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pill in the pocket

Approach to treatment of atrial fibrillation. The patient treats himself/herself with a single dose of anti- arrhymthmic agent after onset of symptoms. Flecainide & propafenone are anti-arrhymthmic agents used in this context. Indications: - paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, hemodynamically stable 84% of episodes effectively terminated Contraindications: 1) structural heart disease 2) cardiac conduction system disorder 3) major comordity Dosage: - based on effective dose to resolve atrial fibrillation in the emergency department.

Related

paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF)

General

pharmacology

References

  1. Capucci A, Villani GQ, Piepoli MF. Reproducible efficacy of loading oral propafenone in restoring sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol. 2003 Dec 1;92(11):1345-7. PMID: 14636919
  2. Journal Watch 25(3):22, 2005 Alboni P, Botto GL, Baldi N, Luzi M, Russo V, Gianfranchi L, Marchi P, Calzolari M, Solano A, Baroffio R, Gaggioli G. Outpatient treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation with the 'pill-in-the-pocket' approach. N Engl J Med. 2004 Dec 2;351(23):2384-91. PMID: 15575054