Procainamide: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:52, 15 February 2025

An article about the antiarrhythmic medication Procainamide

Procainamide[edit]

Procainamide is a medication used to treat a variety of cardiac arrhythmias. It is classified as a Class A antiarrhythmic agent and works by blocking sodium channels in the heart, which helps to stabilize the cardiac membrane and reduce abnormal electrical activity.

Mechanism of Action[edit]

Procainamide works primarily by inhibiting the influx of sodium ions through the sodium channels during the depolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. This action prolongs the action potential duration and the effective refractory period of cardiac cells, particularly in the atria and ventricles. By doing so, it helps to suppress abnormal ectopic pacemaker activity and reentrant arrhythmias.

Clinical Uses[edit]

Procainamide is used in the management of several types of arrhythmias, including:

It is often administered intravenously in acute settings, especially in cases of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.

Side Effects[edit]

Common side effects of procainamide include:

Serious side effects can include:

Pharmacokinetics[edit]

Procainamide is metabolized in the liver to N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA), which also has antiarrhythmic properties. The drug and its metabolite are excreted by the kidneys, and dose adjustments may be necessary in patients with renal impairment.

History[edit]

Procainamide was first introduced in the 1950s as an alternative to quinidine, another antiarrhythmic agent. It has since become a staple in the treatment of arrhythmias, particularly in emergency settings.

Related pages[edit]

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+{{Short description|An article about the antiarrhythmic medication Procainamide}}
-{{intro}}
+==Procainamide==
-Procainamide is an oral antiarrhythmic agent that has been in wide use for more than 60 years.
+[[File:Procainamide.svg|thumb|right|Chemical structure of Procainamide]]
-{{livtox}}
+'''Procainamide''' is a medication used to treat a variety of [[cardiac arrhythmias]]. It is classified as a [[Class A antiarrhythmic agent]] and works by blocking [[sodium channels]] in the heart, which helps to stabilize the cardiac membrane and reduce abnormal electrical activity.
-Long term procainamide therapy is known to induce hypersensitivity reactions, autoantibody formation and a lupus-like syndrome but is a rare cause of clinically apparent acute [[liver injury]].
-{{moa}}
+==Mechanism of Action==
-Procainamide (proe kane' a mide) is an analogue of the local anesthetic procaine and has electrophysiological effects that resemble quinidine. Procainamide appears to act by blocking open sodium channels and outward potassium channels. As a consequence, it decreases cardiac automaticity, increases refractory periods and slows conduction.
+Procainamide works primarily by inhibiting the influx of sodium ions through the [[sodium channels]] during the depolarization phase of the cardiac action potential. This action prolongs the [[action potential duration]] and the [[effective refractory period]] of cardiac cells, particularly in the [[atria]] and [[ventricles]]. By doing so, it helps to suppress abnormal [[ectopic pacemaker]] activity and reentrant arrhythmias.
-{{fda}}
+==Clinical Uses==
+Procainamide is used in the management of several types of arrhythmias, including:
+* [[Atrial fibrillation]]
+* [[Atrial flutter]]
+* [[Ventricular tachycardia]]
+* [[Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome]]
-Procainamide was approved for use in the United States in 1950, and current indications include suppression of symptomatic premature ventricular contractions and life threatening ventricular [[tachycardia]], as well as maintenance of normal sinus rhythm after conversion of atrial fibrillation or flutter. Because of its safety profile, procainamide is now rare used.
+It is often administered intravenously in acute settings, especially in cases of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
-{{dose}}
+==Side Effects==
+Common side effects of procainamide include:
+* [[Hypotension]]
+* [[Nausea]]
+* [[Vomiting]]
+* [[Rash]]
-Procainamide is available in capsules and tablets of 250, 375 and 500 mg generically as well as under the brand name Pronestyl; it is also available as extended release forms of 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 mg under the brand name Procanbid. The usual maintenance dose in adults is 500 to 1000 mg every 4 to 6 hours.
+Serious side effects can include:
+* [[Lupus-like syndrome]]
+* [[Agranulocytosis]]
+* [[QT interval prolongation]]
-{{se}}
+==Pharmacokinetics==
+Procainamide is metabolized in the liver to [[N-acetylprocainamide]] (NAPA), which also has antiarrhythmic properties. The drug and its metabolite are excreted by the kidneys, and dose adjustments may be necessary in patients with [[renal impairment]].
-The most common side effects include [[headache]], nervousness, [[anxiety]], [[nausea]], decreased appetite, [[palpitations]] and disturbed sleep.
+==History==
+Procainamide was first introduced in the 1950s as an alternative to [[quinidine]], another antiarrhythmic agent. It has since become a staple in the treatment of arrhythmias, particularly in emergency settings.
-{{antiarrhythmic agents}}
+==Related pages==
+* [[Antiarrhythmic agent]]
+* [[Cardiac arrhythmia]]
+* [[Sodium channel blocker]]
-{{coststubd}}
+[[Category:Antiarrhythmic agents]]
+[[Category:Cardiology]]