moricizine

Action and Spectrum

Actions and spectrum: 

moricizine has a strong membrane-stabilizing and local anesthetic action. decreases automaticity, conduction speed, and excitability due to delayed His-Purkinje and atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction.

reduces the effective refractory period (ERP) but less significantly than the action potential duration (APD) in Purkinje fibers, increasing the ERP/APD ratio. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency not defined 

Headache 

Fatigue 

Dizziness 

Rashes 

Itching 

Breathing difficulties 

Swelling of lips, mouth or face 

Swelling of ankles or legs 

Black Box Warning

Black Box Warning  

Overdose of moricizine may cause irregular heartbeat. Avoid driving while on this medication as the drug may make you drowsy 

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication/Caution: 

Contraindication: 

moricizine might lead to hypotension causing the risk of cardiac myopathy or congestive heart failure 

Imbalance of electrolytes may occur 

Chances of abnormal ECG recording may be noticed  

Caution: 

Patients with a history of heart diseases, shock brought on by inadequate blood flow, high or low blood potassium levels, liver or renal issues, elderly patients, young children, pregnant women, or nursing mothers should use moricizine with caution. 

Do not drive or operate equipments while taking this drug since it may make cause drowsiness or dizziness. 

Avoid drinking alcohol. 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy consideration:  

US FDA pregnancy category B 

Lactation:  

Moricizine is found to be expelled in breast milk. There is no enough data on moricizine’s impact on nursing infants. A choice should be taken on whether to stop taking the medication or stop breastfeeding considering the possibility of major side effects in a nursing newborn, taking into account the significance of the medication to the mother.  

Pregnancy category: 

Category A: Studies that were well-controlled and met expectations revealed no risk to the foetus `in either the first or second trimester. 

Category B: There were a lack of studies on pregnant women and no evidence of risk to the foetus in animal experiments.   

Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.    

Category D: adequate data with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.   

Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.    

Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category

Pharmacology

Pharmacology: 

moricizine is administered to treat arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and to keep the heart rate normal. It affects the heart muscle to enhance the rhythm of the heart.   

Pharmacodynamics: 

moricizine blocks the fast inward sodium current that travels across the cardiac cell membranes.  

Pharmacokinetics: 

Absorption 

Being well absorbed, the absorption is attained in two to three hours. A substantial amount of first-pass metabolism yields an absolute bioavailability of about 38%. Although peak plasma concentrations are lower, administration within 30 minutes after a meal decreases the rate of absorption but has no effect on its extent.  

Distribution 

It is well distributed in body tissues and fluids. A maximum of 95% protein binding can be achieved.  

Metabolism 

Hepatic and widespread, with almost 26 metabolites, none of which contributes even 1% of the dose that was given. Although they are present in very minute amounts, two metabolites might be pharmacologically active. moricizine stimulates hepatic cytochrome P-450 activity, which stimulates the drug’s own metabolism.  

Elimination and excretion 

Only 1% of moricizine taken orally is eliminated unaltered in the urine. 39% and 56%, respectively, of the given dose are eliminated in the urine and faeces, respectively.  

Half life:  

2hours 

Adminstartion

Administration: 

Administered as tablets orally in required doses. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: moricizine  

Why do we use moricizine? 

moricizine is used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and for maintaining normal heartbeat. The commencement of moricizine (Ethmozine) therapy, like other antiarrhythmic medications employed to manage life-threatening arrhythmias, should be initiated within a hospital setting. It’s worth noting that antiarrhythmic drugs have not demonstrated an improvement in the survival rates of patients with ventricular arrhythmias.