Ranolazine for the treatment of atrial fibrillation

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent occurrence with advancing age and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the currently available AF therapies have a great deal of side effects.

Areas covered: In this review, the authors discuss the evidence upon which the use of Ranolazine as an anti-arrhythmic drug is based. Specifically, the authors review the Phase I–III trials that studied ranolazine as potential treatment for AF. They also discuss the efficacy, safety, tolerability and side effects and compare the MERLIN TIMI 36, HARMONY and ROLE trials.

Expert opinion: Although ranolazine is considered an anti-angina drug, it may also be, according to the available data, used in patients with AF. Ranolazine has anti-AF efficacy, both alone or in combination with other drugs such as amiodarone and dronedarone. Indeed, its efficacy has been demonstrated in various settings such as the termination of paroxysmal AF, the facilitation of AF electrical cardioversion, and postoperative AF prevention. Although there is a great deal of evidence from pioneering experimental studies, the clinical evidence of the AF-suppressing effect of ranolazine is derived from studies with small sample size or from secondary analyses. A better understanding of the role of ranolazine as an anti-AF drug will be obtained through larger, prospective, placebo-controlled clinical trials in different populations.