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Inderal LA

Generic name: propranololpro-PRAN-oh-lol ]
Brand names: Hemangeol, Inderal LA, Inderal XL, InnoPran XL
Drug classes: Group II antiarrhythmics, Non-cardioselective beta blockers

What is Inderal LA?

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

Inderal LA 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.

Hemangeol (Inderal LA oral liquid 4.28 milligrams) is given to infants who are at least 5 weeks old to treat a genetic condition called infantile hemangiomas. Hemangiomas are caused by blood vessels grouping together in an abnormal way. These blood vessels form benign (non-cancerous) growths that can develop into ulcers or red marks on the skin. Hemangiomas can also cause more serious complications inside the body (in the liver, brain, or digestive system).

Inderal LA may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not use Inderal LA 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).

Babies who weigh less than 4.5 pounds should not be given Hemangeol oral liquid.

Before taking this medicine

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

Babies who weigh less than 4.5 pounds should not be given Hemangeol oral liquid.

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

It is not known whether Inderal LA will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

Propranolol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Inderal LA?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take Inderal LA in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

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

Take this medicine at the same time each day.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow it whole.

Hemangeol must be given to an infant during or just after a feeding. Doses should be spaced at least 9 hours apart. Make sure your child gets fed regularly while taking this medicine. Tell your doctor when the child has any changes in weight. Hemangeol doses are based on weight in children, and any changes may affect your child's dose.

Call your doctor if a child taking Hemangeol is sick with vomiting, or has any loss of appetite.

Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Do not shake Hemangeol liquid.

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Inderal LA. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Do not skip doses or stop using Inderal LA suddenly. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

This medicine can cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Inderal LA.

If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medicine even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

Inderal LA is only part of a complete program of treatment for hypertension that may also include diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely if you are being treated for hypertension.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow liquid medicine to freeze. Throw away any unused Hemangeol 2 months after you first opened the bottle.

What happens if I miss a dose?

For regular (short-acting) Inderal LA: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 4 hours away.

For extended-release Inderal LA (Inderal LA, InnoPran XL and others): Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 8 hours away.

Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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

Overdose symptoms may include slow or uneven heartbeats, dizziness, weakness, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Inderal LA?

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

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Inderal LA side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common 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.

What other drugs will affect Inderal LA?

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Inderal LA, especially:

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with propranolol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

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 this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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