Drug-related arrhythmias during therapy of congestive heart failure.

It is now recognized that ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias are serious complications of congestive heart failure. There are four possible drug-related mechanisms: diuretic-induced electrolyte imbalance; digitalis-induced arrhythmias; use of sympathomimetic agents; and drug interactions with digoxin. In selecting optimal therapy for congestive heart failure all these drug interactions need to be borne in mind.