The heart has four chambers: the left and right atria, or the upper chambers, and the left and right ventricle, which comprise the lower chambers. Ventricular arrhythmia is a heart rhythm disorder that affects the function of the lower chambers and can sometimes impede the heart’s ability to transfer blood to the rest of the body.
The effects of ventricular arrhythmias vary according to the type. Ventricular tachycardia causes the bottom chambers to beat faster than normal, while ventricular fibrillation makes the lower chambers twitch instead of expanding and contracting as they typically would. Some people also experience preventricular contractions, but this condition only causes extra heartbeats and is not usually harmful.
When it comes to controlling an accelerated or abnormal heart rhythm, antiarrhythmic drugs can help. These medications reduce the speed of an abnormally fast heart rate or correct an irregular heart rate caused by faulty electrical pulses. Antiarrhythmic medications come in the following four classes:
While these medications are effective, it can be difficult to determine the best dose and type of drug for an individual patient’s needs. As a result, doctors may need to adjust your treatment regimen to ensure the best results.