Multidisciplinary Journal of Science and Technology

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE USE OF ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS

Rakhmonova Khosiyat

Assistant intern of the Department of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Medical Biotechnology, ASMI

Keywords: antiarrhythmic drugs, cardiac electrophysiology, arrhythmia, ion channels, proarrhythmia, pharmacology.

Abstract

The clinical pharmacology of antiarrhythmic drugs occupies a central position in cardiovascular medicine, representing one of the most intricate and demanding fields due to the narrow therapeutic margins and potential proarrhythmic risks of these agents. Antiarrhythmic therapy aims to restore and maintain normal cardiac rhythm, prevent recurrent arrhythmias, and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac dysrhythmias. This article explores the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical applications, and safety considerations of antiarrhythmic drugs, emphasizing individualized therapy based on electrophysiological mechanisms, patient comorbidities, and risk stratification. The discussion integrates the classical Vaughan Williams classification with modern receptor-based and electrophysiological insights, offering a comprehensive understanding of the rational use of these potent yet potentially hazardous agents.

References

1. Vaughan Williams, E. M. Classification of antiarrhythmic drugs. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2010.

2. Roden, D. M. Drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval. New England Journal of Medicine, 2014.

3. Echt, D. S., et al. Mortality and morbidity in patients receiving encainide, flecainide, or placebo: the CAST study. New England Journal of Medicine, 2011.

4. January, C. T., et al. 2019 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Circulation, 2019.

5. Nattel, S. New ideas about antiarrhythmic drug action: ionic and molecular mechanisms. Circulation Research, 2017.