Anti-arrhythmic drugs, particularly amiodarone and beta blockers, serve as important adjunct therapies in the management of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death.
Amiodarone and beta blockers remain key pharmacologic therapies for managing ventricular arrhythmias and reducing morbidity from ICD therapies.
Ventricular arrhythmias (Vas) are a life-threatening condition and preventable cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD). With the increased utilization of implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD), the focus of VA management has shifted toward reduction of morbidity from VAs and ICD therapies. Anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) can be an important adjunct therapy in the treatment of recurrent VAs. In the treatment of VAs secondary to structural heart disease, amiodarone remains the most well studied and current guideline-directed pharmacologic therapy. Beta blockers also serve as an important adjunct and are a largely underutilized medication with strong evidentiary support. In patients with defined syndromes in structurally normal hearts, AADs can offer tailored therapies in prevention of SCD and improvement in quality of life. Further clinical trials are warranted to investigate the role of newer therapeutic options and for the direct comparison of established AADs.
Larson et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Ventricular arrhythmias. Anti-arrhythmic drugs was evaluated. Anti-arrhythmic drugs, particularly amiodarone and beta blockers, serve as important adjunct therapies in the management of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death.