Drug Potency and Efficacy
Understanding "drug potency" and "drug efficacy" is crucial in pharmacology, as they describe a drug's performance and are often used to compare different drugs. These terms are closely related to…
Drug Selectivity, Safety, and Risk-Benefit Ratio
The pharmacological landscape is complex, and drugs often produce a range of effects, both therapeutic and adverse. Understanding these nuances is crucial for clinicians to make informed decisions. This article…
Drug Specificity: A Key Factor in Pharmacological Actions
Drug specificity is an important concept in pharmacology that refers to the range of actions a drug can produce. Understanding drug specificity is crucial for healthcare professionals, researchers, and patients…
Miscellaneous Antiarrhythmic Agents: Adenosine and others
Adenosine Adenosine is antiarrhythmic agent that is widely used for the investigation and management of both narrow complex and, less often, broad complex tachycardias. It produces a transient block in the…
Class 4 Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Verapamil and Diltiazem
Verapamil Mechanism of Action Extracardiac Effects Toxicity Pharmacokinetics & Dosage Therapeutic Use Diltiazem Mechanism of Action Toxicity Therapeutic Use Conclusion Class 4 antiarrhythmic drugs like Verapamil and Diltiazem primarily act…
Antiarrhythmic drugs: Class 3 – Amiodarone and others
Introduction Class 3 antiarrhythmic drugs are known for their ability to prolong action potentials, primarily by blocking potassium channels in cardiac muscle or enhancing inward currents through sodium channels. This…
Antiarrhythmic drugs: Beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs (Class 2)
Introduction Among the diverse categories of drugs used to manage cardiac arrhythmias, beta-adrenoceptor-blocking drugs (beta blockers)—classified as Class 2 antiarrhythmics under the Vaughan Williams scheme—play a pivotal role in controlling aberrant…
Antiarrhythmic drugs: Propafenone (Class 1C)
Introduction Propafenone is an antiarrhythmic agent that falls under subgroup 1C. It shares structural similarities with propranolol and has weak β-blocking activity. Primarily used for treating supraventricular arrhythmias, propafenone has…
Antiarrhythmic drugs: Flecainide (Class 1C)
Introduction Flecainide is an antiarrhythmic agent classified under subgroup 1C. It is a potent blocker of sodium and potassium channels with slow unblocking kinetics. While it is effective in treating…
Antiarrhythmic drugs: Mexiletine (Class 1B)
Introduction Mexiletine is an orally active antiarrhythmic agent, classified in subgroup 1B, similar to lidocaine. It is predominantly used for treating ventricular arrhythmias and has proven effective in alleviating chronic…
