Toxic effects of drugs used in the ICU. Antiarrhythmic agents.

Supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias remain relatively commonplace in the ICU. Proper pharmacologic treatment requires that the clinician recognize accompanying disease states that may alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antiarrhythmic drugs. In addition, knowledge of cardiovascular toxicity, noncardiovascular adverse effects, and drug-drug interactions are necessary to optimize antiarrhythmic drug therapy.