Class I Antidysrhythmic medications

Antidysrhythmic medications

Drugs that help correct irregular heart rhythms.

Class I antidysrhythmic medications

Sodium channel blockers that are divided into three groups based on their effects on electrical conduction and repolarization.

Class IA antidysrhythmics

Medications like quinidine used for atrial, ventricular, and supraventricular dysrhythmias.

Class IB antidysrhythmics

Medications such as lidocaine used for acute ventricular dysrhythmias.

Class IC antidysrhythmics

Medications like flecainide used for serious, life-threatening ventricular dysrhythmias unresponsive to other therapies.

Mechanism of action for Class I antidysrhythmic medications

They block sodium channels and reduce sodium influx into cardiac cells, slowing electrical impulses.

Side effects of quinidine

May include headaches, dizziness, bradycardia, diarrhea, and severe effects like cardiotoxicity.

Cinchonism

Adverse effect of medications made from cinchona bark causing nausea, tinnitus, and visual disturbances.

Contraindications for quinidine

Not to be used in patients with thrombocytopenic purpura, certain heart block types, or myasthenia gravis.

Black Box warning for quinidine

Increased mortality risk, especially in patients with structural heart disease.

Contraindications for lidocaine

Not recommended for patients with Stokes-Adams or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, and severe AV or SA block.

Contraindications for flecainide

Should not be used in patients with cardiogenic shock or pre-existing second-/third-degree heart block.

Pro-dysrhythmic properties

Tendency of antidysrhythmic medications to worsen existing dysrhythmias or cause new ones.

Patient education for antidysrhythmic medications

Emphasize safe self-administration and the importance of following prescribed medication regimens.

Baseline cardiovascular assessment

Includes monitoring vital signs, ECG, and laboratory results for renal and liver function.

Class I antidysrhythmic medications nursing considerations

Involve monitoring for side effects, assessing effectiveness, and teaching about safe medication use.