Table 3-1. Pharmacokinetic properties and doses of Group IA 
      antiarrhythmic drugs.
      Presc  Cat  contains  the  controlled  drug  
      and  FDA  pregnancy safety prescribing category codes 
      Calculate dose for significantly over/underweight patient: 
   _________________________________________________________________________
   Drug	             Recommended  Half- Plasma level  		
   (Available           Dose      life  Thera- Toxic          Presc
   	as)	     	 (mg)            peutic         Route   Cat    Notes
   ________________________________________(mg/L)___________________________
   GROUP IA:
   Disopyramide (Toxicity: )
   (generic,Norpace:100,150 mg caps)	
   		      100-200 QID  4-10    2-8   >9     Oral   Rx;C	1
   	controlled release: 100, 150 mg caps
        	      200-400 BID 		        Oral

   Procainamide (Toxicity: )
   (generic, Pronestyl: 250,375,500 mg tabs, caps,
   100,500 mg/mL injection)
   		    500-1000 Q3-4hr 2.5-4.5  4-8  >16	Oral	Rx;C

                                                       (PgDn key for scroll)
   _________________________________________________________________________
   Drug	             Recommended  Half- Plasma level  		
   (Available           Dose      life  Thera- Toxic          Presc
   	as)	     	 (mg)            peutic         Route   Cat    Notes
   ________________________________________(mg/L)___________________________
   Procainamide, sustained release
   (generic, Procan-SR: 250,500,750,1000 mg tabs)
   		   750-1500  QID 					2
                
   Quinidine 	 (Toxicity: )    		  
    sulfate                       6-8     3-6  >8	        Rx;C
   (generic, 83% quinidine base: 100,200,300 mg tabs,caps;
   200 mg/mL injection)
   	      	    200	once		        	Oral or IM Test dose
   		    200-300 Q6-8hr 			Oral  Maintenance
   		    300-600				IV   Inject diluted
   		    					     solution slowly
    sulfate  
    (Quinidex: 300 mg SR tabs)				   		3
   		    300-600 Q8-12hr



                                                       (PgDn key for scroll)

    gluconate (62% quinidine base)
   (generic, Duraquin: 324,330 mg SR tabs; 80 mg/mL injection)	  	
   		   330-660 Q8-12hr			Oral sustained release
   		   300-600				IV   Inject diluted
   							     solution slowly
    polygalacturonate  (60% quinidine base)
   	(Cardioquin: 275 mg tabs)	
   		   275-550 Q8-12hr			Oral
   =========================================================================
   Footnotes:
   1. CR caps: controlled release capsules.
   2. Sustained release procainamide is preferred by many clinicians  because
      the half-life of regular procainamide is very short.
   3. SR: sustained release forms.