Korean Circ J.  1983 Jun;13(1):83-90. 10.4070/kcj.1983.13.1.83.

The Effect of Oral Mexiletine on Chronic Ventricular Premature Beats: Evaluation by a Double-Blind Cross-Over Protocol

• Lee WK
• Cho SY

• KMID: 2229775
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.1983.13.1.83

Abstract

The effect of oral mexiletin was evaluated by a 10-day double-blind cross-over protocol on 10 subjects with chronic stable high-frequency ventricular premature beats referred to our cardiology clinic from February through July, 1982. Total daily doses were either 450mg or 600mg in three divided portions depending on body weight. The frequency of the premature ventricular beats was measured by 3 separate 24-hour ambulatory EKG recordings by dual-channel Holter monitor on each patient. Mexiletine was judged to be effective in suppressing the ventricular arrhythmias when the 24-hour PVC-counts during the study-drug period showed a decrease by 80% and the hourly average PVC-counts by 70% compared with those of the equivalent intervals of both the baseline and the placebo periods. Mexiletine was effective in 5 of the 10 subjects. Mild tremor and anorexia were noted in 2 patients, but they were able to comply with the study protocol in spite of these minor side effects. Blood level measurements were not done in this study for lack of such facility, the utilization of which would undoubtedly enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of the antiarrhythmic agent in the individualization of treatment.

MeSH Terms

Anorexia
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Body Weight
Cardiac Complexes, Premature*
Cardiology
Electrocardiography
Humans
Mexiletine*
Tremor
Ventricular Premature Complexes
Mexiletine