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erythromycin vs propafenone

Side-by-side comparison of erythromycin and propafenone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

(7.6) 7.1 CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 Inhibitors Drugs that inhibit CYP2D6 (such as desipramine, paroxetine, ritonavir, sertraline) and CYP3A4 (such as ketoconazole, ritonavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, grapefruit juice) can be expected to cause increased plasma levels of propafenone.

Recommendation: Your healthcare provider should monitor you and may need to change your dose of propafenone.

Drug Class
erythromycin Macrolide Antibiotic
propafenone Class IC Antiarrhythmic
Type
erythromycin Prescription
propafenone Prescription
Summary
erythromycin

Erythromycin Topical Solution is a medicine that you put on your skin to treat acne. It contains an antibiotic to help clear up your skin.

propafenone

Propafenone (Rythmol) is a medicine that helps control irregular heartbeats. It works by slowing down electrical signals in the heart.

What It Treats
erythromycin

Erythromycin Topical Solution treats acne vulgaris. This medicine helps to reduce acne on your face, neck, shoulders, chest, and back. It works by fighting the bacteria that cause acne.

propafenone

This medicine is used to help keep your heart rhythm normal if you have atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia. These are types of fast or irregular heartbeats that can cause problems. It can also treat life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Propafenone is for people without structural heart disease.

How It Works
erythromycin

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps to reduce inflammation and clear up acne.

propafenone

Propafenone works by affecting the electrical activity in your heart. It slows down the signals that cause irregular heartbeats. This helps your heart beat more regularly.

Common Side Effects
erythromycin
  • Peeling
  • Dryness
  • Itching
  • Redness
  • Oily skin
propafenone
  • Unusual taste
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
erythromycin
  • Drug Hypersensitivity 4,088
  • Nausea 1,271
  • Vomiting 1,121
  • Diarrhoea 1,069
  • Dyspnoea 1,023
propafenone
  • Irregular heartbeat in the upper chambers of the heart 347
  • Medicine interacting with another medicine 320
  • Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 261
  • Harmful effect from different substances 231
  • Shortness of breath 226
Serious Warnings
erythromycin

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

propafenone

This medicine may increase the risk of death in people with heart problems. Do not take this medicine if you have structural heart disease and non-life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine.

Pregnancy
erythromycin

It is not known if erythromycin topical solution can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

propafenone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine can cross the placenta, and may affect the baby. Your doctor will monitor you and your baby for any problems.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This erythromycin vs propafenone Comparison

erythromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while propafenone sits within the Class IC Antiarrhythmic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, erythromycin has 8,572 submissions while propafenone has 1,385. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to erythromycin stops the body from clearing propafenone normally, which can lead to higher levels of the drug in your blood.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between erythromycin and propafenone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.