PROPRANOLOL (INDERAL) IN EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS

Abstract

Propranolol (Inderal), a new, potent, non-carcinogenic beta adrenergic receptor antagonist has been shown to possess antiarrhythmic activity when tested against experimentally induced cardiac arrhythmias. The potent beta adrenergic receptor inhibition produced by propranolol leads to a prevention of those cardiac arrhythmias resulting from a combination of a sensitizing agent and a sympathomimetic amine. Methylchloroform–adrenaline and U-0882–isoproterenol arrhythmias were prevented by previous administration of propranolol at a dose sufficient to produce beta adrenergic receptor blockade.Propranolol has been shown to be capable of reversing ventricular tachycardia associated with ouabain intoxication in the anesthetized dog. The agent exerts an effect upon the ouabain-induced ventricular automatic focus and abolishes the activity of the abnormal pacemaker. The mechanism, although unknown, is not believed to be associated with the ability of propranolol to produce beta adrenergic receptor blockade.