Possible adverse effects on the cardiovascular system of an antiarrhythmic drug mexiletine

Mexiletine (MXT) is a drug endowed with a marked antiarrhythmic activity which may be included in 1B class of drugs employed in the therapy of arrhythmias. In experimental cardiovascular research, MXT at very high doses induces a decrease in the arterial blood pressure and cardiac performance of dogs. MXT reduces the carotid baroreceptor responses, the fall in blood pressure following pharadic stimulation of the peripheral trunk of the vagus nerve and it also inhibits catecholamine uptake. All these effects may be related to the local anaesthetic activity which MXT possesses and which need careful consideration in the clinical use of the drug.