[Mexiletine in the treatment of lidocaine-resistant ventricular tachycardia. Preliminary results].

Intravenous mexiletine (3 mg/Kg as bolus) was given to 7 patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia. Previous lidocaine administration in standard doses failed to suppress ventricular tachycardia. Mexiletine successfully suppressed the episodes of ventricular tachycardia in 6 of the 7 patients at a dose of 250 mg. Minimal non-cardiac toxicity occurred after mexiletine administration in the majority of patients. Mexiletine appears to be a promising alternative to lidocaine in the management of ventricular arrhythmias.