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European Heart Journal 1984 5(11):876-882;
Copyright © 1984 by the European Society of Cardiology.
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© 1984 The European Society of Cardiology

Efficacy and tolerance of intravenous flecainide in patients with chronic high frequency ventricular arrhythmias

R. STROOBANDT*,, E. ANDRIES{dagger}, W. VAN MIEGHEM{ddagger} and H. KESTELOOT§

*Departments of Cardiology of the St-Jozef Hospital Oostende
{dagger}O.L.V. Hospital Aaist
{ddagger}A. Dumont Hospital Genk
§St-Rafael University Hospital Leuven, Belgium

Received 25 April 1984; revised 27 June 1984; .

R. Stroobandt, MD., Dept of Cardiology. St-Jozef Hospital. B-8400 Oostende, Belgium.

Abstract

The effectiveness and safety of intravenous flecainide was evaluated in 33 patients with chronic high frequency premature ventricular complexes (mean value of PVCs 23.7 min–1). Flecainide was injected intravenously at a rate of 20 mg per 2 min until complete disappearance of ventricular arrhythmias or up to a total dose not exceeding 200 mg. Total suppression of PVCs occurred in 31 out of 33 patients at the end of the injection (mean dose 132 mg). The overall reduction of PVCs was 94 per cent (P>0.001) at the end of infusion and 74 per cent (P>0.001) 1 h later. The mean plasma drug level attained 1 h after administration was 287 ng ml–1 (range 82–984). Heart rate and blood pressure did not change, but a significant increase (P>0.001) in PR (+12%), QRS (+13%) and QTc (+4%) duration occurred after drug administration. Flecainide was well tolerated. An idioventricular tachycardia was induced in one patient and two patients experienced side effects of the central nervous type: dizziness, blurring of vision and a sensation of warmth. In view of its activity flecainide appears to be a valuable addition to the antiarrhythmic armamentarium.

Key Words: Flecainide • premature ventricular complexes • antiarrhythmic drugs


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