Antiarrhythmic Agents

1. Brief review of cardiac electrophysiology and generation of arrhythmias

2. Cardiac action potential

   1. Phase 0

   2. Phase 1

   3. Phase 2

   4. Phase 3

   5. Phase 4

3. Therapeutic Classes

   1. Group I-A

      1. Agents

         1. quinidine

         2. procainamide

         3. disopyramide

      2. Pharmacodynamics

         1. depresses automaticity

         2. depresses phase 0

         3. depresses conduction velocity

   2. Group I-B

      1. Agents

         1. lidocaine

         2. phenytoin

         3. tocainide

         4. mexiletine

      2. Pharmacodynamics

         1. depresses automaticity

         2. depresses phase 0 slightly

   3. Group I-C

      1. Agents

         1. flecainide

         2. encainide

         3. propafenone

      2. Pharmacodynamics

         1. depresses automaticity

         2. marked depression of phase 0

   4. Group II

      1. Agents

         1. propranolol

         2. esmolol

         3. acebutolol

      2. Pharmacodynamics

         1. depresses automaticity

         2. depresses A-V conduction