INTRAVENOUS AMIODARONE VERSUS VERAPAMIL FOR ACUTE CONVERSION OF PAROXYSMAL ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION TO SINUS RHYTHM

Amiodarone and verapamil are well-known antiarrhythmic drugs used for treatment of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias. Although verapamil is the drug of choice for control of the atrioventricular node, it has also been reported to terminate atrial fibrillation.1-3 Amiodarone has been used extensively for drug-refractory ventricular tachycardia but seldom for termination of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.4-6 To our knowledge, no comparative study with amiodarone and verapamil has been reported. Because of this, we compared the efficacy of intravenous amiodarone versus verapamil for conversion of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in a single-blind randomized study. © 1990.