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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: Dronedarone Controls Rate and Rhythm in Atrial Fibrillation NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 15 - The multi-channel-blocking drug dronedarone (Multaq) has rate- and rhythm-controlling properties that benefit patients with atrial fibrillation, according to findings published in the February 4th online issue of the American Journal of Cardiology. "Our findings confirm the antiarrhythmic effect of dronedarone, in terms of maintaining sinus rhythm and slowing the heart rate during atrial fibrillation," Dr. Richard L. Page from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, told Reuters Health by email. The trial was sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis, and all investigators were either paid consultants or employees of Sanofi-Aventis. Dr. Page and colleagues undertook a post hoc analysis of ATHENA to examine the rhythm- and rate-controlling effects of dronedarone. ATHENA was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of dronedarone in 4628 patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL). After a mean follow-up of 21 months, patients in the dronedarone group were 25.1% less likely than patients in the placebo group to develop AF or AFL, and the median time to first recurrence of AF or AFL was longer with dronedarone (737 days) than with placebo (498 days). When AF or AFL first recurred, the mean heart rate was significantly lower in the dronedarone group (85.3 beats/min) than in the placebo group (95.5 beats/min) (p<.001). Significantly fewer patients receiving dronedarone (339, 15%) than placebo (481, 21%) had to undergo electrical cardioversion, and the number of patients considered in permanent AF or AFL was significantly lower in the dronedarone group (178, 7.6%) than in the placebo group (295, 12.8%). "Although the antiarrhythmic and rate-slowing effects were significant and clinically important, we cannot state that these findings accounted for all the benefits observed in ATHENA and other substudies," the researchers comment. "In any case, the finding of safety (and clinical benefit) along with antiarrhythmic efficacy confirms that dronedarone is an appropriate drug selection for patients similar to those studied in ATHENA," they conclude. Dr. Page cautioned that this study "was not designed to test efficacy in treating arrhythmias as a primary end point. These results should only be seen as supplementing the published guidelines and guidance from the FDA for use of this drug." In the case of anxiety-exacerbated tachycardia a good wap on the solar plexis with stomach protruded and lying down brings the heart beat back to normal. Slapping snow or crush ice against the forehead and holding for 30 seconds also works.
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