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.
How is propranolol supplied (dosage forms)?
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.
What may interact with 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.
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.
What Are Warnings and Precautions for Propranolol ( Vasostrict, ADH)?
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.
- If high blood pressure is not treated, it can cause serious problems such as heart failure, blood vessel disease, stroke, or kidney disease.
- The CYP2D6 inhibitor quinidine has been found to increase propranolol levels by 2- to 3-fold.
- It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate to improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure.
- Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.
- Do not interrupt or suddenly stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor.
Other Interactions
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.
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.
- Propranolol may cause harmful effects for the baby if taken during pregnancy; however, its use during breastfeeding is generally considered to be safe.
- The medicine your doctor prescribes depends on your age and ethnicity.
- You’ll need to have your blood pressure checked regularly if you’re taking propranolol for a long time for migraines or anxiety.
- The elimination half-life of propranolol ranges from 2.8 to 8 hours in different studies, with a typical half-life of around 4 hours.
- If you are taking it once a day, your doctor may advise you to take your first dose before bedtime, because it can make you feel dizzy.
Side Effects
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.
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.
If you’re taking it for anxiety, there do not seem to be any lasting harmful effects if you take it for several months or years. If you’re taking it for a heart condition, or to prevent migraines, it works best when you take it long term. Propranolol is generally safe to take for a long time. For migraines, it can take several weeks for propranolol to start making a real difference, so keep taking it.
What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Propranolol (Zovirax)?
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.
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.
Propranolol, like other beta-blockers, is classified as pregnancy category C in the United States and ADEC category C in Australia. Propranolol is available in the form of 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mg (as propranolol hydrochloride) oral tablets, among other formulations. This treatment shows promise as being superior to corticosteroids when treating IHs. Propranolol is being investigated as a potential treatment for PTSD.
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.
In the 2008 Summer Olympics, 50-metre pistol silver medalist and 10-metre air pistol bronze medalist Kim Jong-su tested positive for propranolol and was stripped of his medals. Propranolol is used by musicians, actors, and public speakers for its ability to treat anxiety symptoms activated by the sympathetic nervous system. Scottish scientist James W. Black developed propranolol in the 1960s. The experimental log P of propranolol is 3.0 to 3.48 and its predicted log P ranges from 2.20 to 3.10. The contribution of CYP2D6 to the metabolism of propranolol is less than with metoprolol and is described as only “marginal”.
Propranolol and pregnancy
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.
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, 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 Propranolol brands is approximately 90%, with a range of 85 to 96% in different studies.