Premium
Mechanism of Action of Antiarrhythmic Agents: Focus on Propafenone
Author(s) -
SINGH BRAMAH N.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 0892-1059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.1987.tb01442.x
Subject(s) - propafenone , mexiletine , sodium channel , pharmacology , supraventricular arrhythmia , refractory period , contractility , mechanism of action , calcium channel , effective refractory period , medicine , cardiology , chemistry , calcium , sodium , atrial fibrillation , biochemistry , organic chemistry , in vitro
Propafenone is a new antiarrhythmic compound that has an unusual spectrum of pharmacological actions. Its dominant action in cardiac muscle is to block the fast sodium channel with slow onset and offset kinetics. Thus it has a marked depressant effect on conduction with a modest effect in prolonging the effective refractory period in fibers that are fast‐channel dependent. In addition, it has beta‐blocking and calcium‐channel blocking actions that are likely to affect its overall spectrum of activity. Propafenone should be effective in suppressing both ventricular as well as supraventricular arrhythmias.