You should know the risks and warnings of Inderal to prevent its misuse.
There are some specific circumstances under which the use of certain medications is contraindicated or considered dangerous. So if you are taking any medicine its always a good practice to familiarize yourself with its risks and warnings.
The risks and warnings associated with Inderal are:
1. Pregnancy
You should take Inderal during pregnancy only if your health care provider prescribes it. They may decide it based on the risk versus benefit ratio. Otherwise, taking beta-blockers during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimester, can be injurious to your baby's health.
2. Breastfeeding
Mothers who are breastfeeding their child should take Inderal only on the advice of their healthcare provider as some of its concentration can be present in breast milk and affect your child's health.
3. Hypersensitivity
If you are hypersensitive to Beta-blockers, do not take Inderal or any other medicine with a similar generic name, as it can result in a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock. Always inform your healthcare provider about the documented allergies you have.
4. Heart block
If you have a complaint of heart block, do not use Propranolol.
5. Bradycardia
Bradycardia is a condition in which your heart rate remains slower than normal. If you have the same condition, do not take Propranolol as it can also slow down the heart rate, which can become life-threatening.
6. Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you must take a beta-blocker with extreme caution. Your pancreas contains beta receptors that produce insulin. Beta-blockers may alter the functioning of the pancreas to produce insulin. Therefore you need to exercise caution if you have diabetes already, as it can make it difficult to control blood sugar levels.
7. Conditions that lower blood pressure
If you are on medications like diuretics or having a health condition like diarrhea, volume depletion, heatstroke, or infections that lower blood pressure, take Inderal with caution, as it can lead to severely low blood pressure that can be life-threatening.
8. Heart conditions
If you have heart diseases like ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease in which blood pressure may fall below normal levels, you should be cautious while taking Inderal or any other Beta-blocker. Before taking any medicine that lowers blood pressure, it would be better if you check the blood pressure reading once.
9. Heart failure
In people with heart failure who have normal blood pressure, taking Inderal can cause a blood pressure drop. The low blood pressure in patients with heart failure taking Inderal can adversely affect renal function too. Therefore, you should be cautious while taking a beta-blocker if you have heart failure with normal blood pressure.
10. Aortic or mitral valve stenosis
If you have aortic or mitral valve stenosis or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that obstructs the outflow of the left ventricle, beta-blockers should be taken with extreme caution.
11. Renal function impairment
Patients with renal impairment must be cautious while taking a beta-blocker. Your healthcare provider will test serum creatinine and potassium levels frequently if you take Inderal with compromised renal functions.
Patients with diabetic nephropathy taking beta-blockers should also be cautious about it.
12. Liver diseases
Patients with liver disease should take Inderal with caution. It is because your liver helps in the metabolism and excretion of drugs. When it does not work efficiently due to any disease, it can cause accumulation of the drug in your body, leading to severe adverse effects. Very rarely, Inderal affects your liver function, causing cholestatic jaundice leading to fulminant jaundice. If it occurs, the healthcare providers will promptly stop the therapy.
13. Asthma and other respiratory conditions
Beta-blockers, especially Propranolol, should never be given to an asthmatic patient. It can cause constriction of the bronchioles that make it hard for you to breathe. Beta blocker-induced asthma may show up as wheezing, chest tightness, or cough. If you have any of these side effects, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible as it can become life-threatening.
People having other respiratory conditions like bronchitis, emphysema and allergies should also avoid its use.
14. Anesthesia
People undergoing anesthesia may receive agents that lower blood pressure. Therefore beta-blockers should only be given if blood pressure needs to be controlled and there is no risk of hypotension. Otherwise, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called shock.
15. Hyperkalemia
Beta-blockers cause hyperkalemia- means excess potassium in your blood that can become a life-threatening condition. People taking potassium supplements or having renal impairment, or eating a diet rich in potassium like dates and bananas are at higher risk of developing life-threatening hyperkalemia. To avoid it, you should get your serum potassium levels checked frequently and avoid eating potassium-rich foods.
16. Oral hypoglycemics
Diabetic patients receiving oral hypoglycemics or insulin as treatment should take Inderal with caution, as they can cause hypoglycemia- a life-threatening condition in which blood sugar levels are lower than normal. Beta-blockers can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Therefore, they should be only co-prescribed if the benefit is more than the risk.
17. Cardiac glycosides/calcium channel blockers and amiodarone
Taking Propranolol with digoxin, verapamil, and amiodarone can cause heart block, ventricular dysfunction, and bradycardia. Therefore, both drugs should not be combined or should be taken with extreme caution.
18. Anticoagulants or bleeding disorders
If you are taking anticoagulants for thinning of your blood, or you have any bleeding disorder, take Inderal only on the advice of a healthcare provider.
19. Hyperthyroidism
Take beta-blockers with caution if you have hyperthyroidism as they can mask its symptoms, without treating the underlying cause.
20. Pheochromocytoma
If you have pheochromocytoma, do not take beta-blockers alone as they can cause hypertensive crises or pulmonary edema.
