Best treatments for ventricular tachycardia
3 products may treat ventricular tachycardia, spanning FDA drug classes such as antiarrhythmic. Ranked below by our independent recall-safety rating (rated where FDA data exists) — not medical advice; always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 3 drugs we list for ventricular tachycardia, all are available as lower-cost generics, spanning classes such as antiarrhythmic. They’re ranked by each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for ventricular tachycardia — so confirm the right choice with your prescriber.
Understanding ventricular tachycardia
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a rapid heartbeat that starts in the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles. MedlinePlus defines it as a pulse rate of more than 100 beats per minute, with at least 3 abnormal rapid heartbeats in a row. The 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline calls an episode "sustained" when it runs longer than 30 seconds, or has to be stopped sooner because of hemodynamic compromise. Symptoms tend to appear when the heart rate during an episode is very fast or lasts longer than a few seconds. They include chest discomfort, fainting, lightheadedness or dizziness, a sensation of feeling the heart beat, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may start and stop suddenly, and in some cases there are none at all. VT can be deadly and is a major cause of sudden cardiac death; MedlinePlus advises going to the emergency room or calling 911 for a rapid, irregular pulse, fainting, or chest pain. Tests that may be used to detect ventricular tachycardia include an electrocardiogram, a Holter monitor, an intracardiac electrophysiology study, and rhythm monitoring with a loop recorder or device. Most ventricular tachycardias occur in people who already have structural heart disease, typically from myocardial scarring or fibrosis; scar tissue can form in the ventricles days, months, or years after a heart attack. About 10% occur without structural heart disease. This page is general information and is not medical advice.
First-line treatment
The 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death states that its purpose is to guide management of adults who have ventricular arrhythmias or who are at risk for sudden cardiac death. Its algorithm for sustained monomorphic VT branches on hemodynamic stability. An unstable patient goes to "Direct current cardioversion & ACLS." Once the rhythm is restored, ongoing care is "Therapy guided by underlying heart disease." In the guideline's separate secondary-prevention algorithm for ischemic heart disease, where there is "Ischemia warranting revascularization," it gives a Class I recommendation to "Revascularize & reassess SCD risk"; for an SCD survivor or a patient with sustained spontaneous monomorphic VT who is an ICD candidate, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is Class I. The guideline terms this a secondary prevention ICD. The sustained monomorphic VT algorithm also lists catheter ablation as a Class I option for preventing recurrence. ACC and AHA guidelines "should not replace clinical judgment," and treatment is selected by a clinician for each patient through shared decision-making.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Class | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Antiarrhythmic | Generic | $3 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Antiarrhythmic | Generic | $3 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Antiarrhythmic | Generic | $3 | View → |
Narrow by drug class
Explore the class hubs: antiarrhythmic
Full ranking · 3 treatments
betapace
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Betapace (Sotalol Hydrochloride) is an antiarrhythmic used to treat Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Flutter, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Fibrillation.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$2.08/30· 4 formsbetapace af
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Betapace Af (Sotalol Hydrochloride) is an antiarrhythmic used to treat Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Flutter, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Fibrillation.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$2.08/30· 4 formssorine
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Sorine (Sotalol Hydrochloride) is an antiarrhythmic used to treat Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Flutter, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Fibrillation.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$2.08/30· 4 formsFrequently asked
- What treats ventricular tachycardia?
- Our catalog lists 3 products that may treat ventricular tachycardia, based on NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. They're rated where FDA recall-safety data exists.
- What is the best-rated treatment for ventricular tachycardia?
- Ratings appear as FDA recall-safety data accumulates for the products that may treat ventricular tachycardia.
- How are these treatments ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.
- What types of drugs treat ventricular tachycardia?
- Treatments for ventricular tachycardia span FDA drug classes including antiarrhythmic. Compare every option side by side, ranked by independent rating, above.
Treatment associations are derived from NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. This is general reference, not medical advice — always consult a licensed professional.
Sources
The clinical overview above is written from these authoritative public-health and medical-society sources, independently reviewed against each.
- Ventricular tachycardia: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (NIH/NLM) ↗
- 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: Executive Summary (Circulation) ↗
- 2017 Guideline for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death - Guidelines Made Simple (American College of Cardiology) ↗
- Ventricular Tachycardia - StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH/NLM) ↗