Other names: antiarrhythmics
Antiarrhythmic agents are a diverse group of medicines that are used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rates or rhythms). Cardiac arrhythmias occur when there is a disturbance in the electrical conductivity of the heart. Causes are numerous and may include coronary artery disease, heart attacks, electrolyte disturbances, or infection. There are many different types of arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia.
The Vaughan-Williams classification is a historic classification that groups antiarrhythmics into five main classes.

Drug classes:

• group I antiarrhythmics
• group II antiarrhythmics
• group III antiarrhythmics
• group IV antiarrhythmics
• group V antiarrhythmics