Mexiletine: A New Antiarrhythmic Drug
Authors: EDWARD B. LEAHEY
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

Editorials1 March 1980Mexiletine: A New Antiarrhythmic DrugEDWARD B. LEAHEY JR., M.D., J. THOMAS BIGGER JR., M.D.EDWARD B. LEAHEY JR., M.D.Search for more papers by this author, J. THOMAS BIGGER JR., M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-92-3-427 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe treatment of ventricular arrhythmias remains a major challenge. Ventricular arrhythmias may be symptomatic; ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction have recently been correlated with subsequent mortality (1-3). An unproven hypothesis is that suppression of the arrhythmia will prevent these deaths. Both treatment of symptomatic arrhythmias and the possible prevention of sudden death provide impetus to search for better antiarrhythmic drugs. An ideal antiarrhythmic drug would be highly effective, would have a low incidence of toxicity, would have a large therapeutic to toxic effects ratio, and would allow once a day dosing. Unfortunately, no such ideal drug is currently available. Because...References1. MOSSDECAMILLADAVISBAYER AJHL Clinical significance of ventricular ectopic beats in the early post-hospital phase of myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 1977;39:635-40. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. MOSSDECAMILLADAVIS AJH. Cardiac death in the first six months after myocardial infarction: potential for mortality reduction in the early post-hospital period. Am J Cardiol. 1977;39:816-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. RUBERMANWEINBLATTGOLDBERGFRANKSHAPIRO WEJCS. Ventricular premature beats and mortality after myocardial infarction N Engl J Med. 1977;297:750-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ALLENKOFI EKUESHANKSZAIDI JJRS. The effect of Kö 1173, a new anticonvulsant agent on experimental cardiac arrhythmias. Br J Pharmacol. 1972;45:561-73. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. SINGHVAUGHAN WILLIAMS BE. Investigations of the mode of action of a new antidysrhythmic drug, Kö 1173. Br J Pharmacol. 1972;44:1-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. WELDBIGGERSWISTELBORDIUKLAU FJDJY. Electrophysiological effects of mexiletine (Kö 1173) on ovine cardiac Purkinje fibers. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1979;210:222-8. MedlineGoogle Scholar7. CAMPBELLKELLYADGEYSHANKS NJAR. The clinical pharmacology of mexiletine. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1978;6:103-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. TALBOTCLARKNIMMONEILSONJULIANPRESCOTT RRJJDL. Treatment of ventricular arrhythmias with mexiletine (Kö 1173). Lancet. 1973;2:399-404. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. CAMPBELLCHATURVEDIKELLYSTRONGSHANKSPANTRIDGE NNJJRJ. Mexiletine (Kö 1173) in the management of ventricular dysrhythmias. Lancet. 1973;2:404-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. CAMPBELLTALBOTDOLDERMURRAYPRESCOTTJULIAN RRMALD. Comparison of procainamide and mexiletine in prevention of ventricular arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction. Lancet. 1975;1:1257-60. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. CAMPBELLPANTRIDGEADGEY NJA. Mexiletine in the management of ventricular dysrhythmias. Eur J Cardiol. 1977;6:245-56. MedlineGoogle Scholar12. CAMPBELLPANTRIDGEADGEY NJA. Long-term oral antiarrhythmic therapy with mexiletine. Br Heart J. 1978;40:796-801. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. TALBOTJULIANPRESCOTT RDL. Long-term treatment of ventricular arrhythmias with mexiletine. Am Heart J. 1976;91:58-65. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: EDWARD B. LEAHEYJR., M.D.; J. THOMAS BIGGERJR., M.D.Affiliations: College of Physicians Surgeons of Columbia University New York, New York PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCLASS IA AND CLASS IB ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS - A Review of Their Pharmacokinetics, Electrophysiology, Efficacy, and ToxicityComparison Between Active Digoxin Immunisation and Long Term Preventive Treatment with Mexiletine for the Prevention of Digoxin ToxicityCLASS IA AND CLASS IB ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS ? A Review of Their Pharmacokinetics, Electrophysiology, Efficacy, and ToxicityMexiletine: A New Type I Antiarrhythmic AgentTherapy with Investigational Antiarrhythmic DrugsMexiletine in the Treatment of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia. Prediction of Long-Term Arrhythmia Suppression from Acute and Short-Term ResponseClinical use of antiarrhythmic drugsDetermination of mexiletine in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatographyNew drugs for treating cardiac arrhythmiasBronchodilating Effect of MexiletineK. DE MEIRLEIR, M.D., W. VINCKEN, M.D. 1 March 1980Volume 92, Issue 3Page: 427-429KeywordsAdverse reactionsArrhythmiaDrugsMortalityMyocardial infarctionToxicity ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 March 1980 PDF downloadLoading ...