What type of drug is used to treat arrhythmias?

Drugs used to treat arrhythmias primarily include channel blockers, which work by affecting the ion channels in cardiac cells that regulate electrical signals. These medications can be classified into various types, including calcium channel blockers and sodium channel blockers. By modulating electrical conductivity and reducing abnormal rhythms in the heart, channel blockers help restore normal heart rhythms and improve cardiac function.

Beta agonists are generally used to stimulate heart function or dilate airways in conditions such as asthma, but they are not specifically intended for the management of arrhythmias. Nitrates primarily serve to dilate blood vessels and are more commonly used in the treatment of angina and heart failure rather than arrhythmias. Corticosteroids, while effective for inflammation and immune response modulation, do not have a role in correcting electrical disturbances in the heart that lead to arrhythmias. Thus, channel blockers are the specific class of drugs that directly address the underlying issues associated with arrhythmias.