What is Chronotropic?
Chronotropic Drugs affect the heart rate. As a result, these drugs are chronotropes. Chronotropes affect the heart rate by influencing changes in the heart’s electrical conduction system. Positive chronotropes and negative chronotropes are two types of chronotropic. Positive chronotropes raise the heart rate, while negative chronotropes lower it.
Examples of Chronotropic:
- Atropine is a chronotropic agent that blocks the action of the parasympathetic nervous system on the heart, leading to an increase in heart rate. It is used in the management of bradycardia.
- Beta-blockers are also chronotropic agents that block the action of the sympathetic nervous system on the heart, leading to a decrease in heart rate. They are used in the management of tachycardia and other cardiac arrhythmias.