lRENAL IMPAIRMENTPossible accumulation of lidocaine
and active metabolite; caution in severe impairment.
lMONITORING REQUIREMENTSMonitor ECG and have
resuscitation facilities available.
lDIRECTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATIONForintravenous
infusion, dilute with Glucose 5 % or Sodium Chloride 0. 9 %.
lMEDICINAL FORMS
There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines
containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order
manufacturers include: solution for injection
Solution for injection
▶Lidocaine hydrochloride (Non-proprietary)
Lidocaine hydrochloride 5 mg per 1 mlLidocaine 50 mg/ 10 ml
( 0. 5 %) solution for injection ampoules| 10 ampouleP£ 7. 00
Lidocaine hydrochloride 10 mg per 1 mlLidocaine 100 mg/ 10 ml
( 1 %) solution for injection Mini-Plasco ampoules| 20 ampouleP
£ 11. 21
Lidocaine 100 mg/ 10 ml ( 1 %) solution for injection ampoules|
10 ampouleP£ 4. 40 DT = £ 4. 40
Lidocaine 100 mg/ 10 ml ( 1 %) solution for injection Sure-Amp ampoules
| 20 ampouleP£ 8. 80
Lidocaine 200 mg/ 20 ml ( 1 %) solution for injection vials| 10 vialP
£ 19. 00
Lidocaine 200 mg/ 20 ml ( 1 %) solution for injection ampoules|
10 ampouleP£ 7. 00 – £ 9. 63 DT = £ 9. 63
Lidocaine 50 mg/ 5 ml ( 1 %) solution for injection ampoules|
10 ampouleP£ 2. 59 – £ 3. 10 DT = £ 2. 59
Lidocaine 20 mg/ 2 ml ( 1 %) solution for injection ampoules|
10 ampouleP£ 3. 50 DT = £ 2. 20
Lidocaine 50 mg/ 5 ml ( 1 %) solution for injection Sure-Amp ampoules|
20 ampouleP£ 6. 00
Lidocaine hydrochloride 20 mg per 1 mlLidocaine 100 mg/ 5 ml
( 2 %) solution for injection ampoules| 10 ampouleP£ 2. 70 – £ 3. 80
DT = £ 2. 70
Lidocaine 400 mg/ 20 ml ( 2 %) solution for injection vials| 10 vialP
£ 19. 50
Lidocaine 200 mg/ 10 ml ( 2 %) solution for injection Mini-Plasco
ampoules| 20 ampouleP£ 14. 95
Lidocaine 40 mg/ 2 ml ( 2 %) solution for injection ampoules|
10 ampouleP£ 4. 00 DT = £ 2. 37
Lidocaine 100 mg/ 5 ml ( 2 %) solution for injection Sure-Amp ampoules
| 20 ampouleP£ 6. 00
Lidocaine 400 mg/ 20 ml ( 2 %) solution for injection ampoules|
10 ampouleP£ 8. 00 – £ 9. 90 DT = £ 9. 90
ANTIARRHYTHMICS›CLASS IC
Flecainide acetate
lINDICATIONS AND DOSE
Supraventricular arrhythmias
▶BY MOUTH USING MODIFIED-RELEASE MEDICINES
▶Child 12–17 years: 200 mg daily
Resistant re-entry supraventricular tachycardia|
Ventricular ectopic beats or ventricular tachycardia|
Arrhythmias associated with accessory conduction
pathways (e.g. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome)|
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
▶BY MOUTH USING IMMEDIATE-RELEASE MEDICINES
▶Neonate: 2 mg/kg 2 – 3 times a day, adjusted according to
response, also adjust dose according to plasma-
flecainide concentration.
▶Child 1 month–11 years: 2 mg/kg 2 – 3 times a day,
adjusted according to response, also adjust dose
according to plasma-flecainide concentration,;
maximum 8 mg/kg per day; maximum 300 mg per day
▶Child 12–17 years:Initially 50 – 100 mg twice daily;
increased if necessary up to 300 mg daily, maximum
400 mg daily for ventricular arrhythmias in heavily
built children
▶INITIALLY BY SLOW INTRAVENOUS INJECTION, OR BY
INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
▶Neonate:Initially 1 – 2 mg/kg, dose to be given over
10 – 30 minutes, followed by (by continuous intravenous
infusion) 100 – 250 micrograms/kg/hour if required until
arrhythmia controlled, transfer patient to oral
treatment following intravenous treatment.
▶Child 1 month–11 years:Initially 2 mg/kg, dose to be
given over 10 – 30 minutes, followed by (by continuous
intravenous infusion) 100 – 250 micrograms/kg/hour if
required until arrhythmia controlled, maximum
cumulative dose of 600 mg in thefirst 24 hours,
transfer patient to oral treatment following
intravenous treatment
▶Child 12–17 years:Initially 2 mg/kg (max. per dose
150 mg), dose to be given over 10 – 30 minutes,
followed by (by continuous intravenous infusion)
1. 5 mg/kg/hour if required for 1 hour, then (by
continuous intravenous infusion) reduced to
100 – 250 micrograms/kg/hour until arrhythmia
controlled, maximum cumulative dose of 600 mg in the
first 24 hours, transfer patient to oral treatment
following intravenous treatment
DOSE ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO INTERACTIONS
▶Manufacturer advises reduce dose by half with
concurrent use of amiodarone.
DOSE EQUIVALENCE AND CONVERSION
▶Patients stabilised on 200 mg daily immediate-release
flecainide may be transferred to modified-release
medicines.
lUNLICENSED USENot licensed for use in children under
12 years.
lCONTRA-INDICATIONSAbnormal left ventricular function.
atrial conduction defects (unless pacing rescue available).
bundle branch block (unless pacing rescue available).
control of arrhythmias in acute situations (for modified-
release forms only).distal block (unless pacing rescue
available).haemodynamically significant valvular heart
disease.heart failure.long-standing atrialfibrillation
where conversion to sinus rhythm not attempted.second-
degree or greater AV block (unless pacing rescue available)
.sinus node dysfunction (unless pacing rescue available)
lCAUTIONSAtrialfibrillation following heart surgery.
patients with pacemakers (especially those who may be
pacemaker dependent because stimulation threshold may
rise appreciably)
lINTERACTIONS→Appendix 1 : antiarrhythmics
lSIDE-EFFECTS
▶Common or very commonArrhythmias.asthenia.dizziness
.dyspnoea.fever.oedema.vision disorders
▶UncommonAlopecia.appetite decreased.constipation.
diarrhoea.flatulence.gastrointestinal discomfort.nausea
.skin reactions.vomiting
▶Rare or very rareAnxiety.confusion.corneal deposits.
depression.drowsiness.flushing.hallucination.
headache.hepatic disorders.hyperhidrosis.insomnia.
memory loss.movement disorders.peripheral neuropathy
.photosensitivity reaction.respiratory disorders.seizure.
sensation abnormal.syncope.tinnitus.tremor.vertigo
▶Frequency not knownAltered pacing threshold.
atrioventricular block.cardiac arrest.chest pain.heart
failure.hypotension.myocardial infarction.palpitations
.QT interval prolongation
lPREGNANCYUsed in pregnancy to treat maternal and fetal
arrhythmias in specialist centres; toxicity reported in
animalstudies; infant hyperbilirubinaemia also reported.
lBREAST FEEDINGSignificant amount present in milk but
not known to be harmful.
BNFC 2018 – 2019 Arrhythmias 77
Cardiovascular system
2