Prehospital use of intravenous verapamil

Verapamil was introduced into a hospital-based urban/rural advanced life support (ALS) system for intravenous (IV) use in patients with symptomatic supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. During this trial period, IV verapamil was given to 24 patients, 12 (50%) of which benefited from its use. IV verapamil produced no harmful effects, and there was only one reported adverse effect (nausea) related to its administration. IV verapamil may be useful in the prehospital care of patients with symptomatic supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.