The Antiarrhythmic Effect of Intravenous Disopyramide in an Open Study

The antiarrhythmic effect of intravenous disopyramide in an open study. A. M. Tonkin, W. F. Heddle, J. H. N. Bett, R. J. Kemp, G. L. Donnelly, G. I. C. Nelson, E. Manolas and J. G. Sloman, Aust. N.Z. J. Med., 1982, 12, pp. 271–275. The antiarrhythmic effect of intravenous disopyramide phosphate was assessed in a multicentre open study of 141 patients admitted to coronary care units. Disopyramide was administered in a bolus dose of 2 mg/kg over 10 min with an optional second bolus of 1 mg/kg and infusion of 0–4 mglkglhour. Atrial fibrillation was terminated in 57% of 56 patients, supraventricular tachycardia in 82% of 11 patients, ventricular tachycardia in 88% of 17 patients and premature ventricular contractions were controlled in 85% of 55 patients. Atrial flutter was terminated in only 2 of 17 patients (12%). Side effects occurred in 38% of the patients, the most frequent being those relating to anticholinergic properties of the drug (15%) or systemic hypotension (13%). Occasionally worsening of the arrhythmia (4%), QRS widening (3%) or apparent hypertension (2%) were noted. It was concluded that intravenous disopyramide is an effective antiarrhythmic agent in the coronary care unit setting, but that side effects require close monitoring of dosage.