Rythmol Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Rythmol Tablet contains propafenone hydrochloride, a Class 1C antiarrhythmic medicine used to control certain serious irregular heartbeats. It is a film-coated tablet taken by mouth, available in 150 mg and 300 mg strengths. Rythmol works by stabilizing the electrical activity of heart muscle cells, and it requires regular monitoring by a doctor during treatment.

What is Rythmol Tablet

Rythmol is a prescription heart medicine that helps control certain serious irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). It belongs to the Antiarrhythmic Agent class (Group I / Class 1C antiarrhythmic). It is a film-coated tablet taken by mouth, available in 150 mg and 300 mg strengths.

Rythmol Tablet uses

• Treatment of documented life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, such as preventing sustained ventricular tachycardia
• Treatment of patients with documented symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias when symptoms are severe enough to need treatment
• Used to control certain types of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)

Benefits of Rythmol Tablet

In clinical trials, Rythmol clinically and statistically reduced the number of ventricular premature beats, paired premature beats, ventricular tachycardia beats, and ventricular tachycardia events compared with placebo.

How Rythmol Tablet works

Rythmol works by acting directly on heart muscle cells to stabilize their electrical activity. It slows down the sodium current involved in heartbeats, which helps block abnormal heart rhythms, and it also has a mild local anesthetic and weak beta-blocking effect.

Rythmol Tablet dosage

Take the tablets with food, as this is recommended. Swallow the film-coated tablets whole without chewing, with liquid, because the drug has a bitter taste and a numbing effect on the mouth. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next dose — in that case skip the missed dose. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Your doctor may need to re-check your pacemaker or defibrillator settings while you are on this medicine. You may need regular blood tests and heart tracings (ECG) before and during treatment.

Available forms and strengths

• Film-coated tablets (150 mg and 300 mg)

Side effects of Rythmol Tablet

Common

• Dizziness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Unusual or unpleasant taste
• Constipation
• Headache
• Fatigue/tiredness
• Irregular heartbeats
• Palpitations

Serious

• Fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in the chest, shortness of breath, sudden dizziness (possible new or worsening arrhythmia)
• Chest pain, lightheadedness, fainting
• Signs of heart failure: shortness of breath, swelling in arms or legs, sudden weight gain
• Liver problems: yellowing of skin or eyes, prolonged vomiting and nausea, or abdominal pain
• Bleeding problems: excessive bruising, easy bleeding
• Signs of infection: fever, chills, sore throat (possible low white blood cell counts)
• Abnormal muscular control (ataxia)
• Convulsions, movement disorders, restlessness

Warnings and precautions

• No antiarrhythmic medicine has been proven to reduce sudden death in people with mild, symptom-free irregular heartbeats. These medicines can themselves cause dangerous heart rhythms, so doctors must weigh the benefits and risks carefully for each patient.
• This medicine can sometimes cause new or worse irregular heartbeats, some of which can be life-threatening and may need emergency treatment.
• This medicine should not be used by people with uncontrolled or severe heart failure, certain serious heart rhythm disorders, very slow heart rate, severe low blood pressure, cardiogenic shock, severe lung disease, myasthenia gravis, or severe liver failure, and must not be combined with the HIV medicine ritonavir.
• This medicine can rarely cause a dangerous drop in white blood cells (agranulocytosis), especially in the first few months of treatment, raising the risk of serious infection.
• Taking this medicine may unmask a hidden heart rhythm condition called Brugada Syndrome, so your doctor should check your heart tracing (ECG) after you start treatment.
• Avoid grapefruit juice and be cautious with St. John's wort while taking this medicine, since they can raise levels of the drug in your blood.
• There isn't enough research to know if this medicine is fully safe during pregnancy. It should only be used if the benefit to the mother clearly outweighs any risk to the baby.
• This medicine passes into breast milk, and because of possible serious side effects in a nursing baby, a different feeding method should be considered if this medicine is needed.
• People with kidney problems should use this medicine carefully, since the drug may build up in the body, and should be monitored closely for signs of toxicity.
• This medicine is broken down mainly by the liver, so people with liver problems need a reduced dose and should be watched closely. It must not be used at all in severe liver failure.
• Alcohol may worsen dizziness or low blood pressure.
• This medicine can cause blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, and low blood pressure, which may slow your reaction time, so take care when driving or operating machinery.

Storage

• Store RYTHMOL® at controlled room temperature, between 15° to 25°C.
• Do not use beyond the expiry date indicated on the label.
• RYTHMOL® tablets should be stored at 15° to 25°C, protected from light and moisture.
• It is important to keep the RYTHMOL® tablets in the original package.
• Keep RYTHMOL® and all other medicines out of reach and sight of children.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you notice signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor immediately if you feel a fast or pounding heartbeat, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, or sudden dizziness as if you might pass out.
• Call your doctor right away if you have shortness of breath even with mild activity, swelling in your arms or legs, sudden weight gain, or fever, chills, or sore throat.
• If you think you or someone else may have taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor or your local poison control center right away, or go to the nearest hospital with the medicine container, even if the overdose seems small.

Alternatives

• Flecainide
• Sotalol
• Amiodarone