Atrial Fibrillation: Procainamide

• Quinidine and Procainamide similar: electrophysiological properties.

• By contrast to quinidine, procainamide does not exhibit either vagolytic or alpha-adrenergic blocking activity.

• Useful in acute management of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias.

• Long term use is associated with side effects, including a drug-induced lupus syndrome which occurs at a frequency of 25% to 50%.

  • In slow acetylators the procainamide-induced lupus syndrome occurs more frequently and earlier in therapy than in rapid acetylators.

Category: Pharmacology Notes