The antiarrhythmic effect of flecainide on halothane-epinephrine induced arrhythmias in dogs.

The antiarrhythmic effect of flecainide acetate (FCN), a newly developed class I antiarrhythmic drug, was evaluated on epinephrine (E)-halothane induced arrhythmias in dogs. The arrhythmogenic dose of E (ADE) under 1% of halothane was significantly increased from 0.71 +/- 0.08 to 1.08 +/- 0.11 and 1.84 +/- 0.23 micro g.kg(-1).min(-1) by the administration of 2 and 4 mg.kg(-1) of FCN, respectively. The arrhythmias induced by ADE in the absence of FCN were stopped by 1.78 +/- 0.29 mg.kg(-1) of FCN in bolus injections. These results suggest that FCN can be used for the treatment of arrhythmias that E contributes to under halothane anesthesia.