Drugs Five Years Later: Disopyramide

Abstract

The therapeutic spectrum of disopyramide in treating patients with ventricular and atrial arrhythmias is similar to that of the other type 1 antiarrhythmic drugs, quinidine and procainamide. Disopyramide has the potential to suppress sinus node function and must be used cautiously in patients with sick sinus syndrome. It can be used safely in patients with bundle branch block and 1st-degree or type I 2nd-degree atrioventricular block. Disopyramide may precipitate ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Because this drug often causes decompensation in patients with congestive heart failure, it must be used very cautiously, if at all, in such patients.