Value of diazepam ('Valium') in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias

Diazepam did not alter the rate or rhythm in III patients with atrial fibrillation. In 3 out of 38 patients with atrial flutter the use of diazepam was followed by an increase in atrioventricular block. Diazepam restored sinus rhythm in I patient with atrial tachycardia (total 7 patients) and in I p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British Heart Journal 1970-11, Vol.32 (6), p.827-832
Main Authors: Spracklen, F H, Chambers, R J, Schrire, V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Animals
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
Arrhythmias, Cardiac - drug therapy
Diazepam - therapeutic use
Dogs
Drug Evaluation
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
Electrocardiography
Female
Heart Ventricles - drug effects
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Research Article
Tachycardia - drug therapy
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Summary:Diazepam did not alter the rate or rhythm in III patients with atrial fibrillation. In 3 out of 38 patients with atrial flutter the use of diazepam was followed by an increase in atrioventricular block. Diazepam restored sinus rhythm in I patient with atrial tachycardia (total 7 patients) and in I patient with ventricular tachycardia (total 8 patients). Experimentally in the dog diazepam raised the electrically-induced ventricular tachycardia threshold significantly. Pretreatment with diazepam did not alter significantly the dose of strophanthidin K required to induce ventricular tachycardia in the dog. The value of diazepam as a cardiac anti-arrhythmic agent should be further assessed in a controlled clinical trial, especially in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
ISSN:0007-0769
1355-6037
1468-201X
2053-5864
DOI:10.1136/hrt.32.6.827