Propranolol Tablets

What are Propranolol tablets?

Propranolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It is used to help treat a variety of illnesses such as:

• treat high blood pressure, an enlarged heart muscle or tremors
• treat angina pectoris (pain in the chest caused by blockages in the arteries leading to the heart) or high blood pressure caused by a tumour near a kidney (phaeochromocytoma)
• help prevent additional heart attacks
• control irregular or fast heartbeats
• control fast heart rate and other symptoms caused by an overactive thyroid gland
• reduce migraine attacks
• calm people who are anxious or worried
• prevent stomach bleeding in patients with high blood pressure in their liver or swollen blood vessels in their gullet.

 

What is a beta-blocker?

Beta-blockers work mainly by slowing down the heart. They do this by blocking the action of hormones like adrenaline. Beta-blockers usually come as tablets. They are prescription-only medicines, which means they can only be prescribed by a GP or another suitably qualified healthcare professional.

How to take Propranolol tablets?

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Take with water before meals. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to stop. The dosage of Propranolol will depend on what condition you are trying to treat.

Propranolol is severely toxic if used in overdose. If you have accidentally taken more than the prescribed dose or are experiencing symptoms of overdose, you should urgently seek medical attention.

Can Propranolol tablets help with high blood pressure?

Propranolol tablets can help reduce high blood pressure in combination with diet and exercise.

Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. Adults over 40 are advised to get their blood pressure checked every 5 years. If your blood pressure is high you are at risk of developing certain diseases and can be a sign of more serious issues like obesity.

What causes high blood pressure?

Common causes of high blood pressure include:

• age – the risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older
• a family history of high blood pressure
• being of African or Caribbean origin
• a high amount of salt in your food
• lack of exercise
• being overweight
• regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol
• smoking
• long-term sleep deprivation
• Long term health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and lupus

 

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help keep your blood pressure at a normal level. High blood pressure can also be triggered by certain medication. These include:

• the contraceptive pill
• steroids
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as ibuprofen and naproxen
• some pharmacy cough and cold remedies
• some herbal remedies – particularly those containing liquorice
• some recreational drugs – such as cocaine and amphetamines
• some selective serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) antidepressants – such as venlafaxine

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is often symptom-less, and you will not necessarily know you have it until you get tested. Although some symptoms can include:

• Headache
• Fatigue or confusion
• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular heartbeat
• Blood in the urine
• Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears

 

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor straight away.

Side effects of Propranolol tablets?

Like all medications, Propranolol tablets can cause side effects. Find out more in the Propranolol tablets patient information leaflet. Stop treatment and contact a doctor at once if you have the following symptoms of an:

• intolerance to Propranolol tablets such as slow heart rate and low blood pressure causing dizziness, light-headedness, fainting or blurred vision
• an allergic reaction such as itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue

 

Some common side effects include:

• tiredness and/or weakness (these symptoms usually disappear), cold extremities, difficulty in sleeping
• slow or irregular heartbeat, Raynaud’s syndrome
• nightmares

Interactions between Propranolol tablets and food/alcohol?

There is no reaction between Propranolol tablets and food, though a healthy diet will help decrease high blood pressure.

It is not recommended to drink whilst taking Propranolol tablets as it can increase certain side effects such as dizziness and lightheadedness. If you do drink it is recommended to stay under the national alcohol recommendation.

Interactions between Propranolol tablets and other drugs?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, especially:

• medicines to treat heart diseases such as verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, nisoldipine, nicardipine, isradipine, lacidipine, and dihydropyridine
• medicines to treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) such as disopyramide, quinidine, flecainide, amiodarone, propafenone
• ergotamine derivates or rizatriptan (to treat migraine)
• adrenaline (epinephrine) (used in anaphylactic shock)
• medicines to treat diabetes such as insulin
• lidocaine (to treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or as a local anaesthetic)
• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) such as indometacin
• medicines to treat heart conditions (digitalis glycosides) such as digoxin
• chlorpromazine and thioridazine (for mental illness)
• cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers)
• other medicines to treat high blood pressure such as alpha blockers, clonidine, moxonidine, methyldopa or hydralazine
• levodopa (used in Parkinson’s disease)
• monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, imipramine or fluvoxamine (to treat depression)
• warfarin (to prevent clotting)
• rifampicin (to treat infection)
• barbiturates (to treat severe insomnia)
• theophylline (treating asthma and reversible airways obstruction)
• medicines to clear excess water from the body (diuretics)
• anaesthetics
• medicines to treat high blood pressure or difficulty passing urine such as prazosin
• smoking tobacco

Is there any reason I would not be able to take Propranolol Tablets?

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Propranolol tablets if you:

• have a history of allergic reactions
• suffer with muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
• have a heart weakness or first-degree heart block
• have kidney or liver disease
• suffer from blood circulation problems (which may cause your fingers and toes to tingle or turn pale or blue).
• have symptoms of hyperthyroidism (increased appetite, weight loss, sweating)
• suffer with or have a history of psoriasis
• suffer from Raynaud’s disease (cold sensations in fingers and toes) or intermittent claudication (narrowing of arteries in the legs causing pain when walking)
• are a smoker
• are elderly

How do I store Propranolol tablets?

Store Propranolol tablets in a cool, dry place away from children. Do not use Propranolol tablets after the expiry date on the box. You can find all this information and more in the Propranolol tablets patient information leaflet.

Can I buy Propranolol tablets online?

You can buy Propranolol tablets online from registered online prescribers such as e-Surgery.

Whenever you are buying Propranolol tablets or any other medication, make sure you check for the green GPhC and MHRA logo on the bottom of each page of the website you are using.

Where can I get more information about Propranolol tablets online?

You can find out more in the Propranolol tablets patient information leaflet.

You can also use our completely free Ask-a-Pharmacist service to get health advice from a trained professional. We’re here to help!

How will my Propranolol tablets be delivered?

e-Surgery uses Royal Mail delivery with choices starting from Royal Mail 48 tracked delivery, Royal Mail tracked 24 and Royal Mail 1pm special delivery (discover more about e-Surgery delivery). Your Propranolol tablets will arrive in discreet, recyclable packaging at a delivery address of your choice. Find out to recycle packaging from e-Surgery.

How to dispose of Propranolol tablets?

Propranolol tablets come in blister packs that are not currently recyclable, so once they have been used can be disposed of in a general waste bin. If the Propranolol tablets are unfinished dispose of the medication safely and drop them off at a local pharmacy. Cardboard packaging and paper patient information leaflets are recyclable. For any more information on the disposal of Propranolol tablets, you can use our free Ask-a-Pharmacist service.