Page 11 - High Alert Medications INFORMATICS_Neat

7. Antiarrhythmic

A) cordarone B) Adenosine

A. Main action:

Antiarrhythmic agents act by blocking the membrane sodium, potassium, and

calcium channels, but no agent has exclusive action on a given type of channel.

Arrhythmias resulting from reentry form the largest group of clinically significant

arrhythmias. Most arrhythmias result from depressed sodium channel function.

B. Indications:

1. Ventricular arrhythmias

2. Supraventricular arrhythmias particularly with atrial fibrillation.

C. Contraindication:

1. Sinus bradycardia, 2nd or 3rd degree AV block, long QT syndrome, heart failure,

2. Cardiogenic shock.

3. Drug hypersensitivity.

4. Asthma (beta blocker contraindication)

c. Side effects:

1. Diarrhea (24%), fever (6%), rash (6%), arrhythmia (3%)

2. Cinchonism: a syndrome of headache, dizziness & tinnitus at toxic concentrations

3. Syncope, prolonged QTc & torsade de pointes

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