Antiarrhythmic efficacy of ethmozine® (moricizine HCl) compared with disopyramide and propranolol

Craig Pratt, Samuel M. Butman, James B. Young, Margaret Knoll, La Dean English

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the investigation of new antiarrhythmic drugs, comparative trials with clinically available antiarrhythmic agents provide a perspective from which to judge the new investigational agent. Two clinical investigations of moricizine HCl, each using a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design, are summarized. In the first study, 18 patients with ≥ 30 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) per hour (mean 369 ± 95) were given propranolol (120 mg daily) compared with moricizine HCl (816 ± 103 mg daily). Propranolol suppressed 38% of VPCs in the study group, moricizine HCl, 81% of VPCs, and the combination of both drugs, 87%. Moricizine HCl was more effective than propranolol in suppressing VPCs at all individual levels > 70% (p < 0.05, McNemar's test). The combination of moricizine HCl and propranolol was well tolerated. The second investigation used a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover design to compare the efficacy of disopyramide (600 mg daily) and moricizine HCl (800 mg daily) in 27 patients. Patients had ≥ 40 VPCs/hr on a 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram. During moricizine HCl administration, the mean VPC frequency decreased from 524 to 151 VPCs/hr (71.2% reduction). In contrast, disopyramide reduced VPC frequency from 535 to 253 VPCs/hr (52.8% reduction) and demonstrated significantly greater side effects (p < 0.05). Moricizine HCl was more effective than disopyramide in suppressing VPCs at all individual percent reduction levels >70% (p < 0.05, McNemar's test). Moricizine HCl was more effective in suppressing VPCs than either disopyramide or propranolol, with significantly fewer side effects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)52-58
Number of pages7
JournalThe American Journal of Cardiology
Volume60
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 16 1987

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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