Saturday May 8, 2010

Q: Ibutilide is a type III antiarrhythmic agent approved for the pharmacologic conversion of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Conversion rates is described upto 80% of cases. What is the half-life of Ibutalide?



A: 3-6 hours

Ibutilide (Corvert) is a Class III antiarrhythmic agent that is indicated for acute cardioconversion of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter of a recent onset to sinus rhythm. Due to unknown reason, It show better results in atrial flutter as compared to atrial fibrillation.

Ibutalide should be use with caution as it may degenrate rhythm into sustained Torsade (polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) in 3% of cases. Also due to longer half life, its not recommended to repeat dose more than twice as it may take upto 90 minutes before normal sinus rhythm gets restored.

Dose is usually 1 mg over 10 minutes (may repeat once) but in post-cardiac surgery patients, one or two infusions of 0.5 mg is usually effective in terminating atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.