THE CARDIAC IRREGULARITIES PRODUCED BY EPHEDRINE AFTER DIGITALIS

¹ From the Departments of Pharmacology and Physiology of the University of Wisconsin, Madison

The effect of ephedrine on cardiac rhythm has been recorded by the electrocardiograph after the intravenous injection of the drug into digitalized dogs. Doses of the two drugs were of a magnitude as to allow of clinical comparison.

Amounts of digitalis preparations which did not in themselves alter cardiac rhythm, greatly prolonged the duration of arhythmias produced by ephedrine. In some cases arhythmias were brought out by the combined poisoning which had not occurred with either drug used singly.

Digitalization tended to increase the number of ephedrine irregularities of ventricular type.

Weakness and prostration were commonly observed during the combined poisoning. Although the arhythmias were of a serious nature no deaths occurred.