The influence of metiamide on ouabain cardiotoxicity

The effect of metiamide on the cardiotoxicity produced by ouabain was studied in pentobarbital-anesthetized cats. The onset of ouabain-induced ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation was significantly delayed in cats treated with metiamide as compared with cats that did not receive metiamide. Although the mechanism by which metiamide inhibits ouabain toxicity is speculative, the data suggest that histamine H2-receptor blocking agents may be useful as anti-arrhythmic drugs in digitalis cardiotoxicity.