antiarrhythmic agent, Group II

Indications

• rate control of atrial tachyarrhythmias
  • atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter
  • supraventricular tachycardia
• ventricular arrhythmias
  • long QT syndrome
  • hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• treatment of tachyarrhythmias due to
  • pheochromocytoma, thyrotoxicosis

Mechanism of action

• suppresses automaticity & slows AV node conduction
• class II antiarrhythmic agents are beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta-blockers)
• they exert their antiarrhythmic activity through attenuation of automaticity & re-entry arrhythmias involving the AV node
• class II agents also favorable influence arrhythmias by reducing myocardial oxygen consumption

More general terms

• antiarrhythmic agent

More specific terms

• atenolol (Tenormin)
• bisoprolol (Zebeta)
• carvedilol (Coreg)
• metoprolol (Lopressor Toprol XL, Kapspargo)
• propranolol (Inderal, InnoPran)

Additional terms

• beta-adrenergic receptor agonist