Early recurrence of arrhythmia in patients taking amiodarone or class 1C agents for treatment of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter

Amiodarone use for the prevention of recurrent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter requires drug loading over a period of several days to weeks, whereas class 1 C agents do not. Three hundred thirty-nine patients were evaluated during drug loading with amiodarone or class I C agents, and it was found that recurrent arrhythmia was common, usually not persistent, and frequently asymptomatic. Recurrent arrhythmia was not more common with amiodarone. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.