title: Low dose lidocaine combined with magnesium sulfate in warning ventricular arrhythmias.
abstract: This study was designed to assess if low dose lidocaine (L) (0.8 mg/min at a constant rate infusion following a 100 mg bolus) combined with magnesium sulfate (M) (2.5 mg/min) controlled warning ventricular arrhythmias (a total of 119,806 ectopic beats and 146 runs of sustained ventricular tachycardia) in 7 (17%) out of 41 patients undergoing ambulatory monitoring. L alone was administered during the first 48 hours, then L+M for 48 hours, followed by L alone for a further 48 hours. Every 12 hours L serum levels were measured. Serum levels of L alone ranged from 0.33 to 2.06 mg/l (mean: 1.28 +/- 0.7 mg/l) during the first 48 hours and from 0.30 to 2.96 mg/l (mean: 1.24 +/- 1.02 during the last 48 hours). When the subjects received L+M, L serum levels were 0.69 to 3.28 mg/l (mean: 1.60 +/- 0.9 with p less than 0.05, statistically significant). Ambulatory monitoring also displayed a 70% reduction in warning ventricular arrhythmias during L+M treatment. L+M are more effective in the control of warning ventricular arrhythmias and we can also administer a lower dose of lidocaine when given in combination.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, City Hospital Pontremoli, Castelnuovo Magra (SP), Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biondo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fabiano
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertoncini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertanelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D008012:Lidocaine