Ethmozin, a new antiarrhythmic drug for suppressing ventricular premature complexes.
Ethmozin, a phenothiazine derivative, is an antiarrhythmic drug synthesized in the USSR. Preliminary data suggest that it is effective against a diversity of ectopic arrhythmias. The present study, carried out in the USSR, was designed to assess efficacy and patient tolerance of this new drug. Thirty-seven patients with chronic, persistent, frequent and symptomatic ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) were studied. VPCs were exposed by means of 24-hour ambulatory monitoring and exercise stress testing. Two drug schedules were used. Group 1, consisting of 11 patients, received 225 mg/day of ethmozin, while group 2, consisting of 26 patients, received 600 mg/day. Acute drug testing with a single large dose of ethmozin was followed by multiple dosing for a minimum of 4 days. Placebo was given in a single-blind fashion only to responders. Only two patients in group 1 had a significant reduction in VPCs as evaluated by both monitoring and exercise testing. Fourteen patients in group 2 (54%) showed striking suppression of VPCs. Mild and transiet effects were encountered in only four of the 37 patients. We conclude that ethmozin appears to be a well-tolerated, relatively effective agent for controlling VPCs.
D000200:Action Potentials; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D010640:Phenothiazines; D010919:Placebos