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ketoconazole vs propafenone

Side-by-side comparison of ketoconazole 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 doctor may need to adjust your dose or monitor you more closely for side effects.

Drug Class
ketoconazole Azole Antifungal
propafenone Class IC Antiarrhythmic
Type
ketoconazole Over-the-Counter
propafenone Prescription
Summary
ketoconazole

Ketoconazole shampoo is an antifungal medicine. It treats a fungal infection on 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
ketoconazole

This shampoo treats tinea versicolor, a fungal infection. This infection can cause patches on your skin that are lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. These patches may appear on your trunk, neck, arms, and upper thighs.

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
ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is an antifungal medicine. It works by stopping the growth of the fungus. This helps to clear up the infection.

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
ketoconazole

No common side effects listed.

propafenone
  • Unusual taste
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
ketoconazole
  • Feeling tired 929
  • Itching 902
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 834
  • Skin breakout 802
  • Loose stool 760
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
ketoconazole

You should not use this shampoo if you are allergic to ketoconazole or any of the other 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
ketoconazole

It is not known if ketoconazole shampoo can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine.

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 ketoconazole vs propafenone Comparison

ketoconazole is classified in the Azole Antifungal 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 split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ketoconazole has 4,227 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 ketoconazole slows down the liver's ability to break down propafenone, which can cause the drug to build up in your body.. 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 ketoconazole 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.