What is propranolol?

Propranolol is in a group of drugs called beta-blockers. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins).

Propranolol is used to treat tremors, angina (chest pain), hypertension (high blood pressure), heart rhythm disorders, and other heart or circulatory conditions. It is also used to treat or prevent heart attack, and to reduce the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.

Propranolol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to propranolol, or if you have asthma or certain heart conditions, especially second or third degree heart block.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before taking propranolol, tell your doctor if you have:

• bronchitis, emphysema, or other breathing disorders;
• diabetes;
• low blood pressure;
• a heart problem such as heart block, sick sinus syndrome, slow heart rate, or congestive heart failure;
• depression;
• liver or kidney disease;
• a thyroid disorder;
• pheochromocytoma; or
• problems with circulation (such as Raynaud's syndrome).

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Propranolol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your blood levels of propranolol.

▲ Back to top

For regular (short-acting) propranolol: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 4 hours away, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.

For extended-release propranolol (Inderal LA, InnoPran XL and others): Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next dose is less than 8 hours away, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.

Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

▲ Back to top

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, slow, or uneven heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;
• swelling of your ankles or feet;
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• depression, confusion, hallucinations; or
• cold feeling in your hands and feet.

Less serious side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps;
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;
• sleep problems (insomnia); or
• tired feeling.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

▲ Back to top

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• clonidine (Catapres);
• digitalis (digoxin, Lanoxin);
• dobutamine (Dobutrex);
• haloperidol (Haldol);
• isoproterenol (Isuprel);
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), and others;
• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate);
• aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others;
• doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress), terazosin (Hytrin);
• a heart medication such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), reserpine (Serpasil), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), or verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin);
• amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release); or
• an ACE inhibitor such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), or trandolapril (Mavik).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with propranolol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Inderal, Inderal LA, InnoPran XL, and propranolol

▲ Back to top