lidocaine therapy were evaluated in 40 patients admitted for suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and showing high-grade premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). The mean hourly PVC rate before therapy was 928 and its reduction was equally significant in the tocainide group, 73%, and in the lidocaine group, 68%. The number of 5-minute periods with multiform, paired and R/T PVCs or ventricular tachycardia was also significantly reduced, by 78% in the tocainide group and by 71% in the lidocaine group. Ten patients in the tocainide group reported moderate side-effects, compared to 13 in the lidocaine group, where the infusion had to be discontinued in 5 patients and the rate had to be reduced in 4. Tocainide, an amine analogue of lidocaine, is considered just as effective as lidocaine in patients with high-grade PVCs and suspected AMI.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016677:Tocainide
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D016677:Tocainide; D008012:Lidocaine