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Glite Dictionary
antiarrhythmic drug

antiarrhythmic drug

4.7
A medicine that prevents or treats abnormal heart rhythms
  • noun
  • /ˌæntiəˈrɪðmɪk drʌg/
  • Specialized
translation icon : medicamento antiarrítmico
  • Are antiarrhythmic drugs effective in treating heart conditions?

Examples

  • Some antiarrhythmic drugs can interact with other medications and require careful management.

  • The patient was prescribed an antiarrhythmic drug after experiencing episodes of atrial fibrillation.

  • Doctors closely monitor patients taking antiarrhythmic drugs for potential side effects.

  • The doctor prescribed an antiarrhythmic drug to stabilize my heart rate.

  • The doctor explained that antiarrhythmic drugs are essential for managing arrhythmias effectively.

  • Patients with irregular heartbeats are often prescribed antiarrhythmic drugs to stabilize their condition.

  • Antiarrhythmic drugs are frequently used to treat patients experiencing abnormal heart rhythms.

Synonyms

lidocaine
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
10 4.7

A medicine doctors give to treat dangerous irregular heartbeats in emergencies

is for general prevention or treatment rather than only emergencies
amiodarone
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
4 9.9

A strong medicine for serious irregular heartbeats when other treatments fail

is used more generally, not limited to last-resort cases
antiarrhythmic
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A medicine that treats or prevents irregular heartbeats

is identical in sense but expressed in fuller form
quinidine
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A medicine that treats some types of irregular heartbeats

is broader, used to prevent or treat abnormal rhythms generally
Cordarone
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A strong medicine doctors give for serious irregular heartbeats when other medicines do not work and patients need regular checks

is the general treatment class without brand or side-effect emphasis
antiarrhythmic medication
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
5.3

A medicine that prevents or corrects an abnormal heart rhythm

is the same meaning but uses the common word instead
mexiletine
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
9.5

A medicine that treats serious irregular heartbeats in the heart's lower chambers

is broader, covering abnormal rhythms beyond lower chamber types
Tonocard
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
9.7

A medicine used to treat serious irregular beats in the heart's lower chambers when others fail

is used more broadly, not only for serious ventricular last-resort cases
flecainide
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
9.9

A medicine for serious irregular heartbeats when other medicines do not work

is used generally, not reserved only for last-resort situations
encainide
vsantiarrhythmic drug
  • Specialized
9.9

A medicine that treats dangerous irregular heartbeats but can raise the risk of sudden death after a heart attack

is the general treatment without this specific safety warning

Surface Forms

antiarrhythmic drug singular
antiarrhythmic drugs plural

Morphology

antiarrhythmic + drug

The phrase is fully compositional: 'antiarrhythmic' specifies action against arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms) and 'drug' denotes a medicine, so the combined meaning is a medicine used to treat or prevent abnormal heart rhythms. This follows regular medical compounding patterns and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Antiarrhythmic drug is made from anti- (meaning 'against') and arrhythmic (meaning 'no rhythm' or 'irregular beat'). Imagine a conductor helping a band play in time; the drug helps the heart keep a steady beat, so it means 'a drug that prevents or treats irregular heart rhythms'.