Can antiarrhythmic drugs cause bradycardia?

Drug-induced bradycardia is common during antiarrhythmic therapy; the major culprits are beta-blockers. However, whether other antiarrhythmic drugs are also a significant cause of this, alone or in combination with beta-blockers, is not well known.

What medications affect EKG?

Many other medications can cause ECG changes, including tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, and other antiarrhythmics.

How do beta-blockers affect EKG?

Effects of beta blockers on ECG, heart rhythm and conduction Decreases automaticity in the SA node. Sinus rate is decreased. No effect. PR interval may be prolonged. Development of AV block indicates underlying AV node disease (which will typically become clinically overt sooner or later).

What heart medications can cause bradycardia?

Cardiovascular medications that may trigger bradycardia include calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, alpha/beta-adrenergic blockers, and digoxin.

• Calcium channel blockers.
• Beta-blockers.
• Alpha/beta-adrenergic blockers.
• Cardiac glycoside (digoxin)
• H 2 blockers.
• Lithium.
• Antidepressants.
• Neuromuscular blockers.

How antiarrhythmic drugs cause arrhythmia?

Antiarrhythmic agents can worsen existing arrhythmias by increasing their duration or frequency, increasing the number of premature complexes or couplets, altering the rate of the arrhythmia or causing new, previously unexperienced arrhythmias.

How do beta-blockers cause bradycardia?

Beta-blockers cause bradycardia by antagonizing the actions of catecholamines produced by the sympathetic nerves at the cell receptor. Five of our patients were on the beta-blockers metoprolol or carvedilol.

How do beta blockers cause bradycardia?

Can diltiazem cause bradycardia?

Taking diltiazem could cause a slow heartbeat (bradycardia) when taken with certain heart drugs. These drugs include: beta-blockers, such as: metoprolol.

Do antiarrhythmic drugs affect the ECG?

Below follows a rather detailed declaration of ECG changes, arrhythmias and conduction defects that occur due to antiarrhythmic drugs, beta blockers and calcium channel blockers (inhibitors).

Do antiarrhythmic drugs affect rhythm conduction and waveforms?

The effect of antiarrhythmic drugs, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers on rhythm, conduction and ECG waveforms. Although the purpose of antiarrhythmic drugs is to control arrhythmias, these medications may also cause arrhythmias and confusing ECG changes. ECG changes and arrhythmias caused by digoxin were discussed previously.

What is the bradycardia algorithm?

Bradycardia Algorithm. Bradycardia is generally defined as a heart rate of <60 beats per minute (Box 1). A slow heart rate may be physiologically normal for some patients, and heart rates >60 beats per minute may be inadequate for others.

What does sinus bradycardia on EKG mean?

The EKG meets all requirements for sinus rhythm, except for the heart rate, which is greater than 100 bpm. Sinus bradycardia does not always mean heart disease. It is common in athletes and patients with medication that slows the heart rates (beta-blockers, antiarrhythmic drugs)