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mexiletine

mexiletine

9.5
A medicine that treats serious irregular heartbeats in the heart's lower chambers
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛksɪˈliːtaɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mexiletina
  • Mexiletine is prescribed to patients experiencing serious ventricular arrhythmias.

Examples

  • All were receiving treatment at enrollment (8 on tricyclic antidepressants, 6 on anticonvulsants, 3 on mexiletine, 2 on non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, 2 on dihydrocodeine plus paracetamol).

    Academic text (1996)
  • Other drugs include anticonvulsants, mexiletine, intravenous lignocaine, and topical capsaicin.

    Academic text (1996)
  • For patients not relieved by the above co-analgesics, oral anaesthetic agents like ketamine (25 mg OD) and mexiletine can be tried.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Doctors often recommend mexiletine for managing irregular heart rhythms.

  • My cardiologist explained that mexiletine helps treat dangerous heart conditions.

Synonyms

amiodarone
vsmexiletine
  • Specialized
4 9.9

A strong medicine for serious irregular heartbeats when other treatments fail

is used routinely rather than only when other options fail
antiarrhythmic
vsmexiletine
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A medicine that treats or prevents irregular heartbeats

is one specific medicine used mainly for serious ventricular cases
Mexitil
vsmexiletine
  • Specialized
7.5

A brand name for a medicine that treats abnormal heart rhythms

is called by its generic name rather than the brand
antiarrhythmic medication
vsmexiletine
  • Specialized
5.3

A medicine that prevents or corrects an abnormal heart rhythm

is a single treatment for severe ventricular rhythm problems
antiarrhythmic drug
vsmexiletine
  • Specialized
4.7

A medicine that prevents or treats abnormal heart rhythms

is the particular medicine aimed at ventricular arrhythmias
flecainide
vsmexiletine
  • Specialized
9.9

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

is used for severe ventricular rhythm problems without implying last-resort

Surface Forms

mexiletine singular
mexiletines plural

Etymology

Mexiletine was named to match the familiar drug lidocaine, because the two medicines are chemically related and act in a similar way. Both work to 'calm' the heart's electrical signals, so mexiletine is used to treat 'irregular heartbeats'.