The antiarrhythmic effects of
Encainide in acute intravenous and long-term oral
therapy were investigated in 10 patients suffering from chronic
atrial ectopic beats previously non-responsive to conventional
therapy. The efficacy of
Encainide was assessed by 24-hour ECG monitoring during the acute i.v. application and in 4 week intervals over a period of 4 to 6 months. Plasma concentrations of
Encainide and the O-demethyl- (ODE) and 3-methoxy-O-demethyl metabolites (3-MODE) were determined after i.v. administration and during oral
therapy. A significant reduction of arrhythmias by 76% was found after 1.0 mg/kg
Encainide given intravenously.
Atrial ectopic beats with
bundle branch block QRS-morphology were reduced by more than 90% after only 0.5 mg/kg. During long-term oral
therapy 6 of the 9 patients were treated successfully. Following i.v. administration
Encainide-plasma concentrations rapidly decreased with a half life of approximately 75 min in the final distribution phase. During oral
therapy Encainide levels were not detectable under steady state conditions 4 to 6 hours after the last dose, or they were only minimal, but the average concentrations of ODE and 3-MODE were 71.3 +/- 21.3 and 75.6 +/- 13.5 ng/ml.
Encainide increased PR interval and QRS duration significantly. QT-interval changed as a result of the QRS-prolongation.
Encainide was well tolerated during acute and chronic
therapy. No severe side effects were seen, except in one case, in which
dose reduction by 50% was necessary because of blurred vision.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)