II. Background
- Propranolol was the first Beta Blocker, developed in the 1960s by James Black
- Dr. Black later won the Nobel Prize in 1988 for Beta Blocker development
III. Indications
- Primary
- Migraine Headache Prophylaxis
- Esophageal Varices Prevention of Recurrent Bleeding (not FDA approved)
- Essential Tremor
- Thyrotoxicosis (Hyperthyroidism) (not FDA approved)
- Performance Anxiety (not FDA approved)
- Perioperative Pheochromocytoma Management
- Must be used with alpha blocker
- Other indications for which Selective Beta Blockers Preferred instead of Propranolol
IV. Mechanism
- Non-Selective Beta Blocker
-
Beta 1 Adrenergic Receptor
Antagonist
- Decreases Heart Rate, Cardiac Output, and Sympathetic System output (decreased renin release)
- Prolongs AV conduction and refractory period
-
Beta 2 Adrenergic Receptor
Antagonist
- Risk of bronchoconstriction
V. Precautions
- Patients may have very different responses to various formulations (regular, LA, XL)
VI. Dosing: Primary Indications
-
Migraine Headache Prophylaxis
- Regular: Start 40 mg orally twice daily
- XR/LA: 80 mg orally daily
- Maximum: 240 mg/day)
-
Pheochromocytoma Surgery
- Must be used concurrently with alpha blocker
- Start three days before surgery: 60 mg orally two to three times daily
-
Essential Tremor
- Start 40 mg orally twice daily
- Target 120 to 320 mg/day
-
Thyrotoxicosis (not FDA approved)
- Start 60 to 80 mg orally every 4 hours OR
- Start 0.5 to 1 mg IV over 10 minutes every 3 hours
-
Esophageal Varices Prevention of Recurrent Bleeding (not FDA approved)
- Start 20 to 40 mg orally twice daily
- Titrate up to 180 mg twice daily as needed, targeting Heart Rate drop of 25% from baseline
-
Performance Anxiety (not FDA approved)
- Take 20-40 mg orally as needed 45 minutes before performance
VII. Dosing: Other Indications
- Rarely Used for Hypertension, Angina or SVT management
- Propranolol has been replaced by newer, selective Beta Blockers for these indications
- As the first Beta Blocker developed, Propranolol has historical indications for Hypertension, CAD and a fib RVR
-
Hypertension
- Propranolol (regular release)
- Start 20 to 40 mg orally twice daily
- Target 160 to 480 mg/day
- Maximum 640 mg/day
- Propranolol LA (long acting)
- Start 60 to 80 mg orally at bedtime
- Target 120 to 160 mg daily
- Maximum 640 mg/day
- Propranolol (regular release)
-
Angina
- Propranolol (regular release)
- Start 10 to 20 mg orally three to four times daily
- Target 160 to 240 mg/day
- Maximum 320 mg/day
- Propranolol LA (long acting)
- Start 80 mg orally at bedtime
- Target 160 to 240 mg/day
- Maximum 320 mg/day
- Propranolol (regular release)
-
Atrial Fibrillation Rate Control
- Start 10 to 30 mg orally three to four times daily
- Intravenous Dosing in life threatening Arrhythmia (very rare use)
- Avoid in Hypertensive Emergency
- Load: 1-3 mg IV over 2-5 minutes
- May repeat once in 2 minutes (to a total maximum up to 0.1 mg/kg)
- Sustained response for 6-8 hours (do not give additional doses for 4 hours)
VIII. Adverse Effects
- See Beta Blocker
- Transient Hypertension
- Beta 2 Adrenergic ReceptorAntagonists transiently constrict large arteries
- Rebound Hypertension
- Sudden discontinuation of Propranolol
- CNS Adverse Effects
- CNS penetration
-
Congestive Heart Failure Exacerbation
- May worsen acute, decompensated CHF
IX. Safety
- Pregnancy Category C
- Consider safe in Lactation
X. Pharmacokinetics
- Protein bound 90%
- Hepatic metabolism and renal excretion
XI. Drug Interactions
-
Cimetidine
- Increases Propanolol serum levels
-
Alcohol
- Acute Alcohol Intoxication increases Propranolol levels
- Chronic Alcohol use decreases Propranolol levels
-
Digoxin
- Fatal Third degree AV Block has occurred
XII. Resources
- Propranolol Tablet (DailyMed)
- Propranolol Injection (DailyMed)
- Propranolol LA (DailyMed)
- Propranolol Solution (DailyMed)
XIII. References
- Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 78-9
- Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
propranolol (on 10/19/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
PROPRANOLOL 10 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.08 each |
PROPRANOLOL 20 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.08 each |
PROPRANOLOL 20 MG/5 ML SOLN | Generic | $0.09 per ml |
PROPRANOLOL 40 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.10 each |
PROPRANOLOL 60 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.29 each |
PROPRANOLOL 80 MG TABLET | Generic | $0.22 each |
PROPRANOLOL ER 120 MG CAPSULE | Generic | $0.27 each |
PROPRANOLOL ER 160 MG CAPSULE | Generic | $0.38 each |
PROPRANOLOL ER 60 MG CAPSULE | Generic | $0.20 each |
PROPRANOLOL ER 80 MG CAPSULE | Generic | $0.20 each |
Ontology: Propranolol (C0033497)
Definition (NCI) | A synthetic, nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor blocker with antianginal, antiarrhythmic, antihypertensive properties. Propranolol competitively antagonizes beta-adrenergic receptors, thereby causing negative chronotropic and inotropic effects leading to a reduction in cardiac output. |
Definition (CSP) | noncardioselective beta adrenergic antagonist; used in treatment or prevention of many disorders including acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, migraine; pheochromocytoma, etc. |
Definition (MSH) | A widely used non-cardioselective beta-adrenergic antagonist. Propranolol has been used for MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION; ARRHYTHMIA; ANGINA PECTORIS; HYPERTENSION; HYPERTHYROIDISM; MIGRAINE; PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA; and ANXIETY but adverse effects instigate replacement by newer drugs. |
Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
MSH | D011433 |
SnomedCT | 372772003, 55745002 |
LNC | LP16266-6, MTHU005037 |
English | Propranolol, Propanolol, 2-Propanol, 1-((1-methylethyl)amino)-3-(1-naphthalenyloxy)-, 1-((1-Methylethyl)amino)-3-(1-naphthalenyloxy)-2-propanol, Propranolol [Chemical/Ingredient], propanolol, 1-[(1-Methylethyl)amino]-3-(1-naphthalenyloxy)-2-propanol, PROPRANOLOL, propranolol, Propranolol (product), Propranolol (substance) |
Swedish | Propranolol |
Czech | propranolol |
Finnish | Propranololi |
Russian | DEKSPROPRANOLOL, INDERAL, PROPRANOLOL, ANAPRILIN, АНАПРИЛИН, ДЕКСПРОПРАНОЛОЛ, ИНДЕРАЛ, ПРОПРАНОЛОЛ |
Japanese | 塩酸プロプラノロール, アイデイトロール, インデラル, シンプラール, ソラシロール, メントリース, ノルモテンス, ラピノーゲン, サワタールLA, デキスプロプラノロール, プロパノロール, Tag錠, プロプラノロール |
Croatian | PROPRANOLOL |
Polish | Propranolol, Inderal |
Spanish | Propanolol, propranolol (producto), propranolol (sustancia), propranolol, Propranolol |
Portuguese | Propanolol, Propranolol |
French | Propranolol |
German | Propranolol |
Italian | Propanololo |
Ontology: Inderal (C0591636)
Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Organic Chemical (T109) |
MSH | D011433 |
English | inderal, Inderal |