What is propranolol 10 mg

This drug can make your asthma worse. For people with severe chest pain: Suddenly stopping propranolol can worsen your chest pain. Propranolol reduces the force of your heartbeat, which could make your heart failure worse. Propranolol may be helpful if you have a history of heart failure, are taking heart failure medications, and are being closely monitored by your doctor. Treatment of this condition with propranolol may reduce your heart rate too much.

Treatment with a pacemaker may be needed. For people with diabetes: Propranolol can cause hypoglycemia low blood sugar. This drug should be used with caution if you have diabetes, especially if you take insulin or other diabetes drugs that can cause low blood sugar. If you suddenly stop taking propranolol and have hyperthyroidism, your symptoms can get worse, or you may get a serious condition called thyroid storm. It can make your lung condition worse.

This drug can change how your heart reacts to general anesthesia and surgery. For people with glaucoma: Propranolol may decrease the pressure in your eyes. This may make it hard to tell if your medications for glaucoma are working. When you stop taking propranolol, the pressure in your eyes may increase. For people with allergies: If you have had severe allergic reactions that cause anaphylaxis , your allergies may get worse when you take propranolol.

Your usual doses of the allergy medication epinephrine may not work as well. Propranolol may block some of the effects of epinephrine. For pregnant women: Propranolol is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:. Propranolol should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk. For women who are breastfeeding: Propranolol is passed through breast milk. In your child, propranolol may cause a slower heart rate and low blood sugar.

It can also cause decreased oxygen in the blood that can cause cyanosis. For seniors: Seniors might have decreased liver, kidney, and heart function, and other medical conditions. There have been reports of heart failure and airway spasms in children who have taken this drug.

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here. Your dose, form, and how often you take it will depend on:. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we can not guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Propranolol oral tablet is used for long-term treatment.

If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. What to do if you miss a dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. How to tell if the drug is working: Your symptoms should improve. For instance, your blood pressure and heart rate should be lower. Or you should have less chest pain, tremors or shaking, or fewer migraine headaches.

A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead to make sure your pharmacy carries it. There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk with your doctor about other drug options that may work for you. Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.

However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained here in is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.

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Learn more about instructions for recovery after this procedure. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Propranolol, Oral Tablet. Important warnings About Side effects Interactions Other warnings Dosage Take as directed Important considerations Alternatives Highlights for propranolol Propranolol oral tablet is available only as a generic drug. Propranolol comes in four forms: oral tablet, extended-release oral capsule, oral liquid solution, and injectable.

Important warnings. What is propranolol? Propranolol side effects. It's best to do the same each day. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.

If you find them difficult to swallow, some brands have a score line to help you break the tablet in half. Check the information leaflet for your brand to see if you can do this. 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. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give you the right amount of medicine. If you forget to take a dose of propranolol, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time for your next dose.

In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose as normal. Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one. If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine. An overdose of propranolol can slow down your heart rate and make it difficult to breathe.

It can also cause dizziness and trembling. The amount of propranolol that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Call or go to online. If you need to go to hospital, do not drive yourself — get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.

Take the propranolol packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you. Like all medicines, propranolol can cause side effects in some people but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. These common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. They're usually mild and short lived. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects bother you or last more than a few days:.

It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects when taking propranolol. In rare cases, propranolol may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis. These are not all the side effects of propranolol.

For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet. Propranolol is not thought to be harmful during pregnancy, but it is not possible to be certain. If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking propranolol. There may be other medicines that are safer for you. It is usually safe to take propranolol if you're breastfeeding. This is because only small amounts get into breast milk, which is not enough to cause any problems to your baby.

However, speak to your doctor before taking propranolol if your baby was premature or has any health problems. There are some medicines that may interfere with the way propranolol works. There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with propranolol. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Like other beta blockers, propranolol works by changing the way your body responds to some nerve impulses, including in the heart.

It slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. It works differently if you're using it for anxiety. When you are anxious, your brain makes chemical messengers called adrenaline and noradrenaline. These make your heart rate faster and make you sweat or shake. Propranolol helps block the effects of these chemical messengers.

This reduces the physical signs of anxiety. We do not fully understand 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. For heart conditions or high blood pressure — propranolol can take up to a week to reach its full effect.

You may not feel any different but that does not mean it is not working. It's important to keep taking your medicine. For migraines — it can take several weeks for propranolol to start making a real difference, so keep taking it.

For heart conditions or high blood pressure — treatment is usually long term and may be for the rest of your life. For anxiety — propranolol is usually taken short term, to help with your physical symptoms.

Speak to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking it for more than a few months. 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 migraines — treatment can last for several months or years, depending on how bad your symptoms are. If you're taking it for a heart condition, or to prevent migraines, it works best when you take it long term. 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.

However, it's best to take propranolol only for as long as you need it. You'll need to have your blood pressure checked regularly if you're taking propranolol for a long time for migraines or anxiety. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking propranolol. If you're bothered by side effects, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine instead. Stopping propranolol suddenly may make your health problem worse.

In addition, if you stop suddenly after taking it for a long time, you may get extra side effects as a reaction to stopping it. These include an irregular heart rate, sweating and shaking. 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. Propranolol works as well as other beta blockers for reducing blood pressure. The main difference between propranolol and other beta blockers is that it does not just affect your heart.

It can affect other parts of your body too, such as your lungs. There are lots of other medicines to lower your blood pressure and treat chest pain. They work in a different way to beta blockers and include:.

Beta blockers are not usually the first choice treatment for high blood pressure. The medicine your doctor prescribes depends on your age and ethnicity. If you're under 55, you'll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker.

If you're 55 or older, or you're any age and of African Caribbean or black African origin, you'll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker. Sometimes you may have to try other blood pressure-lowering medicines if you get side effects. Many people need to take a combination of different blood pressure-lowering tablets. Atenolol, metoprolol, timolol and nadolol are all beta blockers and they work well in preventing migraines. However, most doctors prescribe propranolol.

There are some other medicines that are known to prevent migraines but they are not officially approved in the UK. They include amitriptyline , sodium valproate and gabapentin and they may have different side effects. Topiramate can also be used to prevent migraines. It works just as well as propranolol. However, topiramate has not been officially approved for migraine for children under the age of Propranolol treats the physical symptoms of anxiety — for example, it stops your heart beating too fast.

You'll usually only take propranolol for a short time. The physical symptoms of anxiety are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant like sertraline to treat these imbalances. You usually take antidepressants long term. Many doctors prefer medicine-free treatments. These include talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy.

If you're having talking therapy, your doctor may prescribe propranolol at the same time. This will help you with your physical symptoms. Tell your doctor that you're taking propranolol if you're going to be put to sleep using general anaesthetic , or you're having any kind of major operation. 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. Drinking alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of propranolol, which can make you feel dizzy or light-headed.

During the first few days of taking propranolol or after an increase in your dose, it is best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you. If you find propranolol makes you feel dizzy it's best to stop drinking alcohol. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help if you have high blood pressure or another heart condition. Some people on propranolol say they put on weight, especially in the first few months of taking it.

This is not known to be a common side effect of taking propranolol, however, and there is not enough information to say for sure why some people put on weight. It could, for example, be because propranolol can make you feel tired which could make you less active.

It could also affect the way your body uses energy. If you're worried about putting on weight with propranolol, speak to your doctor. However, some types of hormonal methods of contraception, like the combined pill and contraceptive patch , are not usually recommended for women taking propranolol and other medicines for high blood pressure. This is because some hormonal contraceptives can raise your blood pressure and stop propranolol working properly.

It's unlikely that propranolol affects fertility in men or women. However there's not enough evidence to say for certain. If you're trying for a baby, or you're having problems getting pregnant while on propranolol, speak to your doctor. 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.

You do not need to stop playing sports if you take propranolol. But do not push yourself too much. Regular exercise is good for you because it lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition.

Be aware, though, that in some sports propranolol is not allowed if you're competing at a high level. Propranolol can make some people feel dizzy especially when you first start taking it or after taking a bigger dose. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery. If you have heart problems, you can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes.

These will also help if you have high blood pressure.