A Guide to Drugs for Arrhythmia
Medications for arrhythmia include antiarrhythmic drugs that restore the heart's normal rhythm by affecting the heart's electrical current.
Calcium channel blockers can help manage arrhythmia, angina, and high blood pressure by widening blood vessels and slowing the heart rate.
Anticoagulants are prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke in people with arrhythmia, but they require monitoring for internal bleeding.
Introduction
An arrhythmia is a condition in which the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly.
In many cases, the arrhythmia may not be serious or require any treatment at all. However, if your doctor finds that the arrhythmia could lead to more serious heart problems, they may prescribe medication.
Several types of medication can help control or resolve an arrhythmia. The type that's right for you depends on the kind of arrhythmia you have.
Here's what to know about drugs that treat arrhythmia.
Antiarrhythmic drugs
Antiarrhythmic drugs may be prescribed if you have tachycardia (fast heart rate) or premature or extra heartbeats. These medications work to correct the rhythm of your heart. They restore a normal heart rhythm by changing the electrical current that makes your heart beat.
Most antiarrhythmic drugs come in pill form and are typically used long-term. In emergencies, some can be given intravenously. The most common medications in this class are:
amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
flecainide (Tambocor)
ibutilide (Corvert), which can only be given through IV
lidocaine (Xylocaine), which can only be given through IV
procainamide (Procan, Procanbid)
propafenone (Rythmol)
quinidine (many brand names)
tocainide (Tonocarid)
While these medications can help correct an arrhythmia, there's also a risk that they can cause the arrhythmia to occur again or more often. This is called a proarrhythmia. If you develop a proarrhythmia while taking an antiarrhythmic drug, call your doctor right away.
Calcium channel blockers
If you have angina (chest pain), high or low blood pressure, and an arrhythmia, your doctor may prescribe a calcium channel blocker. These drugs dilate your blood vessels. This allows more blood to flow to the heart, which helps ease chest pain and decrease blood pressure.
These drugs can also slow your heart rate. A reduced heart rate and lowered blood pressure reduce the strain on your heart and reduce your risk of an arrhythmia.
Most calcium channel blockers come in pill form, but some are also available in intravenous (IV) form. Calcium channel blockers are for long-term use.
Examples of common calcium channel blockers include:
amlodipine (Norvasc)
diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac)
felodipine
isradipine
nicardipine (Cardene SR)
nifedipine (Procardia)
nisoldipine (Sular)
verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Covera-HS)
The side effects of these medications vary. Some people have tachycardia, dizziness, constipation, and headaches. Other people more serious side effects include rash or swelling in the legs and feet.
Beta blockers
If you've been diagnosed with tachycardia, your doctor may prescribe a beta-blocker.
Beta-blockers stop the action of the hormone adrenaline. This can relieve your tachycardia by slowing your heart rate. It can also lower your blood pressure and decrease the stress on your heart. Examples of beta blockers include:
acebutolol (Sectral)
atenolol (Tenormin)
bisoprolol (Zebeta)
metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL)
nadolol (Corgard)
propranolol (Inderal LA, InnoPran XL)
The side effects of beta-blockers include tiredness, cold hands, and headache. Sometimes these medications affect your digestive system as well. Some people report stomach issues, constipation, or diarrhea.
Anticoagulants
An anticoagulant is a blood-thinning medication. Your doctor may prescribe an anticoagulant if your arrhythmia puts you at risk of clots or stroke caused by a clot.
For some people, an abnormal heart rhythm changes how the blood flows through their system. For instance, atrial fibrillation may cause blood to pool in the heart, which may result in blood clots.
Anticoagulants don't fix your heart rhythm problem. They only help reduce the risk of blood clots caused by certain arrhythmias.
Warfarin (Coumadin) is one of the most common anticoagulants. However, non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are now recommended over warfarin unless you have moderate to severe mitral stenosis or an artificial heart valve. NOACs include:
dabigatran (Pradaxa)
rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
apixaban (Eliquis)
edoxaban (Savaysa)
Anticoagulants are effective, but they can also make your body less able to stop bleeding. For this reason, you should watch for any signs of internal bleeding, such as bloody stool, multiple bruises, and vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Your doctor may prescribe aspirin instead of warfarin if they find that you have a lower risk of a blood clot. Aspirin is not as powerful of a blood thinner as warfarin is. However, it has a lower risk of causing bleeding.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
12 minutes ago
- CBS News
Measles case confirmed in Passaic County, New Jersey, health officials say
A case of measles has been confirmed in Passaic County, New Jersey, health officials announced Saturday. According to the state Department of Health, the patient recently traveled internationally, and this case is not related to measles cases in Hudson and Ocean counties that were reported in July. Health officials say the patient visited the Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains while contagious. Anyone who was in the emergency department between 7 p.m. on July 31 and 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 1 or the main hospital's fifth floor Intensive Care Unit between 1:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 1 may have been exposed to measles. Anyone who was exposed at those times could develop symptoms as late as Aug. 24, if infected. This is the sixth case of measles in New Jersey so far this year. Measles is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can remain in the air for up to two hours. It can also be spread through an infected person's mucus or saliva. According to health officials, measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that appears as flat red spots on the face and all over the body. Anyone who suspects they have or were exposed to measles should call their local health department or health care provider to make special arrangements for evaluation. Potential patients are urged to call ahead before arriving at a medical office or emergency department due to the risk of infecting other visitors and medical staff. Those who have not received both doses of the MMR vaccine or had measles in the past are most at risk of becoming infected. All New Jersey residents are encouraged to stay up to date on vaccinations, and anyone travelling internationally should be fully vaccinated before leaving the country, the health department says. Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July shows 2025 is the worst year for measles in the United States since 1992. There have been 14 measles cases in New York so far this year, according to the latest state health department data. That includes seven cases in New York City, four cases in Orange County, one in Putnam County, one in Suffolk County and one in Ontario County. There have not been any cases of measles in Connecticut so far this year.
CNN
40 minutes ago
- CNN
Department of Veterans Affairs looks to end certain abortion services for veterans
The US Department of Veterans Affairs is proposing to end certain abortion services to veterans, rolling back a Biden-era move to expand abortion rights. In a proposed rule filed Friday, the department said that it is seeking to revoke access to abortions and abortion counseling for veterans and the beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 'We take this action to ensure that VA provides only needed medical services to our nation's heroes and their families,' the department said in the filing. Under the Biden administration's rule, the department currently provides access to abortions when a pregnant veteran's life or health is at risk if their pregnancy were carried to term, or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest — regardless of state laws. The proposed rule would allow abortions in cases where 'a physician certifies that the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term,' which, according to the filing, had been permitted even before the 2022 expansion. The Biden-era rule was part of the administration's efforts to expand abortion access after Republican-led states pushed ahead with restrictions in the wake of the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that eliminated the federal right to an abortion. The VA argued at the time that it was necessary to give veterans access to abortions, saying, 'As abortion bans come into force across the country, veterans in many States are no longer assured access to abortion services in their communities, even when those services are needed.' But on Friday, President Donald Trump's VA slammed the Biden administration's rule, calling it federal overreach. 'The stated reason for (the expansion) was a reaction to a Supreme Court decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization … that itself was intended to prevent federal overreach and return to States control over the provision of abortion services,' the filing states. 'Yet, the last administration used Dobbs to do the exact opposite of preventing overreach, creating a purported Federal entitlement to abortion for veterans where none had existed before and without regard to State law.' Twenty states have banned or limited access to abortion. States where abortion is limited report higher rates of maternal and infant mortality, as well as greater economic insecurity. The proposed rule will now be open for public comment for 30 days starting Monday. In his first term, Trump made good on campaign promises and appointed Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade. Since that ruling, Trump has been keen to leave regulations over the issue to state governments. The Trump administration has overall been quiet on the issue of abortion in his second term. However, in June, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services moved to rescind a 2022 federal guidance to health care providers specifying that people should be able to access an abortion in the event of a medical emergency, even if state laws restrict such procedures. CNN's Veronica Stracqualursi and Jen Christensen contributed to this report.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman, 101, Who Still Competes in Shot Put, Discus and Long Jump Shares Her Simple Longevity Tips
Fay Bond has never been one for idleness. Now, despite her age, that hasn't changed much. For about 50 years, Bond taught water aerobics and stretch classes, and she was an avid gardener and member of a walking club. When the local health club opened in her hometown of Oriental, North Carolina, decades ago, Bond and her husband were the first to enroll. She shies away from calling herself athletic and instead says she's simply been in tune with her body for more than 100 years. 'I've always been aware of when I've needed to put off a little weight or put on a little weight, and be active,' she tells This month, at 101, Bond will compete in the 2025 National Senior Games in the discus, long jump and shot put events for the fourth time. More than 12,400 athletes between the ages of 50 and 105 compete in Des Moines throughout July and August for this year's games. Bond's daughter, Irma Bond, who's also competing, introduced her mother to the games when she was 90. Fay Bond has no idea how she'll fare, but she won't waste time wondering about it. She's ready to secure additional medals and add another record to her growing list. Or at least she'll try. 'If you see something and think, 'Well, I think I could do that,' get in, and do it,' she says. It's the advice she's always given her children and the mindset she's long maintained. Ahead are Fay Bond's best tips for living a long and active life. Invest in Your Health 'Mom has always been health-conscious,' Irma Bond tells Her mom regularly canned her own vegetables, and 'we never had cookies or soda pops,' she says. Fay Bond never smoked or drank either, and her go-to meals include oatmeal with fruit, chicken salad on a pita with tomatoes, and fish and chicken, often with sweet potato. She'll snack on yogurt and fruit and limits red meat. Irma Bond attributes her own athleticism to studying the way her mother cared for her own body. At 75, Irma Bond sprints every morning, and at this year's games, she'll be competing in the 100M event for her age division. Her brother is headed to California this year for the slalom water skiing national competition, which he won last year at 78. Build Community Fay Bond builds friendships doing the things she loves. She joined a walking club, she played bridge, she and her husband were members of a dance group, and she pickled watermelon rinds to share with the neighborhood. 'She's always been very social,' says Irma Bond. 'She's known as the sweetheart of Oriental.' On Aug. 10, after the games, Fay Bond will host her 55th annual watermelon cutting in the front yard, where the entire community can participate and eat. Say 'Yes' Fay Bond lived on her own until she was 99 years old. When she 'started getting confused about things,' Irma moved her mother in with her three years ago. Together, they're game for anything. 'We just enjoy living and enjoy life,' says Irma Bond. 'Mom has always been a very positive person. (She) enjoys being and doing. I try to entertain her as much as I can.' Last weekend, she took her mom canoeing, and they go swimming in the sound. If an activity piques their interest, the mother-daughter duo will make it happen. Be Positive 'Mom introduced me to Norman Vincent Peal, (author of) 'The Power of Positive Thinking,'' Irma Bond recalls. 'That probably did a lot for me growing up as much as anything ever has.' Life isn't long for everyone, the Bonds have learned. Fay Bond will turn 102 in September, and while her aunt lived until she was 103, and her sister until she was 96, other family members didn't live as long. Both mother and daughter are committed to seeing the good in every day. Have Something to Look Forward To Fay and Irma are grateful for the games because it gives them something to work toward. 'You need to always give yourself something to look forward to,' the Bonds believe. 'This actually gives us something to strive for and look forward to and stay in shape for, so you can't get any better than that.' This article was originally published on
