Nasal spray may offer self treatment option for rapid heartbeat

A novel fast-acting medication delivered through a nasal spray could potentially empower individuals experiencing intermittent rapid heartbeats to treat themselves as soon as symptoms arise, potentially reducing emergency room visits and medical interventions, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The medication is awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

During a sporadic episode of the condition called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia., patients traditionally employ vagal maneuvers to slow their heart rate. These maneuvers stimulate the vagus nerve, which regulates electrical impulses to the heart's lower chambers. If vagal maneuvers prove ineffective (occurring in about 20-40% of cases), immediate emergency room treatment is typically required, involving intravenous medication to normalize the heart rate.

In the latest open-label study, individuals with the condition were allowed to self-treat multiple episodes of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia with etripamil.

Among the findings:

Etripamil restored normal heart rate within 30 minutes in 60.2% of 188 verified episodes and within an hour in 75.1%.

Of those who self-treated two episodes, 63.2% responded within 30 minutes.

Safety assessments revealed mild-to-moderate side effects, such as nasal congestion, discomfort, or a runny nose, in 32.4% of participants. No serious heart-related adverse events were reported.

Reference: Etripamil Nasal Spray for Conversion of Repeated Spontaneous Episodes of Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia During Long-Term Follow-Up: Results From the NODE-302 Study,Journal of the American Heart Association, DOI 10.1161/JAHA.122.028227