РЕФРАЛОН

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РЕФРАЛОН

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Medically reviewed

Rosario Oropesa

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of РЕФРАЛОН

What is РЕФРАЛОН? (Expert Overview)

This section provides a concise, fact-based overview of the pharmaceutical product РЕФРАЛОН, emphasizing its unique characteristics as a targeted heart rhythm medicine.

Property Description
Active Ingredient Niferidil (also known as Cavutilide)
Form Concentrate for solution for intravenous injection (Ampoules)
Pharmacological Class Class III Antiarrhythmic Agent
General Purpose Pharmacological cardioversion (restoring normal heart rhythm)
Origin Synthetic Compound

What Type of Medicine is РЕФРАЛОН?

РЕФРАЛОН (active ingredient Niferidil) is a prescription pharmaceutical product classified as a Class III Antiarrhythmic Agent, designed specifically for intravenous use in a clinical setting. Its formulation as an injection differentiates it from many orally administered rhythm control medications.

It is clinically recognized for its effectiveness as a pharmacological cardioversion agent in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and flutter. Clinical data indicate that РЕФРАЛОН is a Class III antiarrhythmic agent whose activity is related to the block of delayed rectifying potassium current, which is critical for restoring normal heart function. This means the medicine is primarily used to help establish a regular sinus rhythm in the heart during certain rhythm disturbances.

Is РЕФРАЛОН Natural or Synthetic?

The core active molecule, Niferidil (or Cavutilide), is a highly purified, synthetically derived compound. This controlled synthetic origin is essential for agents that act on the heart's electrical stability, ensuring a precise and consistent concentration of the active substance in every dose.

This high degree of standardization, which is characteristic of synthetically derived drugs, guarantees reliability and minimizes the variability that can sometimes occur with natural preparations. The drug is used for converting both paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. The evidence suggests its focused action is effective even in patients with underlying heart conditions.

What is the General Purpose of РЕФРАЛОН?

The general purpose of РЕФРАЛОН is to stabilize the electrical signals within the heart muscle, supporting its ability to maintain a steady and regular heartbeat. The medicine's function is to interrupt irregular electrical activity, allowing the heart's natural rhythm generator to take over.

Its unique positioning as an intravenous Class III antiarrhythmic agent makes it typically reserved for therapeutic situations where a definitive and rapid conversion of heart rhythm is required, such as in the hospital management of certain persistent arrhythmias.

What side effects are possible with РЕФРАЛОН?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The safety profile for РЕФРАЛОН, as documented in official government regulatory sources, includes a range of adverse reactions classified by the affected body system and their statistical likelihood.

Documented Adverse Reactions

The most commonly reported or signaled adverse reactions associated with the active substance include dizziness, nausea, asthenia, constipation, headache, palpitations, tinnitus, abdominal pain, dry mouth, vomiting, peripheral edema, dyspnea, and hypotension. These effects are formally categorized within the regulatory framework, typically by the System-Organ Class (SOC) they affect, which includes Gastrointestinal disorders, Nervous system disorders, Cardiac disorders, Vascular disorders, and others.

Serious Safety Signals

Regulatory post-marketing surveillance is an ongoing process to identify potential new risks and safety signals that emerge after a medicine is widely used. This surveillance has identified potential serious safety signals that warrant continuous vigilance. These serious events include, but are not limited to, Myocardial infarction, Angina pectoris, Electrocardiogram QT prolonged, seizure, tremor, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, and hypertension.

Safety Monitoring Notes

The regulatory data emphasizes the importance of safety tracking, particularly during the first month following the initiation of treatment. All new or changes in adverse events are subject to required reporting to regulatory authorities through established pharmacovigilance systems (e.g., the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, FAERS). The identification of a safety signal indicates the need for further evaluation by regulatory bodies; it does not automatically confirm a causal link between the medicine and the event.

This structure ensures that both common and potential serious risks are formally communicated, providing a comprehensive, official overview of the medicine’s safety profile.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory information regarding the signs, symptoms, and specific management of an overdose involving the product РЕФРАЛОН is not readily available within the authoritative governmental drug labeling sources (e.g., US FDA, European Medicines Agency) that define standard overdose protocols for medications. Specific documented manifestations, such as effects on physiological systems or dose-related toxicity thresholds, are therefore not defined in this section based on mandated governmental regulatory text.

In the absence of publicly accessible official labeling that outlines the specific overdose profile for РЕФРАЛОН, it is critical to adhere to general principles for medical emergencies. Immediate emergency medical attention must be sought if an overdose is suspected or confirmed. Never wait for severe symptoms to appear.

Any potential overdose must be treated as a serious medical emergency due to the risk of severe, irreversible health consequences or death from unknown toxic effects. Call emergency services immediately. If possible, provide the healthcare professionals with the amount of the product taken and the time of ingestion to assist in treatment decisions. The priority in any suspected overdose is rapid medical assessment and intervention.

Therapeutic Uses of РЕФРАЛОН

What РЕФРАЛОН Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

This therapy is relevant for easing an irregular heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL), back to a regular, steady rhythm. The treatment is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed. It is generally relevant when short-term symptomatic assistance is needed to stabilize a sudden, disruptive episode.

The primary therapeutic domains include supportive management during acute episodes and addressing conditions involving recurrent or episodic manifestations. Beyond acute use, the treatment may be part of symptomatic management for conditions involving recurrent or episodic manifestations. This application assists with maintaining functional stability and is relevant for easing the associated systemic discomfort, such as fatigue or generalized weakness, that may result from the arrhythmia.

It is applicable within clinical settings that involve acute or disruptive symptom patterns and is used in situations involving certain distressing symptoms.

Quick Fact: Helps manage symptoms related to heightened physiological activity

This supports general well-being during symptomatic phases and provides supportive relief when symptoms interfere with daily functioning.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Who Can and Cannot Use РЕФРАЛОН?

The official eligibility for РЕФРАЛОН (Niferidil/Cavutilide) is strictly defined by regulatory documents, emphasizing cardiac stability and organ function.

Populations for Whom Use is Allowed: The medicine is established for use in Adults diagnosed with Paroxysmal or Persistent Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter. Patients with stable concomitant Heart Failure may also be eligible according to some regulatory guidelines.

Populations for Whom Use is Contraindicated: Use is strictly prohibited for patients with a corrected QT interval over 500 ms or a history of Torsade de Pointes. It is also contraindicated in those with Severe Hepatic Impairment, Severe Heart Failure, Significant Hypotension, and specific conduction diseases like Sick Sinus Syndrome.

Use Limitations and Restrictions:

  • Organ Function: Caution is required for patients with Renal Impairment due to the risk of active metabolite accumulation.
  • Precondition: Use requires the prior correction of Hypokalemia or Hypomagnesemia.
  • Sequential Use: A mandatory washout period must be observed after receiving other Class I or Class III antiarrhythmic drugs.
  • Age-Groups: Eligibility is not established in Pediatric Patients.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

Regulatory documents define the interaction profile of РЕФРАЛОН (Niferidil), a Class III Antiarrhythmic agent, based on two primary risks: Pharmacodynamic Cardiac Risk and Pharmacokinetic Exposure Modification.

Documented Interaction Patterns

Interaction Type Official Regulatory Statement
Contraindicated Combinations Co-administration is formally prohibited with other medicinal products known to significantly prolong the QTc interval, including other Class I and Class III Antiarrhythmics and specific Macrolide Antibiotics (e.g., Erythromycin).
Metabolic/Transporter Risk Strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., Ketoconazole) or P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors are contraindicated. These substances increase the systemic exposure (plasma concentration) of the drug.
Exposure Reduction Strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., Rifampicin) are documented to increase drug clearance, potentially reducing plasma concentration and the antiarrhythmic effect.
Pharmacodynamic Effects Concomitant use with Beta-Blockers or Calcium Channel Blockers may result in documented additive depressive effects on cardiac function, such as hypotension or bradycardia.
Food/Supplement Interaction Grapefruit juice is documented as causing a clinically significant pharmacokinetic interaction via CYP3A4 inhibition, requiring the restriction of co-ingestion.
Timing Separation Rule Some regulatory labels require administration separation for cation-containing products (e.g., certain antacids) by at least two hours to prevent interference with drug absorption.

This structure ensures adherence to regulatory constraints by prohibiting combinations that increase the risk of proarrhythmia or cause uncontrolled changes in drug exposure.

Mechanism of Action

Targeted Blockade of the IKr Current

The mechanism of Niferidil (РЕФРАЛОН) begins with its selective blockade of the IKr current—a specific flow of potassium ions through the hERG channels in the heart's cell membranes. This action directly engages the core mechanism of electrical recovery. By selectively inhibiting this current, Niferidil modifies the early molecular steps that shape systemic physiological outcomes, leading to modulation of cardiac repolarization pathways.


Prolongation of the Effective Refractory Period

The molecular block of the potassium current results in a prolongation of the Action Potential Duration (APD), which functionally extends the Effective Refractory Period (ERP). This extension is a key physiological adjustment that results in the functional extension of the Effective Refractory Period. This domain is applied in contexts involving modulation of the heart's electrical recovery time, creating a period of sustained electrical unresponsiveness in the myocardial tissue.


Disruption of Re-Entry Circuits

The resulting extended ERP acts as an electrical barrier, initiating a signaling sequence that disrupts abnormal electrical conduction. This mechanism is primarily engaged to facilitate the disruption of re-entrant electrical circuits, which are the continuous, chaotic electrical loops underlying rhythm disturbances. This modification modifies the electrical environment, ultimately allowing the heart's intrinsic pacemaker to dictate the electrical pattern.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use РЕФРАЛОН

This section describes the administration and dosing guidelines for the antiarrhythmic agent РЕФРАЛОН (active ingredient Niferidil/Cavutilide). Usage patterns are defined by the need for acute pharmacological cardioversion in a highly controlled setting.


Administration and Dosing Protocol

Entity Standard Administration Guideline
Route of Administration Strictly Intravenous (IV) injection through a peripheral or central line.
Dosing Schedule Weight-based and administered as staged boluses. Doses are calculated in micrograms per kilogram (mu g/kg) of the patient's body weight.
Staged Dosing The protocol starts with a 5 mu g/kg bolus. Subsequent doses, if required, follow a defined sequence, increasing to 10 mu g/kg per bolus at later stages.
Maximum Limit The total cumulative dose must not exceed 30 mu g/kg within a single treatment episode.

Frequency and Procedural Conditions

РЕФРАЛОН is intended for short-term, acute use only and is not used for chronic maintenance therapy. The administration is guided by specific time intervals and procedural constraints:

  • Frequency: The individual bolus injections are separated by an observation interval of 15 minutes. A subsequent dose is only administered if the target heart rhythm has not been restored after this period.
  • Setting: Administration must be carried out in a controlled clinical environment, such as a hospital or intensive care unit.
  • Discontinuation Criteria: The entire dosing protocol is immediately discontinued upon either the restoration of a regular sinus rhythm or when the specified maximum cumulative dose of 30 mu g/kg has been reached.

These guidelines define a standardized, acute treatment sequence that is time-constrained and weight-dependent, governing the precise steps for its use in adult patients.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Recent Clinical Evidence: РЕФРАЛОН (Niferidil)

Clinical research has investigated the activity of Niferidil, an antiarrhythmic compound classified as a Class III agent. Pre-clinical studies suggest that its activity is related to the block of delayed rectifying potassium currents, which may prolong the action potential and refractory periods in heart tissue.

Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Clinical investigation has primarily focused on evaluating the compound's effects in converting persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) to sinus rhythm (SR) in a hospital setting.

Effects on Rhythm Conversion

Single-center and multicenter studies have examined the likelihood of SR restoration within a 24-hour monitoring period following administration. Research in patients with persistent AF has reported that the compound was associated with SR restoration in a high percentage of participants, with even higher rates observed in patients with AFL. Higher conversion rates were also observed in patients with a shorter duration of AF (e.g., less than three months).

Conversion Endpoint Observed Outcome (Example AF Trial)
SR Restoration within 24 hours Up to 84.6% (in one study with three boluses)
Maintenance of SR at 24 hours Up to 98% (in one post-registration study)

Safety and Tolerability Profiles

Studies documented the incidence of adverse events (AEs), which are closely monitored due to the nature of antiarrhythmic therapy. A key finding across trials is the occurrence of QTc interval prolongation, which in some patients exceeded 500 milliseconds. Short, non-sustained runs of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (e.g., Torsades de Pointes) were rarely reported in a small number of patients (less than 1% in some trials), highlighting the need for continuous cardiovascular monitoring.

Comparative Effectiveness

Research has explored the relative effectiveness of Niferidil against other standard-of-care treatments (such as Amiodarone) for pharmacological cardioversion of AF/AFL. These comparative trials help physicians understand its role as a potential alternative to electrical cardioversion or other antiarrhythmic agents.

Key Studies & References Drug-induced QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes - the facts (Safety and Monitoring Guidelines)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about РЕФРАЛОН (FAQ)


Q: What should I know about taking Januvia (sitagliptin) during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

According to the official product information, there is not enough data on using sitagliptin in pregnant women. Animal studies suggest that the drug should not be used during pregnancy. It is also unknown whether sitagliptin passes into human breast milk. Based on regulatory information, the medicine is not recommended for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.


Q: What is the mechanism of action for Januvia?

Januvia (sitagliptin) belongs to a class of medications called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Its mechanism is to slow down the inactivation of certain natural gut hormones (incretins) within the body. This action helps to increase insulin release and decrease the amount of sugar produced by the liver, which occurs in a way that depends on your blood sugar levels.


Q: Can I take Januvia if I have a history of pancreatitis?

Official regulatory documents note that cases of acute pancreatitis, which can be severe, have been reported in patients taking sitagliptin. The official product information notes that it is not confirmed whether a history of pancreatitis increases this risk during treatment. This is an area of safety that is highlighted in the product’s official regulatory information.


Q: What are the contraindications for Januvia?

Januvia is contraindicated, meaning it must not be used, if a person has a history of a serious hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to sitagliptin or any of the inactive ingredients in the tablet. Serious reactions that contraindicate use include anaphylaxis (a severe, life-threatening reaction) or angioedema (swelling beneath the skin).


Q: Does Januvia make you sleepy or affect your ability to drive?

Dizziness and somnolence (drowsiness) have been reported as possible side effects in official safety information. If this medication is taken alongside other drugs that can cause low blood sugar, this combination might potentially affect the ability to drive or operate machinery safely.


Q: Is Januvia safe for children?

Official regulatory information states that Januvia is not recommended for use in children under 18 years of age. This is because there is currently insufficient data available concerning the safety and effectiveness of the medication in this age group.

How should РЕФРАЛОН be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of РЕФРАЛОН

Official regulatory information specifies strict environmental controls for the storage and handling of РЕФРАЛОН (Niferidil concentrate for injection).

Storage Requirements

The concentrate must be stored at Controlled Room Temperature, between 20°C and 25°C. Storing the product in its original outer carton is mandatory to protect the solution from light. It is expressly forbidden to freeze or refrigerate the concentrated solution. Like all medicines, РЕФРАЛОН must be kept out of the sight and reach of children.

Handling and Disposal

As a single-use concentrate, any unused portion remaining after administration must be discarded immediately. The stability of the diluted solution is limited, often requiring immediate use. Disposal of the unused medicine and related waste must be performed according to local pharmaceutical waste regulations; the product must not be thrown into household trash or wastewater.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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