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Additional Information
Why is this medication prescribed
Propafenone is used to treat arrhythmias and to maintain a normal heart rate. It acts on the heart muscle to improve the heart's rhythm.
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take propafenone exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of this medicine, and do not take it more often than your doctor ordered.
This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take each dose at evenly spaced times day and night. For example, if you are to take 3 doses a day, doses should be spaced about 8 hours apart. If you need help in planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your health care professional.
Dosing
The dose of propafenone will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of propafenone. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so:
- The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine.
- For oral dosage forms (tablets):
- Adults: 150 milligrams every eight hours. Your doctor may increase your dose if needed.
- Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed dose
If you miss a dose of propafenone and remember within 4 hours, take it as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Other uses for this medicine
This medication should not be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What other information should I know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may want to evaluate the effectiveness of propafenone with physical examinations, EKG (electrocardiogram) tests, and blood tests.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For propafenone, the following should be considered:
Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to propafenone. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy Propafenone has not been studied in pregnant women. Although this medicine has not been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies, it has been shown to reduce fertility in monkeys, dogs, and rabbits. In addition, in rats it caused decreased growth in the infant and deaths of mothers and infants. Before taking propafenone, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding Propafenone passes into breast milk. Because of the potential for problems in the nursing infant, propafenone is generally not recommended in mothers who are breast-feeding.
Children Propafenone can cause serious side effects in any patient. Therefore, it is especially important that you discuss with the child's doctor the good that this medicine may do as well as the risks of using it.
Older adults Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of propafenone in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking propafenone it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking either of the following:
- Digoxin (e.g., Lanoxin) or
- Warfarin (e.g., Coumadin) Effects of these medicines may be increased when used with propafenone
- Asthma or
- Bronchitis or
- Emphysema Propafenone can increase trouble in breathing
- Bradycardia (unusually slow heartbeat) There is a risk of further decreased heart function
- Congestive heart failure or other heart disease or
- Myasthenia gravis or
- Severe low blood pressure Propafenone may make these conditions worse
- Electrolyte (i.e., potassium) disorders Propafenone may worsen heart rhythm problems
- Kidney disease or
- Liver disease Effects of propafenone may be increased because of slower removal from the body
- If you have a pacemaker Propafenone may interfere with the pacemaker and require more careful follow-up by the doctor
Warnings
| Antiarrhythmic drugs, including propafenone, may increase the risk of death. Tell your doctor if you have had a heart attack within the past two years.Propafenone should be used only to treat life-threatening arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking propafenone. |
In case of emergency overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

