Annals of clinical research
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Lorcainide in the prophylaxis of ventricular arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction.
Lorcainide, a new class I antiarrhythmic agent, was administered intravenously to eight patients with acute myocardial infarction for 24 hours, and thereafter given by mouth, 200 mg daily for ten days. Ten control infarction patients were given lidocaine 3 mg/min during the first 24 hours and the oral betablocking agent, pindolol, for the following ten days. The two groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, onset-admission interval, and site and size of infarction. ⋯ No major adverse effects were noticed, mild insomnia being the most disturbing reaction. It is concluded that lorcainide is an acceptable alternative to lidocaine in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias in the acute stage of myocardial infarction. It has the advantage of being effective by oral route, too.