procainamide

see also:

• anti-arrhythmic agents

• Vaughan-Williams class Ia sodium channel blocking agent sometimes used in attempted cardioversion of tachyarrhythmias such as:
  • SVT or AF associated with WPW

• 20 to 50 mg/minute given intravenously while monitoring the blood pressure closely every 5 to 10 minutes until either:
  • the arrhythmia terminates
  • hypotension ensues
  • the QRS is prolonged by more than 50 percent, or,
  • a total of 17 mg/kg [1.2 g for a 70 kg patient] has been given