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Inderal

Generic name: propranolol [ pro-PRAN-oh-lol ]
Brand names: Inderal LA, Inderal XL
Drug classes: Group II antiarrhythmics, Non-cardioselective beta blockers

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Feb 29, 2024.

The Inderal brand name has been discontinued in the U.S. If generic versions of this product have been approved by the FDA, there may be generic equivalents available.

What is Inderal?

Inderal is a beta-blocker. Beta-blockers affect the heart and circulation (blood flow through arteries and veins).

Inderal 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.

Inderal LA are long-acting sustained-release capsules taken once daily. For angina treatment the dose can be gradually increased to three-to-seven-day intervals.

Inderal XL is supplied as an extended release capsule and is used for the treatment of hypertension. Inderal XL is taken once daily at bedtime.

Warnings

You should not use Inderal if you have asthma, very slow heart beats, or a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome" or "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker).

Propranolol may mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients. Report any changes in blood sugar levels to you doctor.

Use Inderal only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Inderal if you are allergic to propranolol, or if you have:

To make sure Inderal is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Inderal pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (more detail)

How should I take Inderal?

Take Inderal exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

Adults may take Inderal with or without food, but take it the same way each time.

Doses are based on weight in children. Your child's dose may change if the child gains or loses weight.

Your heart function and blood pressure will need to be checked often.

Tell your doctor if you have a planned surgery.

Your condition may get worse if you stop using Inderal suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.

Propranolol can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Inderal.

If you have high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Detailed Inderal dosage information

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include feeling light-headed or restless, tremors, fast or slow heartbeats, and trouble breathing.

What should I avoid while taking Inderal?

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

Propranolol side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Inderal (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common Inderal side effects may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Inderal side effects (more detail)

What other drugs will affect Inderal?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect propranolol, especially:

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with propranolol. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Inderal drug interactions (more detail)

Popular FAQ

Yes, propranolol might be prescribed “off-label” by your doctor to treat some types of anxiety. "Off-label" use of a drug is when a doctor prescribes it for a different purpose than those formally approved by the FDA. Propranolol can help with symptoms of social anxiety like fast heart rate, sweating and shaking in certain circumstances. For example, some people use it short-term to help with stage fright or fear of public-speaking. Propranolol usually starts to work in about 30 minutes to an hour to relieve symptoms.

Yes, propranolol can make you feel fatigued (tired or sleepy) and lethargic (having a lack of energy). Other central nervous system side effects that may resemble drowsiness include lightheadedness and weakness. Fatigue and lethargy may be associated with increasing doses of the immediate-release product.

Weight gain may occur in some patients using propranolol, a beta-blocker, but it does not appear to be a common side effect. The manufacturer does not list weight gain as a side effect, but several reviews, anecdotal reports and case studies have reported weight gain. A study of the beta-blocker class found that about 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs) of weight was gained in patients overall, possibly due to lowered energy metabolism.

Immediate-release propranolol will clear out of your body in about 1 to 2 days after your last dose, but the therapeutic effects may only last about 8 to 12 hours. The half-life of propranolol (the time it takes for its blood concentration to reduce by one-half) is about 3 to 6 hours. It takes close to 5 half-lives (or 15 to 30 hours) for this drug to be fully eliminated. Stopping propranolol suddenly may make your health condition worse or cause serious side effects, so contact your doctor before stopping treatment.

Yes, it’s possible that propranolol may affect your memory. Central nervous system (CNS) side effects of propranolol include short-term memory loss. Whether propranolol affects long-term memory is unknown.

Propranolol is not approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in patients with anxiety. Propranolol has been studied for anxiety, but right now there is not enough evidence to support its use. More clinical studies are needed to determine whether propranolol is a safe and effective drug for treating any anxiety disorder.

How long propranolol effects last depends on many factors, such as what dosage you take and how your body processes medicines. One study in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that some effects could still be seen about 24 hours after the last dose taken.

Yes, propranolol lowers blood pressure. In fact, it is prescribed to treat high blood pressure. Propranolol is a type of drug called a beta blocker. It decreases blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate.

The peak effect of propranolol immediate-acting solution and propranolol tablets occurs about 1 to 4 hours after it is given. The peak effect of propranolol extended-release capsules occurs about 6 hours after it is given.

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Inderal only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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