Role of Propafenone in the Treatment of Ventricular Premature Beats

The effectiveness of propafenone versus quinidine for the therapy of ventricular premature beats was evaluated in a placebo‐controlled double‐blind parallel study. A total of 105 patients was entered; 53 patients were randomly assigned to receive propafenone (600 mg/day and 900 mg/day during low‐and high‐dose weeks, respectively) and 52 patients were randomly assigned to receive quinidine (800 mg/day and 1,600 mg/day, respectively). Both drugs significantly reduced ventricular ectopy at both dose levels; there was no statistically significant difference between the two drugs in effectiveness, although a higher percentage of patients responded to propafenone. Side effects resulting in discontinuation of therapy were more common with quinidine. This study confirms the effectiveness of propafenone in the therapy of ventricular premature beats.