1978 Volume 9 Issue 4 Pages 277-282
Disopyramide (Rythmodan) was synthesized in 1954. Since the late 1960's, disopyramide has been successfully used to treat patients with a variety of atrial and ventricular arhythmias. The effect of orally administered disopyramide (100 to 500 mg, daily) was studied in 10 patients with a variety of arhythmias. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in two of 2 patients was converted to sinus rhythm, whereas no chronic atrial fibrillation was converted to sinus rhythm or atrial flutter. Frequencies of atrial premature contraction and ventricular contraction were decreased in two of 2 patients (100%) and in six of 9 patients (67%) respectively. Side effects were observed in six of 10 patients (60%) and were primarily due to transient anticholinergic activity of the drug including dryness of mouth, urinary hesitancy or gastrointestinal distress. Two patients had transient urinary hesitancy requiring discontinuation of disopyramide. Disopyramide might be particularly useful as an antiarhythmic agent in patients with a variety of atrial and ventricular arhythmias.
