Bretylium

Bretylium
Clinical data
MedlinePlusa682861
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: C
Routes of
administration		IV, IM
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
BioavailabilityNA
Protein bindingNA
MetabolismNone
Elimination half-life7-8 hours
ExcretionRenal
Identifiers
  • N-(2-bromobenzyl)-N,N-dimethylethanaminium
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC11H17BrN+
Molar mass243.168 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • Brc1ccccc1C[N+](CC)(C)C
  • InChI=1S/C11H17BrN/c1-4-13(2,3)9-10-7-5-6-8-11(10)12/h5-8H,4,9H2,1-3H3/q+1 checkY
  • Key:AAQOQKQBGPPFNS-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
 ☒NcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)

Bretylium (also bretylium tosylate) is an antiarrhythmic agent.[1] It blocks the release of noradrenaline from nerve terminals. In effect, it decreases output from the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. It also acts by blocking K+ channels and is considered a class III antiarrhythmic. The dose is 5–10 mg/kg and side effects are high blood pressure followed by low blood pressure and ventricular ectopy.

Originally introduced in 1959 for the treatment of hypertension.[2] Its use as an antiarrhythmic for ventricular fibrillation was discovered and patented by Marvin Bacaner in 1969 at the University of Minnesota.[3]

The American Heart Association removed bretylium from their 2000 ECC/ACC guidelines due to its unproven efficacy and ongoing supply problems. Many have cited these supply problems as an issue of raw materials needed in the production of Bretylium. By the release of the AHA 2005 ECC/ACC guidelines there is no mention of Bretylium and it is virtually unavailable throughout most of the world.[4][5]

On June 8, 2011 bretylium tosylate was announced as unavailable in the US after request of Hospira Inc. to withdraw its NDA from the market. Bretylium will remain on the FDA's discontinued drug list since its withdrawal was not the result of a safety or effectiveness concern.[6] In mid 2019, it was reintroduced. [citation needed]

  1. ^ Tiku PE, Nowell PT (December 1991). "Selective inhibition of K+-stimulation of Na,K-ATPase by bretylium". British Journal of Pharmacology. 104 (4): 895–900. doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.1991.tb12523.x. PMC 1908819. PMID 1667290.
  2. ^ Harington M (April 1962). "The drug treatment of hypertension. The results of drug treatment". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine. 55 (4): 283–6. PMC 1896727. PMID 13904707.
  3. ^ US 3441649, Marvin B Bacaner, "Suppression of cardiac ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmias with bretylium tosylate", assigned to University of Minnesota 
  4. ^ Khan, M. Gabriel (December 14, 2005). Encyclopedia of Heart Diseases. Academic Press. p. 221. ISBN 978-0-12-406061-6. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  5. ^ Hypothermia~treatment at eMedicine
  6. ^ "Determination that Bretylium Tosylate Injection, 50 Milligrams/Milliliter, Was Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness". Food and Drug Administration. December 19, 2011. pp. 78669–70. Retrieved February 22, 2018 – via federalregister.gov. 76 FR 78669