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. 1989 Dec;80(6 Suppl):IV31-9. Affiliations
Review Use of calcium channel entry blockers in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmiasM Akhtar et al. Circulation. 1989 Dec. AbstractIn clinical arrhythmias, the main therapeutic role of calcium channel entry blockers is related to their effect on the sinus and atrioventricular (AV) node. Consequently, in cardiac arrhythmias where the AV node is part of the reentry circuit, a beneficial effect of diltiazem and verapamil can be demonstrated. These include AV nodal reentry and orthodromic tachycardia in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. In addition, the ventricular response by the AV node during atrial tachycardias can also be controlled with these agents. A specific type of ventricular tachycardia seen in the absence of structural heart disease has also been reported to respond to intravenous and oral verapamil. Calcium channel blockers have no proven depressant effect on accessory pathway conduction. Similarly, the value of these agents in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia in association with chronic coronary artery disease and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is rather limited. The use of calcium entry blockers in patients with wide QRS tachycardia, therefore, is to be discouraged unless it can be proved that supraventricular tachycardia with aberrant conduction is the underlying basis. Similar articles
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What is the drug of choice for ventricular tachycardia?Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone, Nexterone)
Amiodarone is the drug of choice for the treatment of hemodynamically unstable VT that is refractory to other antiarrhythmic agents.
What is the best treatment for ventricular tachycardia?If you have ventricular tachycardia, you may be given medications called anti-arrhythmics by mouth or IV to slow the fast heart rate. Other heart medications, such as calcium channel blockers and beta blockers, may be prescribed with anti-arrhythmic drugs.
Do calcium channel blockers treat tachycardia?Medication Summary
Calcium channel blockers are especially effective in atrial tachycardia with triggered activity as the underlying mechanism. Beta-blockers can reduce the frequency and severity of atrial tachycardia episodes by controlling ventricular response.
Do calcium channel blockers cause tachycardia or bradycardia?Calcium channel antagonists may cause AV blockade or sinus bradycardia, especially if taken with agents known to slow cardiac conduction.
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