Prescription medication · Non-Selective Beta-Blocker
propranolol
Also sold as Inderal. Propranolol tablets can treat high blood pressure.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 68,257
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 44
- InteractionsMany interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
propranolol (Inderal) is a prescription Non-Selective Beta-Blocker, more reported than most tracked drugs (68,257 FDA reports), with 44 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
propranolol (Inderal) is a prescription Non-Selective Beta-Blocker. Propranolol tablets can treat high blood pressure.
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.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
propranolol is currently listed as in shortage by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. Status: Available.
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.06/unit
Generic Available
Yes (13 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Propranolol tablets can treat high blood pressure.
Common side effects
Tiredness, Dizziness, Nausea
Key warnings
Propranolol is contraindicated in people with cardiogenic shock, very slow heart rate, asthma, or those who are allergic to it.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from propranolol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Your doctor will tell you how much propranolol to take. The usual starting dose for high blood pressure is 40 mg twice a day. You may need to take it two, three, or four times daily depending on your condition. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and do not change your dose without talking to them.
This is a plain-language summary of propranolol's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & 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.
This is a plain-language summary of propranolol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of propranolol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store propranolol tablets at room temperature, away from light and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 68,257 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for propranolol, by number of reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
4,279 reports
- Pain in your head
Pain in your head
3,784 reports
- Feeling very tired
Feeling very tired
3,752 reports
- Loose, watery stools
Loose, watery stools
3,121 reports
- Feeling lightheaded or unsteady
Feeling lightheaded or unsteady
3,102 reports
- Throwing up
Throwing up
2,652 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
2,561 reports
- Discomfort
Discomfort
2,322 reports
- Harmful effects from different substances
Harmful effects from different substances
2,275 reports
- Feeling worried or nervous
Feeling worried or nervous
2,187 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for propranolol each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where propranolol sits
propranolol has more FDA adverse-event reports than 80% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is propranolol; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 68,257 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
68,257
Reports Mentioning Death
6,894
10.1% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
21,161
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | NAUSEA | 4,279 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 3,785 |
| 5 | FATIGUE | 3,752 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 3,119 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 3,102 |
| 9 | VOMITING | 2,650 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 2,561 |
| 12 | PAIN | 2,324 |
| 13 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 2,275 |
| 14 | ANXIETY | 2,188 |
| 15 | INSOMNIA | 2,172 |
| 16 | FALL | 2,137 |
| 17 | ASTHENIA | 2,039 |
| 18 | SOMNOLENCE | 1,920 |
| 19 | MALAISE | 1,905 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Propranolol is contraindicated in people with cardiogenic shock, very slow heart rate, asthma, or those who are allergic to it.
Known Drug Interactions
The antihypertensive effects of clonidine may be antagonized by beta-blockers. Propranolol should be administered cautiously to patients withdrawing from clonidine.
Mechanism: Propranolol can work against clonidine and stop it from lowering your blood pressure. This can cause blood pressure to rise, especially if you stop taking clonidine.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor your blood pressure closely. Do not stop taking clonidine without talking to your doctor first.
Co-administration of propranolol and diltiazem in patients with cardiac disease has been associated with bradycardia, hypotension, high-degree heart block, and heart failure.
Mechanism: Both drugs slow down the heart and lower blood pressure. Taking them together can cause the heart to beat too slowly or lead to heart failure.
What to do: Your doctor will need to check your heart rate and blood pressure regularly. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or short of breath.
Warfarin Propranolol when administered with warfarin increases the concentration of warfarin.
Mechanism: Propranolol increases the amount of warfarin in your blood. This makes the blood thinner and increases your risk of bleeding.
What to do: Your doctor may need to change your warfarin dose. You will need more frequent blood tests to check your clotting levels.
There have been reports of significant bradycardia, heart failure, and cardiovascular collapse with concurrent use of verapamil and beta-blockers.
Mechanism: These drugs both slow the heart and relax blood vessels. Using them together can cause a dangerously slow heart rate or heart failure.
What to do: Your doctor must monitor you very closely if you take both. Tell your doctor immediately if you feel very tired or dizzy.
Postural hypotension has been reported in patients taking both beta-blockers and terazosin or doxazosin.
Mechanism: Both drugs lower blood pressure, which can cause a sudden drop in pressure when you stand up. This can make you feel dizzy or faint.
What to do: Stand up slowly from a sitting or lying position to avoid falling. Your doctor may need to adjust your medication doses.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking propranolol suddenly?
Can I drink alcohol while taking propranolol?
Does propranolol interact with other medications?
Can propranolol cause weight gain?
Can propranolol cause depression?
How long does it take for propranolol to start working?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I take propranolol if I have asthma?
Will propranolol cure my condition?
Can I drive while taking propranolol?
What are the common side effects of propranolol?
Does propranolol interact with other medications?
What drug class is propranolol?
Is propranolol safe during pregnancy?
Is propranolol currently in shortage?
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amlodipine
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amlodipine/benazepril
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Medication Guides
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Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
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Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for propranolol
The FDA label for propranolol (sold under brand names such as Inderal) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Non-Selective Beta-Blocker class. Propranolol tablets can treat high blood pressure. Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Tiredness, Dizziness, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 68,257 voluntary reports. The database also lists 44 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.06.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: August 9, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages