Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Cardiovascular System

D7 · Cardiovascular Pharmacology

D7.iv · Antiarrhythmics

Official V5 objective
Understand the pharmacology of anti-arrhythmic drugs.
8 SAQ topics 13 SAQ appearances 13 VIVA stations

Written examination

SAQ history

13 appearances
Amiodarone
5 exam appearances
Describe the pharmacology of amiodarone using the following headings: (i) Indications for use (5% of marks) (ii) Dose (10% of marks) (iii) Mechanism of Action (20% of marks) (iv) Pharmacodynamics including adverse effects (25% of marks) (v) Pharmacokinetics (25% of marks) (vi) Drug Interactions (15% of marks).
65%
Provide a detailed account of the side-effects of amiodarone.
17%
Provide a detailed account of the side effects of Amiodarone.
26%
Outline the pharmacology of amiodarone.
77%
Outline the pharmacology of amiodarone.
Antiarrhythmics — Adenosine
1 exam appearance
Outline the Vaughan Williams classification of anti-arhythmic drugs with examples (30% of Marks). Describe the relevant pharmacology of adenosine (70% of Marks)
67%
Classify the anti-arrhythmic drugs using the Vaughan-Williams classification (30% of marks). Compare and contrast the electrophysiological effects of Class 1 anti-arrhythmic drugs (70% of marks).
72.7%
Classify antiarrhythmic drugs, including their mechanisms of action, and give an example of one drug from each group.
Compare and contrast amiodarone and digoxin.
82%
Compare and contrast the pharmacology of digoxin and amiodarone.
40%
Compare and contrast the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and adverse effects of digoxin and sotalol.
19%
Antiarrhythmics — Sotalol
1 exam appearance
Classify anti-arrhythmic drugs by mechanism of action, giving examples of each (75% of marks). Describe the electrophysiological and ECG effects of sotalol (25% of marks).
88%
Digoxin
1 exam appearance
Outline the kinetic characteristics and the mode of action of digoxin. (75% of marks) List the cardiovascular effects of digoxin (25% of marks).
0%

Oral examination

VIVA history

13 stations

Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.