TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Pharmacology of Antiarrhythmics and Antihypertensives A1 - Shields, Sara H. A1 - Holland, Rachel M. A1 - Small, Benjamin A2 - Tintinalli, Judith E. A2 - Ma, O. John A2 - Yealy, Donald M. A2 - Meckler, Garth D. A2 - Stapczynski, J. Stephan A2 - Cline, David M. A2 - Thomas, Stephen H. PY - 2020 T2 - Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 9e AB - This chapter reviews common antiarrhythmic and antihypertensive medications administered in the ED. Acute medical conditions presenting with systemic hypertension and the specific recommended antihypertensive agents are presented in Chapter 57, “Systemic Hypertension.” Antiarrhythmic medications treat cardiac rhythm abnormalities by modifying autonomic function or myocardial ion channels, leading to changes in conduction velocity or duration of the effective refractory period.1 Long-term use of these agents to prevent arrhythmias has not been proven to reduce mortality2-5; however, this chapter focuses on medications used for acute pharmacologic conversion or rate control of common arrhythmias. In general, electrical cardioversion is preferable to pharmacologic conversion in patients who are hemodynamically unstable. The majority of antiarrhythmics are organized based on the Vaughan-Williams classification system (classes I to IV) (Table 19-1). This chapter also discusses the emergency applications of atropine, adenosine, magnesium, and isoproterenol. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1166527522 ER -