Control of heart rate during movement in acute myocardial infarction

Among patients with acute myocardial infarction and a normal heart rate and blood pressure, a high incidence of sympathetic overactivity was recorded during transport. The combined administration of atropine and sotalol had no significant effect on the mean maximum heart rate on movement. However, this drug combination prevented excessive slowing of the heart rate. Sotalol caused a significant reduction in the mean maximum heart rate on movement. The side-effects were minimal. 10% of patients who received sotalol required atropine for the correction of bradyarrhythmia.