The interaction can cause severe health problems. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you take. Check with your doctor before starting any new medicine. Most people who take beta blockers do well and have no side effects. Since beta blockers slow your heart, you may feel more tired.
Exercise may seem harder than before. For example, you may get out of breath when you take a walk or climb stairs. Use a device to measure your heartrate. Some people can have a loss of sex drive when taking beta blockers. Men can have trouble with erections while on the medicine. Talk to your doctor if you have these problems. Beta blockers may make you feel dizzy or lightheaded.
When you first start taking them, do not drive a car or operate machines. You can resume these once you know how the medicine affects you. The dizziness often goes away after you have taken the medicine for a few days. Last Updated: July 21, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. A healthy heart is central to overall good health.
Embracing a healthy lifestyle at any age can prevent heart…. It is the result of other…. High blood pressure happens when blood flows through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal. It is sometimes…. Visit The Symptom Checker.
Read More. Prescription Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medicines. 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.
If you get severe headaches, there are steps you can take to help prevent migraines. This includes working out what things trigger an attack so you can avoid them.
Page last reviewed: 26 November Next review due: 26 November Propranolol - Brand names: Angilol, Bedranol, Beta-prograne, Half Beta-prograne On this page About propranolol Key facts Who can and cannot take propranolol How and when to take propranolol Side effects How to cope with side effects of propranolol Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about propranolol.
About propranolol Propranolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta blockers. If you have a heart problem, you can take propranolol to: treat high blood pressure treat illnesses that cause an irregular heartbeat , like atrial fibrillation prevent future heart disease, heart attacks and strokes prevent chest pain caused by angina Propranolol can help reduce your symptoms if you have too much thyroid hormone in your body thyrotoxicosis.
Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Propranolol slows down your heart rate and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body. It is usually prescribed for high blood pressure and other heart problems, but it can also help with the physical signs of anxiety, like sweating and shaking. Your very first dose of propranolol may make you feel dizzy, so take it at bedtime.
After that, if you do not feel dizzy, you can take it in the morning. The main side effects of propranolol are feeling dizzy or tired, cold hands or feet, difficulties sleeping and nightmares. These side effects are usually mild and short lived. To make sure it is safe for you, tell your doctor before starting propranolol if you have : ever had an allergic reaction to propranolol or any other medicine low blood pressure or a slow heart rate heart failure which is getting worse severe blood circulation problems in your limbs such as Raynaud's phenomenon , which may make your fingers and toes tingle or turn pale or blue metabolic acidosis — when there is too much acid in your blood lung disease or asthma Tell your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding.
Propranolol comes as 2 different types of medicine: standard release — releases propranolol into your body quickly, you may need to take it several times a day depending on your dose sustained release SR — this dissolves slowly so you do not have to take it as often, once a day is usually enough 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.
Important Keep taking propranolol even if you feel well. Dosage How much you take depends on why you need propranolol. Doses for adults and children over the age of 12 for: high blood pressure , the starting dose is usually 80mg twice a day. If this dose is not working well enough if your blood pressure does not go down enough , your doctor may increase it to a maximum of mg twice a day. This can be increased to mg to mg a day. Your doctor or pharmacist will explain how to split the dose over the day.
How to take it Propranolol does not usually upset your tummy so you can take it with or without food. What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? The standard dose of a beta blocker varies based on your symptoms, diagnosis, and other medical conditions.
For anxiety, alone, healthcare providers usually start propranolol at a low dose, slowly increasing if necessary. There is also an extended-release version of propranolol, but for anxiety, usually the non-extended version is used.
Beta blockers can help people who experience anxiety feel calmer and more in control of their emotions without making them feel under the influence. The goal of anxiety treatment is for you to be able to live your life without symptoms standing in your way.
Unlike SSRIs—which manage anxiety and depression long-term and take several weeks to begin working—beta blockers are effective on the first use and can be used intermittently with no side effects. They alleviate short-term anxiety symptoms, but do not cure anxiety.
If you are experiencing anxiety symptoms around the clock, you may need a different medication, or to use a beta blocker to supplement another prescription. Beta blockers can be effective treatment for stage fright before events or public speaking engagements—and for sleep anxiety. Just be sure to try it at home first to see how the medication affects you before using it for a high-stress event.
They may be effective for social anxiety if taken before parties or dates—a safe option for whenever anxiety emerges. If worries about the past day or concerns about the next day increase heart rate, preventing a natural transition into sleep, this beta blocker prevents that interference. If you are worried that a beta blocker might impact your coronavirus risk, ask your healthcare provider before starting the medication.
There is potential for other adverse events from this type of medication. As with all medications, there are potential side effects :. Unlike traditional anxiety medications , beta blockers are not addictive. Propranolol and the like do not cause drug dependency or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them and are safe to take occasionally over a long period of time.
Zablow says. I can take propranolol and have no issues feeling sober enough to drive or interact with my kids, something I cannot say for other medications such as benzodiazepines, like Xanax. Because a beta blocker is fairly fast acting but also does not impair users to a significant degree, Dr.
I keep the medication in my bedroom for nights when I cannot slow my busy mind down. I also keep a bottle in the kitchen for when daytime worries keep me from being my best self. Ask your healthcare provider which medication might be a better fit for you and make sure you give a full health history.
Here are the basic differences between the two:.
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