Class III Drugs Contributions by ColleenO

Like many other drugs used to treat arrhythmias, class III drugs help by slowing the electrical activity in the heart. These drugs While their overall effect may be similar to other drugs, these drugs work differently than drugs in classes I, II and IV.

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Like many other drugs used to treat arrhythmias, class III drugs help by slowing the electrical activity in the heart. While their overall effect may be similar to other drugs, these drugs work differently than drugs in classes I, II and IV.

Possible side effects of class III drugs for arrhythmias include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Unwanted heart rhythm changes
• Liver problems (sotalol, amiodarone)
• Lung damage (sotalol, amiodarone)
• Eye damage (amiodarone)
• Nerve damage (sotalol)
• Muscle damage (sotalol)
• Thyroid changes (sotalol, amiodarone)

Class III drugs are generally reserved for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and those that have been resistant to other treatments.

Common names include:

• Bretylium
• Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)
• Sotalol (Betapace)
• Ibutilide (Corvert)
• Dofetilide (Tikosyn)

Like many other drugs used to treat arrhythmias, class III drugs help by slowing the electrical activity in the heart. While their overall effect may be similar to other drugs, these drugs work differently than drugs in classes I, II and IV.