Who should take medication for heart rhythm problems?
This section will focus on the use of antiarrhythmic medications in people with heart disease (fatty plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart), particularly heart attack patients. Heart rhythm disturbances are common early after heart attack symptoms develop.3 Previously, antiarrhythmic medications were given to heart attack patients to help prevent heart rhythm problems from occurring in the first place. Now it is known that in most cases, these drugs do more harm than good when used preventively (beta blockers are the exception). Currently, heart rhythm medications are reserved for occasionally treating serious heart rhythm problems when they arise. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and pacemakers are safer and better than drugs for the long-term treatment of serious heart rhythm problems. Some people with ICDs also take antiarrhythmic medication to reduce the likelihood of shocks. There are four classes of antiarrhythmic medications categorized according to how they
