It may work by relaxing the blood vessels involved, or by reducing activity in the visual cortex. It’s not fully understood how propranolol prevents migraines. Propranolol helps block the effects of these chemical messengers. These make your heart rate faster and make you sweat or shake.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter OTC) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests. Check with your doctor before taking any of these medicines while you are using this medicine.
How do I store and/or throw out this drug?
The main difference between propranolol and other beta blockers is that it does not just affect your heart. Propranolol works as well as other beta blockers for reducing blood pressure. You’ll need to have your blood pressure checked regularly if you’re taking propranolol for a long time for migraines or anxiety. For heart conditions or high blood pressure, treatment is usually long term and may be for the rest of your life. For heart conditions or high blood pressure, propranolol can take up to a week to reach its full effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
What are the most common side effects of propranolol?
The rate of unopposed α-stimulation with selective beta blockers has been reported to be 0.4%, whereas no cases of unopposed α-stimulation have been reported with dual alpha and beta blockers like labetalol. RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at FDA-1088. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions.
Drug Categories
There’s very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with propranolol. It has not been known to cause any side effects in breastfed babies. If you’re trying to get pregnant or you’re already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking propranolol. Discuss taking propranolol with your doctor or midwife as you may need extra scans to check your baby’s growth.
Breastfeeding
In rare cases, propranolol may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). It can significantly slow your heart rate, cause dizziness, trembling and seizures or fits, and make it difficult to breathe. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
Reporting side effects
Do not suddenly stop taking this medication. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Some items may interact with your medicine.
Inderal XL and InnoPran XL:
The CYP2D6 inhibitor quinidine has been found to increase propranolol levels by 2- to 3-fold. However, propranolol is highly bound to proteins in the bloodstream and is distributed into breast milk at very low levels. The newborn may experience additional adverse effects such as low blood sugar and a slower than normal heart rate.
Propranolol should not be used if the electrical signals in your heart move too slow (heart block). Propranolol should not be used if your heart is beating too slow (bradycardia). People who are allergic to any of the following should not use propranolol. Propranolol may worsen existing heart failure or cause fluid buildup in your body.
This results in less calcium influx to cardiac myocytes through voltage-gated L-type calcium channels, meaning there is a decreased sympathetic effect on cardiac cells, resulting in antihypertensive effects including reduced heart rate and lower arterial blood pressure. These symptoms may be managed by drugs including glucagon, isoprenaline (isoproterenol), medication, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, or atropine, whereas epinephrine may provoke uncontrolled hypertension due to unopposed alpha stimulation and is not indicated. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found widespread prescription of beta blockers, namely propranolol, for treatment of anxiety disorders, but found no evidence of a beneficial effect relative to placebo or benzodiazepines in people with social phobia or panic disorder. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Infants and children Reduced dose necessary. The most common adverse effects are lethargy, fatigue, and cold hands and feet. All adverse effects should be reported to your doctor. Seek immediate medical advice. Stopping the drug Do not stop the drug without consulting your doctor. If your next dose is due within 2 hours (tablets) or 12 hours (SR capsules), take a single dose now and skip the next.
Medical Professionals
- Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device.
- If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you.
- Propranolol should not be used if the electrical signals in your heart move too slow (heart block).
- Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children.
- Seek immediate medical advice.
You will still be getting the benefits of the medicine. Most adults and children aged 12 and over can Propranolol brands take propranolol. Propranolol can help reduce your symptoms if you have too much thyroid hormone in your body (thyrotoxicosis). It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options.
Propranolol levels may be reduced by inducers of hepatic metabolism including rifampin, alcohol, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and cigarette smoking. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) have hypotensive side effects and these may be exacerbated by propranolol. Cardiac arrest may occur in propranolol overdose due to sudden ventricular arrhythmias, or cardiogenic shock which may ultimately culminate in bradycardic PEA. These low levels are not expected to pose any risk to the breastfeeding infant, and the American Academy of Pediatrics considers propranolol therapy “generally compatible with breastfeeding.” Β-blocking agents in general reduce perfusion of the placenta, which may lead to adverse outcomes for the neonate, including lung or heart complications, or premature birth. Other contraindications include reversible airway diseases, particularly asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sick sinus syndrome, atrioventricular block (second- or third-degree), circulatory shock, and severe hypotension (low blood pressure).
Propranolol is also used to prevent angina (chest pain), migraine headaches, and to improve survival after a heart attack. Do not take double or extra doses. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
- Propranolol shows marked interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics, with propranolol levels varying 20-fold in different individuals.
- Stop using propranolol and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- The duration of action of a single oral dose is longer than the half-life and may be up to 12 hours if the single dose is high enough (e.g., 80 mg).
- Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.
- You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems.
Propranolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. Calcium channel blockers may cause low blood pressure, a slow heartbeat, and heart failure if used with propranolol. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of propranolol and gradually increase your dose to allow your body to adjust to the medication.
Check with your doctor if you have these problems or if you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests. Propranolol may cause heart failure in some patients. Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following. Do not share propranolol with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. If using propranolol oral solution, use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose. Propranolol should not be used if your blood pressure is too low (hypotension). Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Hemangeol, Inderal LA, Innopran XL and the specific propranolol products they stock.
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