Experience in the long term use of new antiarrhythmic drugs.

Meinertz et a1. (1984) investigated the long term efficacy and tolerability of flecainide in patients with ventricular arrhythmias. 15 patients were studied, 8 women and 7 men, aged 19 to 74 (mean 58.7) years, with more than 30 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) per hour, and ventricular arrhythmias of Lown grade IVA or IVB. 11 had coronary artery disease and 2 had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients were excluded on the basis of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) [defined as ~ 3 consecutive beats at a rate of> 100 beats/min]; myocardial infarction within the last 6 months; unstable angina; severe congestive heart failure; or conduction abnormalities. Previously unsuccessful…