Mexiletine: Pharmacology and Antiarrhythmic Properties

Questions and Answers

What is the primary use of mexiletine?

Suppressing ventricular cardiac tachyarrhythmias (correct)

Preventing liver toxicity

Lowering blood pressure

Treating neuropathic pain

What is the advantage of adding an amine side group to mexiletine?

It enables mexiletine to undergo significant hepatic first-pass metabolism

It increases the risk of side effects

It allows mexiletine to be more effective in treating neuropathic pain

It avoids significant hepatic first-pass metabolism (correct)

What is the usual adult dose of mexiletine?

150 to 200 mg every 8 hours (correct)

300 mg every 24 hours

100 mg every 4 hours

200 mg every 12 hours

What is the effect of combining mexiletine with a beta blocker or another antiarrhythmic drug?

<p>It has a synergistic effect that permits a decrease in the dose of mexiletine</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the electrophysiological similarity of mexiletine to?

<p>Lidocaine</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mexiletine Characteristics

Mexiletine is an orally effective amine analogue of lidocaine.
It is used for the chronic suppression of ventricular cardiac tachyarrhythmias.

Combination Therapy

Combination with a beta blocker or another antiarrhythmic drug (e.g., quinidine or procainamide) results in a synergistic effect.
This synergistic effect permits a decrease in the dose of mexiletine and an associated decrease in the incidence of side effects.

Electrophysiological Properties

Mexiletine is electrophysiologically similar to lidocaine.

Oral Administration

Mexiletine avoids significant hepatic first-pass metabolism due to the addition of the amine side group.
This allows for effective oral administration, unlike lidocaine which is limited by hepatic first-pass metabolism.

Dosing and Administration

The usual adult dose of mexiletine is 150 to 200 mg every 8 hours.

Potential Use in Pain Management

Mexiletine may be effective in decreasing neuropathic pain in patients who have not responded to alternative pain medications.

Description

Mexiletine is an oral medication used to treat ventricular cardiac tachyarrhythmias. It has synergistic effects with other antiarrhythmic drugs and is similar to lidocaine electrophysiologically. Learn about its properties and uses.