Chronic heart failure (CHF) is generally associated with a poor prognosis with an annual mortality rate ranging between 15-50% depending on the severity of cardiac dysfunction thus presenting a major health problem in our society. Drugs for the treatment of CHF include vasodilators (ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers), diuretics, digoxin and beta-blockers. However, antiarrhythmic drugs are not currently recommended in the management of CHF with the exception of beta-blockers for which a favorable effect on the prognosis could be shown. Amiodarone is effective in the suppression of ventricular arrhythmias without a significant effect on total mortality. Implanted defibrillators are superior to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in prolonging survival among survivors of sudden cardiac death. They should be offered as firstline therapy in case of life-threatening ventricular tachy-arrhythmias.