What drugs are used for cardioversion?

As a medical professional with expertise in cardiology, I can provide you with information on the drugs commonly used for cardioversion, which is a procedure to restore the normal rhythm of the heart in patients with certain types of abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias. The most commonly used drugs for chemical or pharmacological cardioversion include: 1. Sodium channel blockers: These include drugs like flecainide and propafenone, which are used for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. 2. Beta-blockers: Propranolol and metoprolol are examples of beta-blockers that can be used to slow the heart rate and are sometimes used in conjunction with other drugs for cardioversion. 3. Calcium channel blockers: Diltiazem and verapamil are calcium channel blockers that can be used to control the heart rate and are also used for certain types of arrhythmias. 4. Antiarrhythmic drugs: There are several classes of antiarrhythmic drugs, such as amiodarone, sotalol, and dofetilide, which are used to maintain normal heart rhythm after cardioversion. It's important to note that the choice of drug depends on the specific type of arrhythmia, the patient's medical history, and other factors. These medications should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

The drugs that have been tested for cardioversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation include Singh and Vaughan Williams class IA (quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide), class IC (flecainide, propafenone), and class III (ibutilide, dofetilide, sotalol, amiodarone) anti-arrhythmic agents, both by oral and intravenous ...