Bretylium tosylate in prevention of cardiac dysrhythmias after myocardial infarction.

The prophylactic value of parenterally administered bretylium tosylate against the onset of dysrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction has been assessed by a controlled trial in 101 male patients. Bretylium significantly reduced the incidence of supraventricular dysrhythmias but was without significant effect on the incidence of ventricular dysrhythmias. The only serious side-effect of the drug was hypotension which occurred in one-third of the patients. It is concluded that prophylactic treatment of patients suffering from uncomplicated myocardial infarction with parenteral bretylium tosylate probably does not confer sufficient clinical benefit to warrant its recommendation for preventative use in this disease.