How To Treat Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia

Medication

Medication can be used to treat individuals affected by symptomatic paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Both short term and long term management methods of PSVT can include the use of certain medications to mediate symptoms. For immediate treatment, verapamil or adenosine may be used. Intravenous adenosine begins working between ten and twenty-five seconds following administration to a vein. This type of drug is helpful to mediate PSVT episodes, but it does not stay in the body long enough to produce adverse side effects. Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker that is just as effective as adenosine, but it has a later onset and inotropic impacts contraindicated in those who are hypotensive or have congestive heart failure. Other calcium channel blockers that may be used in the short-term management of PSVT symptoms include esmolol and diltiazem. For long term treatment, medications such as procainamide, verapamil, atenolol, amiodarone, diltiazem, and metoprolol may be utilized. Oral forms of these beta-adrenergic blockers and calcium channel blockers have been successful in managing recurrent symptoms associated with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.