Propranolol
Supraventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Tachycardia ... show more
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DRUG STATUS
Approvals
US(FDA), UK(BNF)
Essential Medicine
YES
Teratogenicity
Unlisted
Pharmaceutical Class
Beta-Adrenergic Blocker
Propranolol
Know More About This Medicine -
Click HereSummary
Propranolol is used for several heart and blood pressure problems. It helps lower blood pressure, ease chest pain, control irregular heartbeats, and protect the heart after a heart attack. It can also help prevent migraines and reduce shaking from essential tremor. It's also used for specific heart valve problems and a rare tumor of the adrenal gland.
Propranolol slows down the heart and lowers blood pressure by blocking signals in the body that make the heart beat faster and stronger. It reduces the release of a hormone that raises blood pressure and calms down the nervous system's signals that increase blood pressure.
The dosage of Propranolol depends on the condition it's treating. For high blood pressure, a typical daily dose is between 120mg and 240mg. For chest pain, it's usually 80mg to 320mg daily. It's taken orally, by mouth.
Common side effects of Propranolol include tiredness, dizziness, and lightheadedness. It can occasionally cause stomach upset, nausea, or diarrhea. It can also affect mood, potentially causing depression, fatigue, or irritability.
Propranolol can slow your heart rate too much, sometimes even stopping it, especially if you're also taking certain other medicines. It can also make epinephrine less effective. If you take too much, your blood pressure can drop dangerously low and your heart rate can slow severely.
Indications and Purpose
What is Propranolol used for?
Propranolol is a medicine used for several heart and blood pressure problems. It helps lower blood pressure, ease chest pain (angina), control irregular heartbeats, and protect the heart after a heart attack. It can also help prevent migraines and reduce shaking from essential tremor. It's also used for specific heart valve problems and a rare tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma). However, it's *not* for sudden, severe high blood pressure or to stop a migraine that's already started.
How does Propranolol work?
Propranolol is a medicine that slows down the heart and lowers blood pressure. It does this by blocking signals in the body that make the heart beat faster and stronger, and also constrict blood vessels. At high doses, it might have other effects on the heart's electrical activity, but how important this is isn't entirely clear. Lowering blood pressure happens because the heart pumps less forcefully, it reduces the release of a blood pressure-raising hormone, and it calms down the nervous system's signals that increase blood pressure.
Is Propranolol effective?
Propranolol is a medicine that helps with several heart problems. Studies show it can lessen chest pain (angina), improve exercise tolerance in people with angina, slow a fast heart rate (in atrial fibrillation), lower blood pressure, and even reduce the risk of death after a heart attack. While the studies showed it's effective, the exact amount of improvement varied depending on the condition.
How does one know if Propranolol is working?
Studies show propranolol helps people with chest pain (angina) by reducing pain episodes and letting them exercise longer. It also helps people who've had a heart attack live longer. It can slow a fast heart rate in people with an irregular heartbeat. Finally, it can lower blood pressure in some people with high blood pressure. These effects were seen in different sized studies involving many people.
Directions for Use
What is the usual dose of Propranolol?
Propranolol is a medicine with different amounts needed depending on what it's treating. For high blood pressure, a typical daily dose is between 120mg and 240mg, but sometimes more is needed. For chest pain, it's usually 80mg to 320mg daily. For a heart rhythm problem (atrial fibrillation), it's usually a smaller amount, taken several times a day. The amount also changes for other uses like headaches or tremors. It's not known if it's safe or works well for children.
How do I take Propranolol?
Propranolol's dose depends on why you're taking it. For a heart condition called hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, you might take 20-40 milligrams (mg) several times a day, before meals and at night. For high blood pressure, you might start with 40mg twice a day, and your doctor could increase that. The exact amount and how often you take it will be different for other health problems. Whether to take it with food isn't specified in the information provided.
For how long do I take Propranolol?
How long you take propranolol depends on why you're taking it. For migraines, give it 4-6 weeks at the highest dose; if it's not helping, stop. For high blood pressure, it might work quickly or take a few weeks. If you stop taking it, your doctor will slowly lower your dose over several weeks, not suddenly.
How long does it take for Propranolol to start working?
Propranolol is a medicine. When you take it by mouth, the highest level of it in your blood usually happens within 1 to 4 hours. But if you eat a fatty meal beforehand, it takes longer – about 5 hours to start, and the peak level may not be reached for up to 15 hours. The medicine leaves your body relatively quickly; about half of it is gone in 3 to 6 hours (or sometimes 8).
How should I store Propranolol?
Keep propranolol pills and liquid in a cool, dark place, away from kids. The pills need a special container that protects them from light. The extended-release capsules are a little more flexible about temperature.
Warnings and Precautions
Who should avoid taking Propranolol?
Propranolol is a medicine that can slow your heart rate too much, sometimes even stopping it, especially if you're also taking certain other medicines like calcium channel blockers, digoxin, or clonidine. It can also make epinephrine (used for allergic reactions) less effective. Other medicines might affect how well propranolol works, so your doctor needs to know about everything you're taking. If you take too much propranolol, your blood pressure can drop dangerously low and your heart rate can slow severely; glucagon can help in that case.
Can I take Propranolol with other prescription drugs?
Propranolol is broken down in your body by different enzymes. Other medicines can affect these enzymes. If you take a medicine that slows down these enzymes, more propranolol stays in your body, which can be dangerous. For example, taking propranolol with quinidine can make propranolol levels very high. Conversely, some medicines speed up these enzymes, making propranolol levels lower. Taking propranolol with medicines that already slow your heart can cause your heart to beat too slowly, leading to problems.
Can I take Propranolol with vitamins or supplements?
Yes, you can take Propranolol with vitamins or supplements, but avoid taking it at the same time as calcium, magnesium, or zinc supplements, as they can reduce absorption (space doses by 2 hours). Be cautious with potassium supplements and consult your doctor about herbal products like St. John’s Wort. Always check with your healthcare provider for safety.
Can Propranolol be taken safely while pregnant?
Studies show propranolol use during pregnancy doesn't usually cause major birth defects or miscarriage. However, it can sometimes lead to a slow heart rate, low blood sugar, or breathing problems in the newborn. The effect on the baby's growth is unclear. Doctors only prescribe it during pregnancy if the benefits for the mother clearly outweigh any potential risks to the baby. High doses harmed baby rats in studies, but not baby rabbits.
Can Propranolol be taken safely while breastfeeding?
Propranolol is a medicine that can pass into breast milk in small amounts. We don't know for sure if this small amount harms a baby. Doctors need to carefully weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the mom's need for the medicine and any possible risks to the baby. If a nursing mom needs propranolol, her doctor will help her decide what's best for her and her baby.
Is Propranolol safe for the elderly?
Older adults need to start taking propranolol at a very low dose. This is because their livers, kidneys, and hearts might not work as well as younger people's, and they often take other medicines. Starting slowly helps prevent problems.
Is it safe to exercise while taking Propranolol?
Yes, but Propranolol can limit your heart rate and endurance. Avoid overexertion and monitor for dizziness or fatigue during physical activity. Consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Propranolol?
Drinking alcohol with propranolol can have mixed effects on the amount of the drug in your blood. Sometimes, it can cause a sudden, temporary spike. Other times, if you drink regularly, it might actually lower the amount of propranolol in your system over time. It's unpredictable how alcohol will affect propranolol in your body.
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