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. Damage to these organs may cause heart disease, a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, loss of vision, and other problems. In addition to taking medication, making lifestyle changes will also help to control your blood pressure. Propranolol is a non-selective beta receptor antagonist.75 This means that it does not have preference to β1 or β2 receptors.

Propranolol may cause heart failure in some patients. This medicine may also be used to treat irregular heartbeats, tremors, or pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor). It may also be used to reduce the risk of death in patients who have heart attacks. If you have heart problems, you can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These changes will also help if you have high blood pressure.

Pregnancy and Lactation

If you’re under 55 and not of African Caribbean or black African origin, you’ll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. If you stop taking propranolol, it will take about 1 to 2 days for it to be completely out of your body but the side effects can last for up to 1 week. Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.

• Blocking these receptors helps your heart beat more slowly.
• If your pulse is faster or slower than it should be, call your doctor.
• Beta blockers are not usually the first choice for high blood pressure.
• Remember that this medicine will not cure your high blood pressure, but it does help control it.
• Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.
• Propranolol oral solution should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C).

Effects of propranolol on other drugs

This is because some hormonal contraceptives can raise your blood pressure and stop propranolol working properly. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you have high blood pressure or another heart condition. Beta blockers are not usually the first choice for high blood pressure. The medicine your doctor prescribes depends on your age and ethnicity. It works differently if you’re using it for anxiety. When you are anxious, your brain makes chemical messengers called adrenaline and noradrenaline.

This will depend on your symptoms, whether it’s a one-off or a recurring problem, how well propranolol works for you and whether you get side effects. For heart conditions or high blood pressure, treatment is usually long term and may be for the rest of your life. Drinking alcohol may increase the drug levels of propranolol and may increase risk of side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at FDA-1088. This medicine may increase risk of stroke in PHACE syndrome patients with severe blood vessel problems in the brain.

What are the brand names of this medication?

Propranolol is not thought to be harmful during pregnancy, but it may affect your baby’s growth in later pregnancy. Discuss taking propranolol with your doctor or midwife as you may need extra scans to check your baby’s growth. Like all medicines, propranolol can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

Common questions about propranolol

Atenolol, metoprolol, timolol and nadolol are all beta blockers and they work well in preventing migraines. For heart conditions or high blood pressure, propranolol can take up to a week to reach its full effect. You may not feel Propranolol brands any different but that does not mean it is not working. 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. Talk to your doctor about how you feel and about any symptoms you experience during this time.

There may be other medicines that are better to use during pregnancy. If you forget to take a dose of propranolol, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. If you’re taking propranolol as a liquid, it will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one.

You’ll need to have your blood pressure checked regularly if you’re taking propranolol for a long time for migraines or anxiety. For anxiety, you’ll usually take propranolol for a short amount of time, to help with your physical symptoms. Speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking it for more than a few months.

• Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur.
• Propranolol should not be used if your blood pressure is too low (hypotension).
• Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor.

Measure the concentrated oral solution, Intensol™ with the dropper that comes with the package. You may mix the concentrated solution with water, juice, soda, applesauce, or pudding to make it easier to swallow, then take the mixture right away. Propranolol is also used to treat severe chest pain (angina), migraine headaches, or hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (thickened heart muscle). RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Some people on propranolol say their sex drive goes down and some men find they cannot get an erection.

However, this is not a common side effect and there is not enough evidence to say for sure that propranolol is causing it. If propranolol is not working for you and makes you sick (vomit) or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking propranolol before surgery. This is because propranolol can lower your blood pressure too much when it’s combined with some anaesthetics. The physical symptoms of anxiety are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain.

Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Do not interrupt or suddenly stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping it completely. Some conditions may become worse when the medicine is stopped suddenly, which can be dangerous.

Propranolol is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, shaking (tremors), and other conditions. It is used after a heart attack to improve the chance of survival. It is also used to prevent migraine headaches and chest pain (angina). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.

It’s not fully understood how propranolol prevents migraines. It may work by relaxing the blood vessels involved, or by reducing activity in the visual cortex. This is the part of the brain where migraines are believed to start. It can significantly slow your heart rate, cause dizziness, trembling and seizures or fits, and make it difficult to breathe. Most adults and children aged 12 and over can take propranolol.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.