Anti-Arrhythmic Agents
Anti-arrhythmic agents are a group of drugs used to suppress cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.
Generally, anti-arrhythmics are divided into five classes.
Class I: sometimes called fast-channel blockers, these work to block the sodium channel. They’re most commonly used to treat ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation.
Class II: more commonly known as beta blockers, these are used to reduce heart attack mortality and to treat tachyarrhythmias.
Class III: This class of drugs works to block the potassium channel, and are most commonly used to treat atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia.
Class IV: Often called calcium channel or slow channel blockers, they help prevent recurrence of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and reduce the ventricular rate in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Class V: this group is used to treat supraventricular arrhythmias, especially in heart failure with atrial fibrillation.
The choice of medication for treatment depends on the presence of heart problems, blockages in the arteries to heart, and other factors.