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Does Propafenone Cause Arrhythmia?
Question: Is it possible for Propaphenone to actually create a new arrhythmia? If so, how would a doctor know if the arrhythmia was the one that is being treated or a new one?
What would happen if I stopped taking it? (Yes, I have put a call in to my doctor to ask him about this, but he hasn't called back yet.)
What would happen if I stopped taking it? (Yes, I have put a call in to my doctor to ask him about this, but he hasn't called back yet.)
Brief Answer:
Benefit should be more than any risk
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
I understand your concern.
It is true that Propafenone can produce arrhythmia but it is rare and your cardiologist is well aware of this side effect. He has prescribed you this medicine because he feels that your present arrhythmia should be treated with the same medicine and the benefit risk ratio is in favour of treatment.
If you have an EKG or Holter monitoring showing the arrhythmia, I can give my opinion on the same.
Anti arrhythmic medication should not be discontinued abruptly and without the consent of the doctor treating you. In some cases abrupt withdrawal may lead to precipitation of arrhythmias which may be dangerous.
Do get back to me if you have further queries.
Benefit should be more than any risk
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for your query.
I understand your concern.
It is true that Propafenone can produce arrhythmia but it is rare and your cardiologist is well aware of this side effect. He has prescribed you this medicine because he feels that your present arrhythmia should be treated with the same medicine and the benefit risk ratio is in favour of treatment.
If you have an EKG or Holter monitoring showing the arrhythmia, I can give my opinion on the same.
Anti arrhythmic medication should not be discontinued abruptly and without the consent of the doctor treating you. In some cases abrupt withdrawal may lead to precipitation of arrhythmias which may be dangerous.
Do get back to me if you have further queries.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for responding. I don't have an EKG or Holter monitoring that I can send you, unfortunately. I promise I won't do anything without talking to my cardiologist. I've been waiting for him to call me back and thought I would ask my questions out here in the meantime.
I realized that I had never told him that prior to when I started experiencing the arrhythmia, I had been taking a night-time pain reliever that has diphenhydramine. I've read that diphenhydramine can create an arrhythmia also. If I had been taking it maybe 5x/week for over six months (yes, I know this was bad), how long would it take for it to get out of my system?
I realized that I had never told him that prior to when I started experiencing the arrhythmia, I had been taking a night-time pain reliever that has diphenhydramine. I've read that diphenhydramine can create an arrhythmia also. If I had been taking it maybe 5x/week for over six months (yes, I know this was bad), how long would it take for it to get out of my system?
Brief Answer:
Unlikely to be the cause of your arrhythmia.
Detailed Answer:
Don't worry, the half life of diphenhyramine is about 8 hours and hence your system will clear it in a couple of days of stopping it.
The normal doses of diphenhydramine does not cause arrhythmia. It occurs only with overdose as in acute poisoning or in the elderly with other co-morbidities.
Relax and you should be fine.
Unlikely to be the cause of your arrhythmia.
Detailed Answer:
Don't worry, the half life of diphenhyramine is about 8 hours and hence your system will clear it in a couple of days of stopping it.
The normal doses of diphenhydramine does not cause arrhythmia. It occurs only with overdose as in acute poisoning or in the elderly with other co-morbidities.
Relax and you should be fine.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was actually hoping the diphenhydramine might have been the cause of it. At least then there would be hope of not being on medication for the rest of my life.
The doctor made his decision of Propaphenone based on my two days in the hospital. He didn't ask anything about my experience prior to that. He didn't ask about the frequency of when I had experienced the arrhythmia. I'm just concerned about getting a quick diagnosis. I know you can't do anything about that. I'm just explaining my concern.
It's hard to relax when I'm taking a drug that some websites say to stay away from. The internet can be helpful, but it can also sometimes provide too much information in the form of opinions.
But I will try to just trust. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
The doctor made his decision of Propaphenone based on my two days in the hospital. He didn't ask anything about my experience prior to that. He didn't ask about the frequency of when I had experienced the arrhythmia. I'm just concerned about getting a quick diagnosis. I know you can't do anything about that. I'm just explaining my concern.
It's hard to relax when I'm taking a drug that some websites say to stay away from. The internet can be helpful, but it can also sometimes provide too much information in the form of opinions.
But I will try to just trust. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Brief Answer:
Please try to get the EKG / Holter
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. XXXXXXX debus,
Please request your doctor for the EKG or the Holter report based on which he started the Propafenone. If you can upload the picture, I shall comment whether any alternative drug is possible.
Best wishes,
Please try to get the EKG / Holter
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. XXXXXXX debus,
Please request your doctor for the EKG or the Holter report based on which he started the Propafenone. If you can upload the picture, I shall comment whether any alternative drug is possible.
Best wishes,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I will try, if he ever calls me back.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Relax. There is nothing to worry. The arrhythmia due to Propafenone is rare.
I shall be happy to respond if you are able to get the tracing or if you have any query in the future.
Wish you good health,
Dr Noble Zachariah
welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Relax. There is nothing to worry. The arrhythmia due to Propafenone is rare.
I shall be happy to respond if you are able to get the tracing or if you have any query in the future.
Wish you good health,
Dr Noble Zachariah
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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