Heart rhythm disturbances can be caused by various reasons. This condition is called arrhythmia and sometimes does not cause a person any trouble. But most often it is associated with more serious diseases and requires special treatment. The danger of this is that some patients do not go to the doctor with symptoms such as a violation of the frequency and sequence of heart contractions. And when unpleasant sensations appear, they try to get rid of them with the help of drugs that a pharmacist or friends advised them. But this approach can lead to serious complications. With this problem, it is necessary to take special medications for cardiac arrhythmias . The list is very large, so you can’t choose yourself. Only a doctor can determine which drug is needed in each case.
What is arrhythmia
This condition can be caused by both serious disorders in the work of the cardiovascular or endocrine system, and external causes. Often arrhythmia develops due to stress, overwork or malnutrition. What symptoms can a patient feel with heart rhythm disturbance?
- A chaotic heartbeat that suddenly begins and ends. The intervals between strokes can be uneven. This condition is called atrial fibrillation.
- Different in duration intervals between contractions of the heart or an extraordinary beat is observed with extrasystole.
- If the problems are weakness of the sinus node, the patient experiences dizziness, weakness, and the heart contracts rarely and unevenly.
What are the drugs for arrhythmia?
The human heart is very complicated, and only with the coordinated work of all parts of this mechanism does a person feel good. Arrhythmia can occur with narrowing of blood vessels, improper contraction of the ventricles or atria, weakening of the membrane, or for other reasons. Therefore, there is no equal treatment for this disease for all. And only a doctor can determine which patient needs medications for cardiac arrhythmias. Their rating depends on the nature of the impact:
- The largest group is membrane stabilizing drugs. They are used for arrhythmias associated with malfunctioning of the atria and ventricles. Such tools can also affect the speed of the pulse. These are the most common medications for heart arrhythmia. Their list is very long: for example, “Rhythmilen”, “Novokainamid”, “Quinidine”, “Bonnecor” and others.
- Adrenergic blockers are also used quite often. They regulate the functioning of the heart muscle and enrich the tissues with oxygen. These are Anaprilin, Atenolol and others.
- With arrhythmias, calcium channel blockers, such as Verapramil, also help.
Drugs affecting the heart membrane
Such drugs are used for ventricular and atrial arrhythmias or in violation of the speed of the pulse. This is the most extensive group of drugs, they are prescribed most often. But you can take them only on the recommendation of a doctor after examination. After all, if the patient’s arrhythmia is caused by other reasons, these drugs can harm him. In addition, within this class of drugs, several groups are also distinguished, depending on the nature of the effect:
- Medicines that do not affect the speed of the pulse: "Lidocaine", "Tokainid", "Phenytoin" and others. For example, Mexiletin is used for extrasystole. Moreover, it is effective not only for treatment, but also for prevention.
- Drugs that only slow down the pulse a little: Novokainamid, Aimalin, Norpece and others. With tachycardia, fibrillation and atrial flutter, Quinidine is most often prescribed. And to restore the rhythm with extrasystole and arrhythmia attacks, “Rhythmylene” is prescribed. These drugs can also be used for prevention.
- This group of drugs is used mainly in medical institutions intravenously. They greatly slow down the pulse, therefore, if used improperly, they can be dangerous. These are drugs such as Flecainide, Rhythmonorm, Bonnecor, Allapinin.
Beta blockers
In addition to regulating heart rate, they lower blood pressure and improve the supply of oxygen to tissues. Doctors often prescribe such medicines for heart arrhythmias. Their list is not so large, but in pharmacies they are in demand. Indeed, many of them need to be taken for a long time to support the proper functioning of the atria and ventricles, with atrial fibrillation and tachycardia. Most often, Atenolol, Betalok, Acebutalol, Vazokardin, Anaprilin, Pindolol and others are prescribed.
Calcium channel blockers
In some cases, an excess of this mineral on the walls of the vessels of the heart and in its muscles leads to a rhythm failure. Therefore, drugs that block its release and entry into cells are also often used. They slow down the frequency of strokes and regulate the work of the heart muscle. Such drugs are used for extrasystole, tachycardia, atrial flutter. The most famous of them are Verapramil, Diltiazem and their analogues.
What other drugs are used
There are other medicines for heart arrhythmias. The most effective of them are prescribed by a doctor and are often used only in medical institutions. These are Ibutilide, Cordaron, Sotalol, which block the release of potassium from the cells. After all, it is often precisely because of the lack of this mineral that the heart is disturbed.
What other drugs are used for arrhythmias:
- cardiac glycosides, for example, Digoxin;
- ATP;
- products containing magnesium or potassium: "Magne B6", "Panangin";
- Captopril;
- statins.
If a change in heart rhythm occurs rarely and only after nervous or physical stress, you can take safe herbal preparations. It is permissible to drink “Valocordin”, “Glycine”, “Novopassit”, “Motherwort”, “Valerian”, “Persen” for a while.
Medicines for atrial fibrillation
The list of such drugs is most often known only to doctors. After all, this condition is very dangerous and seriously threatens the life of the patient. Therefore, it is unacceptable to engage in self-medication. The doctor prescribes the desired drug only after examination and determination of the causes of the disease. Most often, the treatment is complex, including various medications for cardiac arrhythmias. Their list is extensive, but only a specialist can make the right choice. The most commonly prescribed are Verapramil, Digoxin, and Veroshpiron. Used for atrial fibrillation and such drugs:
- adrenoblockers: "Vazocardin", "Metoprolol", "Acebutalol";
- membrane stabilizing agents: Novokainamid, Aymalin;
- sodium channel blockers, for example, Allapinin.
Medicines for arrhythmia: instructions for use
Usually, the dosage and duration of treatment is prescribed by a doctor. Most often, you need to drink tablets 2-3 times a day for 1-3 months. Then a break is taken, after which treatment can be continued. The main thing is not to miss taking the drug and drink pills at the same time. It should be remembered that such serious drugs not only need to start drinking in small doses, but it is also important to cancel the treatment gradually.
Contraindications and side effects of these funds
It is necessary before using the drug, even prescribed by a doctor, to carefully study the instructions for it. In most cases, all heart medications have the same side effects:
- nausea, abdominal pain;
- weakness, dizziness, trembling hands;
- insomnia;
- bradycardia;
- depression;
- allergic skin reactions.
But some groups of drugs may act differently. For example, adrenergic blockers are contraindicated in patients with asthma, since they narrow the bronchi.
Most antiarrhythmic drugs are not prescribed for:
- myocardial infarction;
- exacerbation of bronchial asthma;
- reduced pressure;
- severe renal or hepatic insufficiency;
- severe bradycardia;
- acidosis;
- cardiosclerosis.
Rules for choosing drugs for arrhythmia
The main thing that you should pay attention to is that such medicines should not be taken without consulting a doctor. Even seemingly harmless herbal remedies can have serious side effects. But patients still need to know how to choose a cure for cardiac arrhythmias. After all, all drugs are available in several varieties: drops, tablets, capsules or injection. Independently at home, it is best to take pills, and if there are problems with the stomach, then capsules. The patient can also choose one of the analogues containing the same active substance. Most often, you can find a cheaper drug with a similar effect. For example, instead of “Panangin” - “Asparkam”. But in serious cases, it is better to consult a doctor.
Reviews on drugs for arrhythmia
Basically, when taking medications prescribed by a doctor, patients do not experience side effects. If all the doctor's recommendations are followed and the cause of arrhythmia is eliminated , the disease can be completely cured. But in old age sometimes you have to take medication constantly. And patients complain that they forget about it, skipping taking pills. And many heart drugs with abrupt cancellation cause unpleasant consequences. In general, the most positive reviews for such drugs for arrhythmias are: Veroshpiron, Panangin, Anaprilin, Rhythmonorm and some others.