nadolol vs propranolol
Side-by-side comparison of nadolol and propranolol Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Corgard
Inderal
Nadolol is a medicine that helps lower blood pressure and manage chest pain (angina). It works by blocking certain natural body chemicals that affect the heart and blood vessels.
Propranolol is a medicine that can help with high blood pressure, chest pain, and other conditions. It works by blocking the effects of certain natural chemicals in your body, like adrenaline, that affect the heart and blood vessels.
Nadolol is used to treat angina, which is chest pain. It also treats high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It can be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.
Propranolol tablets can treat high blood pressure. It can be used alone or with other medicines. Propranolol can also help with chest pain (angina), control fast heart rate with atrial fibrillation, improve survival after a heart attack, prevent migraine headaches, and reduce tremors. It can also help with symptoms of some tumors.
Nadolol is a beta-blocker. It works by blocking the effects of certain natural chemicals in your body, such as adrenaline. This helps to slow down your heart rate and relax blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and reduces chest pain.
Propranolol is a beta-blocker. It works by blocking the effects of adrenaline on your heart and blood vessels. This helps to slow down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure.
- • Slow heart rate (less than 60 beats per minute)
- • Tiredness
- • Dizziness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- The medicine is not working 1,281
- Eye problem that can cause vision loss 814
- Feeling sick to your stomach 663
- Head pain 588
- Using the medicine for something it is not approved for 580
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 7,261
- The medicine is not working 5,336
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,279
- Pain in your head 3,784
- Feeling very tired 3,752
If you have heart disease and stop taking nadolol suddenly, it can worsen chest pain or cause a heart attack. Your doctor will slowly lower your dose over 1 to 2 weeks. Do not stop taking nadolol without talking to your doctor.
Propranolol is contraindicated in people with cardiogenic shock, very slow heart rate, asthma, or those who are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if nadolol will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking nadolol while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Propranolol may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking propranolol during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
How to Read This nadolol vs propranolol Comparison
nadolol is classified in the Non-Selective Beta-Blocker drug class, while propranolol sits within the Non-Selective Beta-Blocker class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, nadolol has 3,926 submissions while propranolol has 24,412. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between nadolol and propranolol — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.