metoprolol vs propafenone
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Side-by-side comparison of metoprolol 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
7.3 CYP2D6 Inhibitors Drugs that are strong inhibitors of CYP2D6 such as quinidine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and propafenone were shown to double metoprolol concentrations.
Lopressor, Toprol-XL
Rythmol
Metoprolol is a beta-blocker medicine. It can lower blood pressure, reduce chest pain, and improve survival after a heart attack.
Propafenone (Rythmol) is a medicine that helps control irregular heartbeats. It works by slowing down electrical signals in the heart.
Metoprolol treats high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It also treats chest pain called angina. After a heart attack, it can help you live longer.
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.
Metoprolol blocks the effects of adrenaline on the heart. This makes the heart beat slower and with less force. As a result, blood pressure is lowered and the heart does not need as much oxygen.
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.
- • Tiredness
- • Dizziness
- • Depression
- • Shortness of breath
- • Slow heart rate
- • Unusual taste
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Dizziness
- • Constipation
- Fatigue 15,966
- Dyspnoea 14,128
- Diarrhoea 13,635
- Nausea 13,398
- Dizziness 11,699
- Atrial Fibrillation 347
- Drug Interaction 320
- Dizziness 262
- Toxicity To Various Agents 231
- Dyspnoea 226
Stopping metoprolol suddenly can make chest pain worse or cause a heart attack. If you have heart failure, it could get worse. If you have asthma or other lung problems, avoid beta-blockers if possible.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Metoprolol can cross the placenta, and may cause low blood pressure, low blood sugar, and a slow heart rate in the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.
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
Compare propafenone with
How to Read This metoprolol vs propafenone Comparison
metoprolol is classified in the Beta-Blocker 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, metoprolol has 68,826 submissions while propafenone has 1,386. 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 propafenone prevents your body from clearing metoprolol, which can lead to twice as much metoprolol in your bloodstream.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for metoprolol or propafenone.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.