Chemistry, pharmacology, antiarrhythmic efficacy and adverse effects of tocainide hydrochloride, an orally active structural analog of lidocaine.

Tocainide is an orally effective antiarrhythmic agent, structurally and pharmacologically similar to lidocaine. It appears to be free of marked negative hemodynamic or electrophysiologic effects in patients with heart disease, despite a high frequency of minor and often transient central nervous system and gastrointestinal side effects. Tocainide is effective in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias in a variety of settings. This agent may be a useful addition to our antiarrhythmic armamentarium.