New perspectives in cardiology: pharmacodynamic classification of antiarrhythmic drugs
Adams, H.R.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 189(5): 525-532
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 2875984 Document Number: 285272
Recent advancements in cardiac pharmacology and physiology have prompted a new nomenclature system for classifying the clinically important antiarrhythmic drugs according to their predominant electrophysiological actions in cardiac cells. Antiarrhythmic drugs are now grouped into 4 main classes: Class I agents comprise the standard membrane-stabilizing drugs such as lidocaine, quinidine, and procainamide; newer class I agents include disopyramide, aprindine, tocainide, and flecainide. Class II agents decrease sympathoadrenal excitation of the heart, and the clinically relevant members of this type act through blockade of the cardiac beta 1-adrenergic receptors; propranolol is the prototype. Class III agents selectively prolong the cardiac action potential and refractory period, and bretylium and amiodarone represent this group. Class IV agents are the calcium entry blocking drugs such as verapamil. [The use of the new drugs from antiarrhythmic therapy is described on pages 533-539].