Mexiletine
| Mexiletine |
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| MEXILETINE HYDROCHLORIDE® FDA Package Insert |
| Indications and Usage |
| Dosage and Administration |
| Contraindications |
| Warnings and Precautions |
| Adverse Reactions |
| Drug Interactions |
| Use in Specific Populations |
| Overdosage |
| Description |
| Clinical Pharmacology |
| How Supplied/Storage and Handling |
| Labels and Packages |
| Clinical Trials on Mexiletine |
| ClinicalTrials.gov |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sheng Shi, M.D. [2] Ahmed Zaghw, M.D. [3]
For patient information about Mexiletine, click here.
Synonyms / Brand Names: MEXILETINE HYDROCHLORIDE®
Overview
Mexiletine (INN, sold under the trade name Mexitil®) belongs to the Class IB anti-arrhythmic group of medicines. It is used to treat arrhythmias within the heart - or seriously irregular heartbeats. It slows nerve impulses in the heart and makes the heart tissue less sensitive. Dizziness, heartburn, nausea, nervousness, trembling, unsteadiness are common side effects. It is available in injection and capsule form.
Class IB antiarrhythmics decrease action potential duration by shortening the repolarization phase. This is achieved by blocking sodium channels[4].
Mexiletine may also be of use in patients experiencing refractory pain. (Sweetman, 2002) and is also effective for treating muscle stiffness resulting from myotonia congenita (Thomsen disease)
Category
Sodium channel blockers; Phenol ethers; Cardiovascular Drugs
FDA Package Insert
MEXILETINE HYDROCHLORIDE capsule
Indications and Usage | Dosage and Administration | Dosage Forms and Strengths | Contraindications | Warnings and Precautions | Adverse Reactions | Drug Interactions | Use in Specific Populations | Overdosage | Description | Clinical Pharmacology | Nonclinical Toxicology | Clinical Studies | How Supplied/Storage and Handling | Patient Counseling Information | Labels and Packages
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Mechanism of Action
Mexiletine hydrochloride is a local anesthetic, antiarrhythmic agent, structurally similar to lidocaine, but orally active. In animal studies, mexiletine has been shown to be effective in the suppression of induced ventricular arrhythmias, including those induced by glycoside toxicity and coronary artery ligation. Mexiletine, like lidocaine, inhibits the inward sodium current, thus reducing the rate of rise of the action potential, Phase 0. Mexiletine decreased the effective refractory period (ERP) in Purkinje fibers. The decrease in ERP was of lesser magnitude than the decrease in action potential duration (APD), with a resulting increase in the ERP/APD ratio.