Pharmacological properties of Craviten (M-71)

The preparation Craviten (M-71) produced by POLFA Pharmaceutical Works in Cracow (2S, 2'S) N, N'-dimethyl-N, N'-bis-[1-(3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzoyloxy)-butyl]-2-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride) prevents and abolishes heart rhythm disturbance induced in the rat with BaCl2, CaCl2, adrenaline or aconitine. The doses effectively preventing arrhythmia development were in the range from 0.035 to 0.175 mg/kg. They are many times lower than the doses of lidocaine, hexobendine, procaine amide and D,L-propranolol producing a similar effect. Craviten has a much more favourable therapeutic index than these antiarrhythmic agents. Craviten causes sinus bradycardia and slows down myocardial conduction. It exerts a spasmolytic effect about 70 times as strong as papaverine. It has no influence on the central nervous system, on urine excretion, and after topical application it has no irritating or local anaesthetic effect. The 2R, 2'R isomer of Craviten has a similar profile of pharmacological action but its antiarrhythmic and spasmolytic effects are many times weaker.