Mexiletine

MEXILETINE was originally developed as an anticonvulsant drug. Its antiarrhythmic properties were quickly appreciated, however, and it is for this application that it is becoming available in clinical practice.1 2 3 4 The agent has been approved for use in several countries since 1969. The development and availability of mexiletine have coincided with a marked increase in the understanding of its electrophysiologic, arrhythmogenic, and pharmacokinetic features.StructureMexiletine (l-(2',6'-dimethylphenoxy)-2-aminopropane) is a primary amine with close structural similarities to lidocaine (Fig. 1). It has local anesthetic, anticonvulsant, and antiarrhythmic properties.5 PharmacokineticsMexiletine is almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract,6 and the time from . . .