Mexiletine in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.

The effect of mexiletine, a new antiarrhythmic drug, was studied by oral (600 to 1200 mg/day) or intravenous (250 mg in 10 minutes) route in 45 patients; most of them had coronary insufficiency. Our results show that mexiletine is a potent ventricular antiarrhythmic drug which is efficient on several types of xylocaine resistant ventricular arrhythmias. In our experience, mexiletine is reliable when administered intravenously; there are frequent and sometimes severe side-effects when given orally.