Pharmacologic Substance
mexiletine
Effect:
Cardiac Rhythm Alteration
May Treat:
Diabetic Neuropathies; Ventricular Fibrillation; Ventricular Premature Complexes
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to mexiletine:
  • A local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic (Class IB) agent structurally related to lidocaine. Mexiletine exerts its antiarrhythmic effect by inhibiting the inward sodium current in cardiac cells, thereby reducing the rate of rise of the cardiac action potential (phase 0) and decreases automaticity in the Purkinje fibers. This slows nerve impulses in the heart and stabilizes the heartbeat. Mexiletine's anesthetic activity is due to its ability to block sodium influx in peripheral nerves, thereby reducing the rate and intensity of pain impulses reaching the central nervous system.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Antiarrhythmia agent pharmacologically similar to lidocaine.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Antiarrhythmic agent pharmacologically similar to LIDOCAINE. It may have some anticonvulsant properties.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.