In this blog post, we are going to explore the question: "How do I get off propranolol?" Propranolol is one of the most commonly prescribed beta blockers and can be used to treat a variety of health conditions.
However, it is not an easy drug to stop using. This blog describes how to safely stop using propranolol and we will also talk about 3+ withdrawal symptoms you may experience if you stop using propranolol abruptly.
How do I wean off propranolol?
The best way to stop using propranolol is to taper off gradually. However, this should only be done under medical supervision. Propranolol is one of the beta blockers that is associated with bothersome symptoms when stopped abruptly.
If you need to stop using this medicine for any reason, contact your doctor. Your doctor will decide carefully if it is best for you to stop using propranolol or if some changes can be made to make the treatment more comfortable for you.
If stopping is the only option left, your doctor will suggest an appropriate tapering plan based on the severity of your condition, your propranolol dose, and the duration of your treatment.
Once your tapering program is established, it is absolutely essential that you stick to it religiously. This is the only way to ensure safe propranolol withdrawal, especially for a cardiac patient.
Why is abrupt discontinuation of propranolol considered dangerous?
As mentioned above, propranolol is associated with bothersome withdrawal symptoms and most of these symptoms are heart related. If you stop using this medicine suddenly, you may experience some of the symptoms.
However, it varies greatly from person to person. Some people may not feel much, while others may be severely affected. It totally depends on how sensitive you are. It may not affect people with shorter treatment periods as much, but people who have been using propranolol for a while are more dependent on the drug.
It is a known fact that once you start taking propranolol or any other medication, it is new to your body. Your body is not used to this foreign substance that can chemically alter it. Because of this, it may take some time for your body to get used to the new medicine.
Once it does, it sees the drug as part of its system. In this way, his body becomes dependent on the type of effect that the drug produces. In the case of propranolol, the medication keeps your heartbeat and blood pressure normal.
If you continue to use it for a long time, your body begins to depend on it for normal heart functions. When we talk about withdrawal symptoms, they are essentially cardiac symptoms that can become extremely severe for a cardiac patient with active disease.
Some of the withdrawal symptoms are:
- Unusually high blood pressure
- worsening angina
- chest pain
- Increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- severe drowsiness
- irritability
- fear and excitement
As mentioned above, these symptoms can be stressful for some people. Propranolol is also known to have anxiolytic effects, which means that the drug can actively control your anxiety. If you stop suddenly, you may feel your anxiety levels rising higher and higher.
Be sure to stick to your medication if you want to achieve your treatment goals. If you think you have been adversely affected by the medication, contact your doctor as soon as possible and discuss the safety and effectiveness of propranolol in your case.
Propranolol is used for a number of conditions that may worsen if you suddenly stop using this medicine. Health conditions treated with propranolol include:
- hypertension
- Angina pectoris
- Management of congestive heart failure
- Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
- Myocardial infarction
- Tachycardia
- Diseases of the coronary vessels
- Glaucoma
- migraine
- distress
- significant tremors
However, cardiac withdrawal symptoms are more dangerous. Heart disease is not so simple and stable. It literally takes a second for a heart attack to occur. One high intensity attack is enough to kill you on the spot.
This is exactly why you must have a valid reason to stop using propranolol. If you do not have it, it is recommended to continue taking your medication on time and as directed by the doctor.
How long do propranolol withdrawal symptoms last?
Propranolol usually stays in your system for about a day or two. Propranolol has a half-life of around 3-6 hours, which means that the concentration of the active ingredient halves after this period.
The residual concentration then further halves after the next 3 to 6 hours. This process continues until the propranolol is completely cleared from your system, but that's not when the withdrawal symptoms stop.
propranolol withdrawalThe symptoms may last 10 to 15 days after you stop taking the medicine. This time period can vary from person to person. Some people are more sensitive to these effects and may take much longer to recover. A normally stable person can begin recovery in about 2 weeks.
How long propranolol stays in your system can be affected by many factors. If your stomach rhythm increases for any reason, the medicine will not stay in your stomach long enough to be properly absorbed.
This removes most of the drug from your body unchanged and reduces the bioavailability of the drug in your blood. This leads to an insufficient therapeutic result.
If the gastric emptying rate is reduced, the drug stays in the stomach for longer. This means that the large amount of medication will be absorbed by your system and may produce more pronounced effects.
Some underlying or undiagnosed health conditions can affect how long propranolol resides in your system. Most drugs, when taken orally, undergo first-pass metabolism in the liver, where hepatic enzymes metabolize the drug into its inactive metabolites.
These metabolites are then excreted in the urine. Some drugs are also excreted unchanged in the urine. However, if there is a disease that affects liver or kidney function, the entire process of metabolism and excretion of the drug will be delayed.
These people may also experience more severe withdrawal symptoms. There is no way to set a default value in this situation. Everyone is affected differently and it is impossible to predict. Just be sure to monitor any symptoms closely and try to keep your lifestyle as healthy as possible.
How do I ensure the proper use of propranolol?
Be sure to use propranolol as directed by your doctor. This medication may not be a good option for everyone and may not be suitable for everyone. Some people have developed an allergic reaction immediately after taking their first dose of propranolol.
These people cannot continue taking this drug and are often switched to a safer one. Propranolol should be used with caution in people with diabetes. This drug lowers heart rate and blood pressure, so a diabetic does not recognize low blood sugar.
Propranolol is contraindicated in patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Propranolol causes bronchoconstriction and narrows the airways.
People with asthma and COPD already live with breathing difficulties, and this bronchoconstriction from propranolol can make your symptoms much more severe. It can also lead to hospitalization. Propranolol should be used with caution during pregnancy.
Diploma
In this blog post, we discuss the best way to come off propranolol. It is one of the most widely prescribed beta blockers and can be used to treat a variety of health conditions. However, it is not an easy drug to stop using.
The best way to stop using propranolol is to taper off gradually. However, this should only be done under medical supervision. Propranolol is one of the beta blockers that is associated with bothersome symptoms when stopped abruptly.
If you need to stop using this medicine for any reason, contact your doctor. Never stop using this medication without your doctor's approval.
FAQ: how to stop propranolol
How do I stop taking propranolol?
The best way to stop using propranolol is to taper off gradually. However, this should only be done under medical supervision. Propranolol is one of the beta blockers that is associated with bothersome symptoms when stopped abruptly. If you need to stop using this medicine for any reason, contact your doctor.
How long does it take to stop propranolol?
Propranolol withdrawal symptoms can last 10 to 15 days after you stop taking the drug. Propranolol usually stays in your system for about a day or two. Propranolol has a half-life of around 3-6 hours, which means that the concentration of the active ingredient halves after this period.
The residual concentration then further halves after the next 3 to 6 hours. This process continues until the propranolol is completely removed from your system.
Is it necessary to eliminate propranolol?
Yes, propranolol needs to be phased out. It is one of the beta blockers that is associated with bothersome symptoms when stopped abruptly. Some of the withdrawal symptoms are:
- Unusually high blood pressure
- worsening angina
- chest pain
- Increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- severe drowsiness
- irritability
- fear and excitement
How much propranolol should I take for anxiety?
Propranolol is usually started at a dose of 80 mg per day for adults. However, the dose may be adjusted depending on the severity of your condition and how well this medication is tolerated by your body. The dose should not be more than 240 mg per day. In children, the dose is determined by the doctor according to body weight and the severity of the disease.
Does propranolol last all day?
Propranolol usually stays in your system for about a day or two. Propranolol has a half-life of around 3-6 hours, which means that the concentration of the active ingredient halves after this period. The residual concentration then further halves after the next 3 to 6 hours. This process continues until the propranolol is completely removed from your system.
references
- National Library of Medicine - Propranololhttps://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682607.html
- D. G. Shand. Postgrad Med J. (1976) - Propranolol pharmacokinetics: a reviewhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/787953/#:~:text=Concerning%20propranolol%20withdrawal%2C%20there%20betrifft%20das%20Medikament%20zu%20auflösen.
- JB Kostis. I'm J Cardiol. ((1990) - Duration of action of beta-blockers and implications for therapyhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1978546/
- National Health Service – Propranololhttps://www.nhs.uk/medicines/propranolol/#:~:text=Stopping%20propranolol%20plötzlich%20may%20macht,Herz%20rate%2C%20schwitzt%20und%20zittert.
- S. Nattel et al. Traffic. (1979) - Mechanism of the propranolol withdrawal phenomenonhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/436208/
- RE Rangno et al. I'm J Cardiol. (1982) - Prevention of propranolol withdrawal mechanism by prolonged propranolol dosing regimenhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6278914/
FAQs
How do you stop propranolol withdrawal? ›
Propranolol withdrawal
Stopping Propranolol suddenly without weaning yourself off it may also make your health problem worse. It is best to gradually reduce your Propranolol dosage over the course of around two to four weeks. This will help your body to adjust to the changing levels of Propranolol in your system.
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.
What does propranolol withdrawal feel like? ›Stopping propranolol suddenly can cause serious side effects that might include sweating, shaking, and an irregular heartbeat or chest pain. Go to your doctor if you want to stop, or if you are having these effects. You might feel sleepy or dizzy in the first few days after taking propranolol.
How do you taper beta blockers? ›In our experience, a general rule of thumb is to reduce the dose by 50 percent every two to four weeks, with monitoring at each dose reduction and at two to four weeks after cessation.
How is propranolol cleared from the body? ›Abstract. Propranolol is completely absorbed after oral administration and widely distributed throughout tissues. Elimination occurs almost wholly by metabolic transformation in the liver and excretion of the resultant products in the urine.
Do you have to taper off of propranolol? ›You should not stop taking Inderal abruptly; you must taper off of this medication slowly over time. Abruptly stopping this medication can cause chest pains, heart beat irregularities, and heart attack.
What are three complications of propranolol? ›- dizziness or lightheadedness.
- tiredness.
- diarrhea.
- constipation.
Withdrawal from higher doses of propranolol is associated with rebound symptoms of anxiety, elevated blood pressure, and adverse cardiac events, as in this patient who required multiple antihypertensive medications.
How do you reverse the effects of beta blockers? ›Because it may bypass the beta-receptor site, glucagon can be considered as an alternative therapy for profound beta-blocker intoxications. The doses of glucagon required to reverse severe beta-blockade are 50 micrograms/kg iv loading dose, followed by a continuous infusion of 1-15 mg/h, titrated to patient response.
Why can't you stop beta blockers abruptly? ›You shouldn't abruptly stop taking a beta blocker because doing so could increase your risk of a heart attack or other heart problem.
What is the antidote for beta blockers? ›
For cases of beta-blocker poisoning where symptomatic bradycardia and hypotension are present, high-dose glucagon is considered the first-line antidote. For cases of CCB poisoning where cardiotoxicity is evident, a combination of calcium and epinephrine should be used initially, reserving HDIDK for refractory cases.
What does propranolol do to the brain? ›Propranolol is one of several protein synthesis inhibitors that have been used in animal studies to reduce the saliency of emotional memories. A recent neuroimaging study revealed altered amygdala and hippocampus activity associated with propranolol-induced emotional memory impairment in healthy individuals.
What is the half time of propranolol? ›Propranolol has a half-life of three to six hours, meaning approximately half of each dose will be active in your body three to six hours after using the medication.
How long does it take for your body to adjust to propranolol? ›Side effects of propranolol can last anywhere from days to weeks. Most side effects will go away within a few days as the body adjusts to the medication. For others, this adjustment period may take longer. Side effects can get worse or better as dosages increase or decrease.
Can you gradually stop taking beta blockers? ›No one must ever stop a beta blocker suddenly. Doing so could trigger chest pain, irregular heart rhythms or even a heart attack. We hope that the new guidelines will not create withdrawal symptoms or complications for millions of patients who have been taking beta blockers for years or even decades.
Do beta blockers need to be tapered? ›For many medicines, tapering the dose is likely to be safer and better tolerated by the patient than abrupt discontinuation. For example, abrupt discontinuation of: A beta-blocker may result in rebound tachycardia, an increase in blood pressure and, in some circumstances, cardiac ischaemia.
Is there an adjustment period for beta blockers? ›When you start taking beta-blockers, your symptoms may become slightly worse for about two to three weeks as your heart adjusts to them. You might feel more tired or dizzy. That's normal. However, you'll need to check your blood pressure and heart rate to make sure they don't drop too low.
How do I wean off 12.5 mg of metoprolol? ›Avoid abrupt discontinuation. Stopping metoprolol (both tartrate and succinate) suddenly can exacerbate angina and may increase the risk of a heart attack. Reduce dosage gradually over a few weeks as instructed by your doctor. May interfere slightly with laboratory cholesterol results.