Pharmacology of Disopyramide

Pharmacology of Disopyramide


Indication For the treatment of documented ventricular arrhythmias, such as sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular pre-excitation and cardiac dysrhythmias. It is a Class Ia antiarrhythmic drug.
Pharmacodynamics Disopyramide is an antiarrhythmic drug indicated for the treatment of documented ventricular arrhythmias, such as sustained ventricular tachycardia that are life-threatening. In man, Disopyramide at therapeutic plasma levels shortens the sinus node recovery time, lengthens the effective refractory period of the atrium, and has a minimal effect on the effective refractory period of the AV node. Little effect has been shown on AV-nodal and His-Purkinje conduction times or QRS duration. However, prolongation of conduction in accessory pathways occurs.
Mechanism of action Disopyramide is a Type 1A antiarrhythmic drug (ie, similar to procainamide and quinidine). It inhibits the fast sodium channels. In animal studies Disopyramide decreases the rate of diastolic depolarization (phase 4) in cells with augmented automaticity, decreases the upstroke velocity (phase 0) and increases the action potential duration of normal cardiac cells, decreases the disparity in refractoriness between infarcted and adjacent normally perfused myocardium, and has no effect on alpha- or beta-adrenergic receptors.
Absorption Nearly complete
Volume of distribution Not Available
Protein binding 50%-65%
Metabolism
Hepatic
Route of elimination In healthy men, about 50% of a given dose of disopyramide is excreted in the urine as the unchanged drug, about 20% as the mono-N-dealkylated metabolite and 10% as the other metabolites.
Half life 6.7 hours (range 4-10 hours)
Clearance Not Available
Toxicity LD50=580 mg/kg in rats



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