title: Empiric use of amiodarone and sotalol.
abstract: Several studies have demonstrated that class I antiarrhythmic drugs do not reduce, and may increase, sudden cardiac death mortality and total cardiac mortality. Because of this, alternative drug choices for antiarrhythmic therapy are necessary. Amiodarone has been demonstrated to be an important and effective antiarrhythmic agent, as has sotalol. The purpose of this article is to review the various indications and possible benefits of the empiric use of these 2 antiarrhythmic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nora
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Zipes
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013015:Sotalol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D013015:Sotalol; D000638:Amiodarone