Abstract
“‘latex
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common and occurs in approximately 8% of
adults over sixty-five years of age in the United
States.[1](#ref-0001) Prevention of AF, with maintenance of healthy
weight, treatment of sleep apnea, and regular exercise are key
strategies. As prevention is often inadequate, the role of
antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) is paramount. The risk of adverse events
during initiation is greatest in the first 24 hours, and is
approximately 10-15%, but AADs can still be used
safely.[2](#ref-0002) Herein, we describe the various categories in
a practical guide to initiation in order to make clinicians more
comfortable with starting and maintaining antiarrhythmic therapy in both
the inpatient and outpatient setting. The central illustration
summarizes the article.