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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Last drug tried on patients because of its toxic side effects particularly in the lungs, thyroid, liver, and eyes. (Beware of any doctor starting you on amiodarone as a first-choice antiarrhythmic drug or putting you on it for a long time.) See https://a-fib.com/amiodarone-effective-but-toxic/. (Class III drug but it also blocks Sodium Channels like a Class I drug.)Dronedarone (Multaq): FDA approved in 2009. Chemically similar to amiodarone, but without the iodine molecule. While not as effective as amiodarone, it has less toxic side effects. Not for patients with severe heart failure. Can cause GI (gastrointestinal) problems. Ibutilide (Corvert): Not for patients with low blood potassium, a prolonged QT interval (slow heart beat), or torsade de pointes (very irregular, fast ventricular heart beats). Effective in electrical cardioversion. Often used as an IV in place of Electrocardioversion (33% to 49% success rate) and is generally more effective in cases of Atrial Flutter than in A-Fib. (Class III drug)The Class 1 drugs Quinidine, Procainamide, Disopyramide, Flecainide, and Propafenone should probably be avoided if you’ve had a heart attack or have structural heart disease. The Class III drugs Amiodarone, Sotatol, Dofetilide, and Azimilide appear to be safer to use if you have structural heart disease.41 In structurally normal hearts, Class IC drugs (Flecainide and Propafenone) cause less heart rhythm problems and are the least toxic.42Xanax (alprazolam): Xanax does seem to have beta-blocker properties, though it is primarily used to help panic attacks. But be advised that Xanax is a controlled substance and can be addictive. It isn’t recommended to take Xanax on a regular basis for more than 2-3 weeks because of the danger of addiction. Sally writes that her A-Fib comes on at night and is very severe, preventing her from sleeping. “I get up and take Xanax 0.5 mg, and within 15 minutes
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