Product Details

What you need to know before you take Arythmol

Do not take Arythmol: • if you are allergic to propafenone hydrochloride or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). • if you have a heart condition called Brugada Syndrome, which causes you to have a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm. • if you had a heart attack in the previous 3 months. • if you suffer from heart failure or any heart problems other than your abnormal heart rhythm. • If you have a usually slow heart rate or hypotension (low blood pressure). • If you suffer from any breathing problems, such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema. • If your doctor has told you that you have a disturbance in the salts (e.g. sodium or potassium) in your blood. • if you been diagnosed as having the condition known as myasthenia gravis? • if you are taking ritonavir (antiviral agents) Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Arythmol • If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant • If you are breast feeding. • If you suffer from any breathing problems, such as asthma Take special care with Arythmol • Tell your surgeon or dentist that you are taking Arythmol if surgery is planned. It may affect the anaesthetic used. • If you have a pacemaker, it may need to be altered. • Your doctor may perform ECGs and blood pressure monitoring prior to and during treatment to monitor your individual dose. Children and adolescents Arythmol is NOT suitable for children. Other medicines and Arythmol Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. • medicines that affect the activity of the heart such as amiodarone, digoxin, quinidine • tablets to prevent blood clots (e.g. warfarin) • antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin or rifampicin) • any of the group of medicines known as beta-blockers (these are used to treat high blood pressure) • any antiviral agents (e.g. ritonavir) • any of the group of medicines known as major tranquillisers, or an antidepressant of the tricyclic or related group (e.g. amitriptyline, dothiepin, desipramine) • any other antidepressants, such as venlafaxine, fluoxetine, paroxetine • cimetidine (an ulcer medicine) • ciclosporin (an immunosuppressant, used after transplant operations, or in the treatment of arthritis or psoriasis) • theophylline (used in the treatment of asthma) • ketoconazole (an antifungal agent) • phenobarbital (for epilepsy) Arythmol with food and drink Arythmol should not be taken with grapefruit juice. Arythmol should be taken after food, with some water. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Driving and using machines It is NOT advisable to drive, operate machinery or do anything that requires you to be alert until you know how the tablets affect you. This is because Arythmol can cause blurred vision, dizziness, tiredness and low blood pressure in some people. Arythmol contains sodium This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.