What is arrhythmia in pharmacology?
ArrhythmiaAn arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat (irregular heartbeat) . During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm.A heartbeat that is too fast is called tachycardia.
What is the mechanism of antiarrhythmic drugs?
Antiarrhythmic agents act by blocking the membrane sodium, potassium, and calcium channels, but no agent has exclusive action on a given type of channel. Arrhythmias resulting from reentry form the largest group of clinically significant arrhythmias. Most arrhythmias result from depressed sodium channel function.
What are the key nursing implementation considerations for patients receiving antiarrhythmic agents?
These are vital nursing interventions done in patients who are taking antiarrhythmics:
- Titrate the dose to the smallest amount enough to manage arrhythmia to decrease the risk of drug toxicity.
- Monitor cardiac rhythm closely to detect potentially serious adverse effects and to evaluate drug effectiveness.
What is the best treatment for arrhythmia?
Treatment for heart arrhythmias may include medications, therapies such as vagal maneuvers, cardioversion, catheter procedures or heart surgery….Pacemakers, defibrillator
- Catheter ablation.
- Pacemaker.
- Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
- Maze procedure.
- Coronary bypass surgery.
Which of the following drugs is an antiarrhythmic?
Antiarrhythmic drugs
- amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
- flecainide (Tambocor)
- ibutilide (Corvert), which can only be given through IV.
- lidocaine (Xylocaine), which can only be given through IV.
- procainamide (Procan, Procanbid)
- propafenone (Rythmol)
- quinidine (many brand names)
- tocainide (Tonocarid)
What are the side effects of antiarrhythmic drugs?
Common side effects caused by antiarrhythmics include:
- possible issues with your liver, kidneys, thyroid or lungs (these will be monitored by your health professional)
- tiredness.
- nausea (feeling sick)
- shortness of breath (if this gets so bad that you feel unsafe, seek medical attention immediately).
Which of the following drugs is used as antiarrhythmic agent?
The most common medications in this class are: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) flecainide (Tambocor) ibutilide (Corvert), which can only be given through IV.
What would you monitor when administering an antiarrhythmic?
Assess your patient’s apical pulse rate and rhythm before administering an antiarrhythmic. Monitor his cardiac rate and rhythm continuously when therapy starts or any time the dosage is adjusted. Check his vital signs frequently.
Which is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take before administering digoxin?
A nurse should assess the apical pulse for a full minute before administering digoxin due to its positive inotropic action (it increases contractility, stroke volume, and, thus, cardiac output), negative chronotropic action (it decreases heart rate), and negative dromotropic action (it decreases electrical conduction …
How do you manage antiarrhythmics as a nurse?
These are vital nursing interventions done in patients who are taking antiarrhythmics: Titrate the dose to the smallest amount enough to manage arrhythmia to decrease the risk of drug toxicity. Monitor cardiac rhythm closely to detect potentially serious adverse effects and to evaluate drug effectiveness.
What are antiarrhythmic drugs?
Antiarrhythmic Drugs. Disruptions in the conduction of these impulses affect contractility of the heart as well as the volume of blood pumped by the heart each minute (cardiac output). Arrhythmia is the term applied for disruptions that interfere with generation of impulses and conduction of these impulses to the myocardium.
What is an arrhythmia?
An arrhythmia is any deviation from the normal rate or pattern of a heartbeat. This includes heart rates that are too slow (bradycardia), too fast (tachycardia), or are irregular.
Are there any risks in taking antiarrhythmic medications?
All antiarrhythmic medications have a risk of producing an arrhythmia. Some antiarrhythmic medications are used during emergency situations such as cardiac arrest, whereas others are used long-term, such as those used to control atrial fibrillation.