FDA approves nasal spray to treat rapid heart rhythm
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- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
People with a condition that sporadically causes a racing heart sometimes need an injection (given in an emergency department) to slow down their heart. Now, there's a more convenient option: a self-administered nasal spray that usually works within 30 minutes.
The FDA approved etripamil (Cardamyst) in December 2025 to treat the condition, called paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). PSVT can cause the heartbeat to soar as high as 200 beats per minute. Episodes may occur several times per day or just once every few years. While PSVT may cause no symptoms and resolve on its own, it can persist and make people dizzy or lightheaded.
In a study of 692 people with PSVT, 64% of people taking etripamil during a bout of PSVT returned to a normal heart rhythm within 30 minutes, compared with 31% of those who used an inactive nasal spray. The drug requires one spray in each nostril, which can be followed by a second dose if symptoms don't resolve after 10 minutes. Side effects include nasal discomfort, a runny nose, and throat irritation.
Image: © Karl Tapales/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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