Propafenone and Metallic Taste: What Users Say

• ith...
• June 18, 2011

Propafenone for Atrial Fibrillation "I'm a 58-year-old male. I have taken Rythmol for a year. I started having many different heart rhythms after having an implant for ASD. Every night I would sleep sitting up, could not work effectively, and was worried if this would eventually kill me. In a year, I have had not one skipped or erratic heartbeat. This medicine is amazing, and I feel wonderful. It does give you a metallic taste, but it's a small price to pay."

• CJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 17, 2018

For Atrial Fibrillation "46 yr-old male; developed occasional AF in early 40s. By last year, it was bad enough that I couldn't ignore it. Flecainide plus metoprolol was terrible (pounding beats and felt sick all the time), but propafenone has been great. I'm on max dose (425 twice a day). I've had 4 episodes in the last 6 months, compared to daily episodes before. BUT, I am interested in people's experiences of side effects. I have some of the usual ones (fatigue, metallic taste in mouth, dizziness). But the one that really bugs me is shortness of breath. Hard to concentrate when that happens. Side effects seem to come and go, and I can't figure out any cause: have tried cutting out caffeine, alcohol, compression socks (wondering if it was low BP). All seemed to work for a while, though that might have just been my imagination, then stopped working. Anyone have any thoughts?"

• ren...
• December 20, 2014

For Atrial Fibrillation "Started having a few a-fib attacks a couple of years ago. I'm 77 and still very active. My cardiologist put me on Multaq 2 x/day, and this seemed to work until a few months ago when I had several more attacks. Now I am on propafenone 2 x/day and have had only one episode recently. My triggers are dehydration, stress (my husband has dementia), and caffeine. When I feel an attack coming on, I take four 5mg Valium tablets, 500 mg of magnesium, and 2 adult aspirin. My doctor has approved of this regimen as I then go to sleep, and when I wake up 4-5 hours later, I feel like a million bucks. So far, so good. I do have a metallic taste in my mouth, but I suck on Tic-Tacs, and that helps. Oh, and deep breathing and relaxing tense muscles also help."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2019

For Atrial Fibrillation "Medication works great for AFib. Calms my heartbeat down throughout the day. But after 3 months on this med, it's causing me shortness of breath while I sleep with my oxygen on and also shortness of breath at times walking around. I do have a metallic taste in my mouth. I am very tired and weak at times. I did not have this prior to the new med other than a busy working heart."

• Mia...
• March 16, 2008

Propafenone for Atrial Fibrillation "I just switched to Rythmol from Toprol and am checking it out. My heart hasn't done 'afib' type things, but I do have a horrible metallic taste that I wish would go away. Outside of that, it seems OK so far. Let me know your thoughts. I am a 51-year-old male."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2019

For Atrial Fibrillation "I have been on propafenone for a little over a week for sudden onset of a-fib with high BP. I am a person who does not like to take any drugs and was only on Lotensin before that, but I don't want a stroke either! I have not had a repeated episode of a-fib so far, but am having side effects I am not happy about. Namely, fluid retention (I have had to take prn HCTZ twice already, which I rarely take, my ankles have some swelling, I have extreme constipation, and a metallic taste. I will be calling the cardiologist before my next appointment!"