Anti-Arrhythmia Agent

Mexiletine is a class IB antiarrhythmic drug used for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, specifically ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

Antiarrhythmic drugs act on the electrical conduction system of the heart. The most common use of these drugs is as part of a rhythm control strategy to maintain sinus rhythm. The Vaughan Williams classification system divides these agents based on their mechanisms of action at the cell membrane ― ion channels and sympathetic receptors ― and their effects on the action potential. The classification includes four broad classes, with further subdivisions.

Amiodarone is a class III antiarrhythmic drug, with some class IA properties.

The Vaughan-Williams classification is the system used to categorize antiarrhythmic drug therapy into class IA, class IB, class IC, class II, class III, class IV and class V.

Procainamide is a class I antiarrhythmic drug used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Quinidine is a class I antiarrhythmic drug and is used for the treatment of atrial fibrillation to maintain normal sinus rhythm.

Lidocaine is a class IB antiarrhythmic drug used for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, specifically ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

Sotalol is a class III antiarrhythmic drug and acts by blocking cardiac potassium channels.

Moricizine is a class IC antiarrhythmic drug not very commonly used. Class IC drugs block cardiac sodium channels and have no effect on the action potential.

Flecainide is a class IC antiarrhythmic drug that acts by blocking sodium channels and has no effect on the action potential.