[Paradoxic response to disopyramide and quinidine (author's transl)]. 1980

G Breithardt, and L Seipel, and K Haerten

Until recently, severe paradoxic responses to disopyramide have been believed to occur only, if at all, at extremely high doses. This credo has been shaken by some recent reports on severe ventricular tachyarrhythmias occurring in some patients on disopyramide. A further case (62 years, female, mitral commissurotomy in 1966, combined mitral valve lesion) is presented in whom a normal oral regimen (100 mg disopyramide four times daily) induced syncope due to ventricular tachycardia and flutter. The patient exhibited a long QT time before medication without deafness. Indication for treatment was the preservation of sinus rhythm as intermittent atrial fibrillation or flutter has been documented before. The serum potassium level was in the range of normal. Similar side-effects occurred some days later when the patient received quinidine sulfate. A survey of the most recent literature reveals a total of 20 patients with proven or suspected paradoxic responses to disopyramide. Factors that might favour the occurrence of paradoxic effects were preexisting QT prolongation, hypokaliemia, or massive overdosage. Though the total incidence of these side-effects seems to be relatively low, disopyramide should be given to special subgroups of patients only under careful monitoring.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D008943 Mitral Valve The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. Bicuspid Valve,Bicuspid Valves,Mitral Valves,Valve, Bicuspid,Valve, Mitral,Valves, Bicuspid,Valves, Mitral
D011725 Pyridines Compounds with a six membered aromatic ring containing NITROGEN. The saturated version is PIPERIDINES.
D011802 Quinidine An optical isomer of quinine, extracted from the bark of the CHINCHONA tree and similar plant species. This alkaloid dampens the excitability of cardiac and skeletal muscles by blocking sodium and potassium currents across cellular membranes. It prolongs cellular ACTION POTENTIALS, and decreases automaticity. Quinidine also blocks muscarinic and alpha-adrenergic neurotransmission. Adaquin,Apo-Quinidine,Chinidin,Quincardine,Quinidex,Quinidine Sulfate,Quinora,Apo Quinidine,Sulfate, Quinidine
D011803 Quinine An alkaloid derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. It is used as an antimalarial drug, and is the active ingredient in extracts of the cinchona that have been used for that purpose since before 1633. Quinine is also a mild antipyretic and analgesic and has been used in common cold preparations for that purpose. It was used commonly and as a bitter and flavoring agent, and is still useful for the treatment of babesiosis. Quinine is also useful in some muscular disorders, especially nocturnal leg cramps and myotonia congenita, because of its direct effects on muscle membrane and sodium channels. The mechanisms of its antimalarial effects are not well understood. Biquinate,Legatrim,Myoquin,Quinamm,Quinbisan,Quinbisul,Quindan,Quinimax,Quinine Bisulfate,Quinine Hydrochloride,Quinine Lafran,Quinine Sulfate,Quinine Sulphate,Quinine-Odan,Quinoctal,Quinson,Quinsul,Strema,Surquina,Bisulfate, Quinine,Hydrochloride, Quinine,Sulfate, Quinine,Sulphate, Quinine
D004206 Disopyramide A class I anti-arrhythmic agent (one that interferes directly with the depolarization of the cardiac membrane and thus serves as a membrane-stabilizing agent) with a depressant action on the heart similar to that of guanidine. It also possesses some anticholinergic and local anesthetic properties. Diisopyramide,Disopyramide Monohydrochloride,Disopyramide Phosphate,Disopyramide Phosphate (1:1),Disopyramide Phosphate (1:1), (+-)-Isomer,Disopyramide Phosphate (1:1), (R)-Isomer,Disopyramide Phosphate (1:1), (S)-Isomer,Disopyramide, (+-)-Isomer,Disopyramide, (R)-Isomer,Disopyramide, (S)-Isomer,Disopyramide, D-Tartrate (1:1), (S)-Isomer,Disopyramide, L-Tartrate (1:1), (R)-Isomer,Disopyramide, L-Tartrate (1:1), (S)-Isomer,Disopyramide, L-Tartrate (1:2), (+-)-Isomer,Disopyramide, L-Tartrate, (S)-isomer,Norpace,Palpitin,Palpitine,Rhythmodan,Ritmilen,Rythmilen,SC-13957,SC 13957,SC13957
D005260 Female Females
D006349 Heart Valve Diseases Pathological conditions involving any of the various HEART VALVES and the associated structures (PAPILLARY MUSCLES and CHORDAE TENDINEAE). Heart Valvular Disease,Valvular Heart Diseases,Disease, Heart Valvular,Heart Disease, Valvular,Heart Valve Disease,Heart Valvular Diseases,Valve Disease, Heart,Valvular Disease, Heart,Valvular Heart Disease
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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