Doctors widely consider beta-blockers to be a safe class of medication. They have comparatively few side effects and are not prone to abuse or dependence.
Nevertheless, beta-blockers like Propranolol are prescription medications and can interact negatively with some other types of drugs.
Certain drug interactions may decrease the effectiveness of the medications you’re taking and in some cases can even lead to harmful effects.
As a result, you should always tell a healthcare provider about anything else you take before starting a new prescription medication, including beta-blockers
How Does Propranolol Interact With Other Drugs?
There are different categories for the likelihood of interactions between medications as well as how serious those interactions can be. These include:
- Contraindicated: The risk of negative interaction is very high. You should never take medications with contraindications as they can lower the effectiveness of your medication and leave you at high risk for negative effects.
- Serious: Risk of negative interaction is high. You should only take drugs with serious interaction under the close supervision of a doctor.
- Significant: There is a likelihood of negative interaction. You should only take drugs with significant interaction under the supervision of your doctor.
- Minor: The likelihood of negative interaction is low.
Propranolol isn’t known to have severe interaction with any other medications; however, it can carry serious, significant, and minor interactions with other drugs.
Any prescription medication that slows your heart rate like this medication may interact with other drugs that affect your heart, circulatory system, or blood pressure.
What Drugs Does Propranolol Interact With?
Patients can safely take many types of drugs with a Propranolol prescription. However, it does interact with certain classifications of medicine.
For starters, because this drug is itself a beta-blocker medication, it should not be taken with other beta-blockers.
Also, because this drug is often used to treat high blood pressure, angina, and other heart conditions, it's important to let your doctor know if you're taking any other medications for these conditions so you don't experience negative drug interactions or serious side effects.
Your doctor will determine whether or not a beta-blocker prescription is right for you based on your health history and the information you provide them.
So always be sure to alert your doctor to any changes in your health as well as provide a full list of all medications and supplements you take.
Drugs that can cause dangerous interactions with this medication include:
- Blood pressure drugs, such as:
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
- Other Beta-blockers
- Alpha-blockers
- Anesthetics (Drugs that block sensation), such as:
- Lidocaine
- Mepivacaine
- Dobutamine
- Drugs used to increase heart rate and blood pressure, such as:
- Epinephrine
- Isoproterenol
- Dobutamine
- Asthma drugs, such as theophylline.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin
- Drugs for stomach ulcers, such as cimetidine
- Antacids with aluminum hydroxide
You should always err on the side of caution with prescription medications. Please check with a healthcare provider before combining your prescription with any other medication, even those not included on this list.
Propranolol is commonly prescribed off-label to minimize the physical symptoms that result from performance anxiety often experienced before a big moment, such as a presentation, performance, or job interview.
When given in a small dose, usually around 10-20 mg, it prevents the symptoms of anxiety by blocking the production of norepinephrine, more commonly referred to as adrenaline, from being produced when you're under pressure.
In some cases, it may be prescribed to treat social anxiety.
Get started with an online consultation now and connect with one of our board-certified doctors to learn if this treatment option is right for you.
Reviewed by Dr. Alex Dimitriu
Dr. Alex Dimitriu is a Stanford-trained physician with dual board certification in psychiatry and sleep medicine. The included content is not intended to replace medical advice. Always be sure to discuss any prescription medications with your doctor.
