Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. It treats conditions like high blood pressure, tremors and atrial fibrillation. These changes will also help if you have high blood pressure. If you have heart problems, you can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes.
Missed Dose
However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor. With any of these less common symptoms (except nausea and vomiting), you should stop taking the drug. It should be used with caution by people with diabetes because it affects the body’s response to low blood sugar.
Who should not use propranolol?
If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
Symptoms of overdose may include:
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Before you are tested for glaucoma (increased pressure in your eyes that may lead to vision loss), tell your doctor and the technician that you are taking propranolol. Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. If you suddenly stop taking propranolol, you may experience serious heart problems such as angina (chest pain), heart attack, or an irregular heartbeat.
- Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant.
- It treats conditions like high blood pressure, tremors and atrial fibrillation.
- Propranolol inhibits the metabolism of the benzodiazepine diazepam and can increase exposure to diazepam.
- The drug has been found to increase peak and area-under-the-curve levels of nifedipine by 1.6-fold and 1.8-fold, respectively.
- Since beta blockers are known to relax the cardiac muscle and constrict the smooth muscle, they have an additive effect with other drugs that decrease blood pressure or decrease cardiac contractility or conductivity.
- Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
As a result, the heart beats slower and decreases the blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure may reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks. High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. “Inderal” is a quasi-anagram of “Alderlin”, the trade name of pronethalol (which propranolol replaced); both names are an homage to Alderley Park, the ICI headquarters where the drugs were first developed.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. You must continue to take it as directed if you expect to lower your blood pressure and keep it down. Many patients who have high blood pressure will not notice any signs of the problem. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
There is no evidence that propranolol affects fertility in men or women. If you’re worried about putting on weight with propranolol, speak to your doctor. It could, for example, be because propranolol can make you feel tired which could make you less active.
Breastfeeding
- Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases.
- Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is stopped suddenly, which can be dangerous.
- 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.
- In one small study, individuals given propranolol immediately after trauma experienced fewer stress-related symptoms and lower rates of PTSD than respective control groups who did not receive the drug.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
High blood pressure is a common condition and when not treated, can cause damage to the brain, heart, blood vessels, kidneys and other parts of the body. It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate to improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure. Propranolol is in a class of medications called beta blockers. Propranolol is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure.
The medicine your doctor prescribes depends on your age and ethnicity. These include an irregular heart rate, sweating and shaking. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking propranolol. But it’s best to take propranolol only for as long as you need it.
This information from Lexicomp® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider. Theophylline/aminophylline Propranolol may increase blood levels of these drugs. The drug is also used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) but this use is declining as more selective beta blockers are now available.
It is a non-selective beta blocker which works by blocking β-adrenergic receptors. Propranolol may cause harmful effects for the baby if taken during pregnancy; however, its use during breastfeeding is generally considered to be safe. Common side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, and constipation. Propranolol appears in the blood after 30 minutes and has a maximum effect between 60 and 90 minutes when taken orally. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Does interact with other drugs you are taking? Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
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). The elimination half-life of propranolol ranges from 2.8 to 8 hours in different studies, Propranolol brands with a typical half-life of around 4 hours. Only about 1 to 4% of propranolol is excreted unchanged in urine or feces. CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 have a major role, while CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 have a minor role.additional citation(s) needed The main metabolite 4-hydroxypropranolol, which has a longer elimination half-life than propranolol, is also pharmacologically active. Propranolol is a highly lipophilic drug achieving high concentrations in the brain. The plasma protein binding of propranolol is approximately 90%, with a range of 85 to 96% in different studies.
Do not interrupt or suddenly stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. If this side effect occurs, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert while taking propranolol. Do not stop taking this medicine before surgery without your doctor’s approval. Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine.
Apart from being careful with alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking propranolol. If you find propranolol makes you feel dizzy it’s best to stop drinking alcohol. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking propranolol before surgery. The physical symptoms of anxiety are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. They include amitriptyline, sodium valproate and gabapentin and they may have different side effects.
Some medications may increase your blood pressure. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you have high blood pressure or another heart condition. Drinking alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of propranolol, which can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. There are lots of other medicines to lower your blood pressure and treat chest pain.
Cardiac glycosides may increase the heart-slowing effect of propranolol. Cimetidine may increase the effects of propranolol. Antihypertensive drugs Propranolol may enhance the blood-pressure-lowering effect. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g. indometacin) may reduce the antihypertensive effect of propranolol. Propranolol’s adverse effects are common to most beta blockers and tend to diminish with long-term use. In addition to taking medication, making lifestyle changes will also help to control your blood pressure.