Propranolol Actavis

Propranolol hydrochloride.

Excipients/Inactive Ingredients: Lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, stearic acid, hypromellose (E464).
Coating: Polysorbate, carmoisine (E122), titanium dioxide (E171), iron oxide red (E172), hypromellose (E464).

Propranolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers.
It is used to: Treat high blood pressure, an enlarged heart muscle or tremors; treat angina pectoris (pain in the chest caused by blockages in the arteries leading to the heart) or high blood pressure caused by a tumour near a kidney (phaeochromocytoma); help prevent additional heart attacks; control irregular or fast heartbeats; control fast heart rate and other symptoms caused by an overactive thyroid gland; reduce migraine attacks; calm people who are anxious or worried; prevent stomach bleeding in patients with high blood pressure in their liver or swollen blood vessels in their gullet.

Adults & Children Over 12 Years: Angina, Migraine or Tremor: Initially 40 mg two or three times a day, then 120-240 mg a day for angina or 80-160 mg a day for migraine or tremor.
High Blood Pressure: Initially 80 mg twice a day, then 160-320 mg a day.
Irregular/Fast Heart Beats, Over Active Thyroid Gland or Enlarged Heart Muscle: 10-40 mg three or four times a day.
Heart Attack: Start treatment 5-21 days after attack. 40 mg four times a day for 2-3 days, then 80 mg twice a day.
Phaeochromocytoma: Before An Operation: 60 mg a day for 3 days. Treatment Dose: 30 mg a day.
Anxiety: 40 mg before anxious situations. For long-term anxiety 40 mg two or three times a day, treatment is reviewed after 6-12 months.
Liver Disease Due To High Blood Pressure: Initially 40 mg twice a day, increasing to 80 mg twice a day depending on response. Maximum Dose: 160 mg twice a day.
Children Under 12 Years: Migraine: 20 mg two or three times a day.
All Other Indications: Doses are decided using body weight. 
Elderly: The dose may be reduced.
Administration: The patient should always take Propranolol tablets exactly as told by the physician. If the patient is not sure, check with the physician.
Take with water before meals.
Do not stop taking this medicine unless told by the physician.
If the patient forgets to take a dose, take it as soon as remembered, unless it is nearly time for the next dose. Then go on as before. Never double up on the next dose to make up for the one missed.
If the patient stops taking Propranolol tablets suddenly, the patient may experience unpleasant side effects including sweating, shaking, worsening of angina, irregular heart beat, heart attack or death. Withdrawal should be gradual.
If the patient has any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask the physician or pharmacist.

Signs/Symptoms: Overdose causes an excessively slowed/irregular heart beat with symptoms such as dizziness, sickness, confusion, hallucinations, body spasms, breathless on exertion, fainting or coma. Overdose could result in heart attack.
Treatment/Management: If the patient had accidentally taken more than the prescribed dose, contact the nearest casualty department or tell the physician or pharmacist at once.

Do not take Propranolol tablets and tell the physician if the patient: Is allergic (hypersensitive) to Propranolol tablets or any of the other ingredients (see Description); has untreated/uncontrolled heart failure or is in shock caused by heart problems; suffers from heart conduction or rhythm problems; has a slow heart rate; has low blood pressure; suffers from severe blood circulation problems (which may cause patient's fingers and toes to tingle or turn pale or blue); suffers from diabetes mellitus (low blood sugar levels may be hidden by this medicine) and increased acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis); is on a strict fasting diet; suffers from a tight, painful feeling in the chest in periods of rest (Prinzmetal’s angina); suffers from asthma or any other breathing difficulties; suffers from untreated phaeochromocytoma (high blood pressure due to a tumour near the kidney).

Take special care with Propranolol tablets and tell the physician if the patient: Has a history of allergic reactions; suffers from muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis); has a heart weakness or first degree heart block; has kidney or liver disease; suffers from blood circulation problems (which may cause your fingers and toes to tingle or turn pale or blue); has symptoms of hyperthyroidism (increased appetite, weight loss, sweating); suffers from or has a history of psoriasis; suffers from Raynaud’s disease (cold sensations in fingers and toes) or intermittent claudication (narrowing of arteries in the legs causing pain on walking); smokes.
Sugar Intolerance: In case of intolerance to some sugars, contact the physician before taking propranolol, as it contains lactose.
Alcohol Intake: Patient is advised to avoid alcohol whilst taking propranolol.
Anaesthetics or Tests: If the patient is going to have an anaesthetic or any blood or urine tests, tell the physician that the patient is taking Propranolol tablets. If the patient is to see another physician, let the physician know what medicines the patient is taking.
Effects on the Ability to Drive or Operate Machinery: Propranolol tablets may cause visual disturbances, hallucinations, fatigue, mental confusion, dizziness or tiredness. Make sure the patient is not affected before the patient drives or operates machinery.

Propranolol tablets are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Like all medicines, Propranolol tablets can have side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop treatment and contact a physician at once if the patient has the following symptoms of an: Intolerance to Propranolol tablets such as slow heart rate and low blood pressure causing dizziness, light-headedness, fainting or blurred vision; allergic reaction such as itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue.
Tell the physician if the patient notices any of the following side effects or notice any other effects not listed: Common (Less than 1 in 10 Users): Tiredness, cold extremities, difficulty in sleeping (these symptoms usually disappear); slow or irregular heartbeat, Raynaud’s syndrome; nightmares.
Uncommon (Less than 1 in 100 Users): Feeling or being sick, or diarrhoea (these symptoms usually disappear).
Rare (Less than 1 in 1000 Users): Propranolol may alter the number and types of your blood cells. If the patient notices increased bruising, nosebleeds, sore throats or infections, the patient should tell the physician who may want to give the patient a blood test; worsening of heart failure, low blood pressure/fainting on standing, dizziness, worsening of intermittent claudication; skin rash, worsening of psoriasis, hair loss, dry flaky skin, red/ itchy skin; hallucinations, mood changes, pins and needles, psychoses, memory loss; patients with asthma or a history of breathing problems may experience difficulty in breathing; dry eyes, visual disturbances.
Very Rare (Less than 1 in 10,000 Users): Changes in blood sugar levels.
Not Known (Cannot Be Estimated From The Available Data): Signs of hyperthyroidism may be hidden; changes in blood fats, changes in kidney function; worsening of angina, headache, depression, confusion; constipation, dry mouth, conjunctivitis; changes in sex drive or potency; joint pain.

Taking Other Medicines: Before taking Propranolol tablets, tell the physician if the patient is taking or has taken recently any of the following medicines or is taking any non-prescribed medicines: Verapamil and diltiazem (to treat heart diseases); disopyramide, quinidine and amiodarone [to treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)]; ergotamine derivates (to treat migraine); adrenaline (epinephrine, used in anaphylactic shock); medicines to treat diabetes including insulin; lidocaine, propafenone or flecainide [to treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or as a local anasethetic]; indometacin [Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)]; digitalis glycosides such as digoxin (to treat heart conditions); chlorpromazine (for mental illness); cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers); other drugs treating high blood pressure (alpha blockers, clonidine, moxonidine, methyldopa or hydralazine); monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, imipramine or fluvoxamine (to treat depression); warfarin (to prevent clotting); rizatriptan (to treat migraine); rifampicin (to treat infection); barbiturates (to treat severe insomnia); theophylline (treating asthma and reversible airways obstruction); diuretics (to clear excess water from the body).

Do not store the tablets above 25°C.

Beta-Blockers

C07AA05 - propranolol ; Belongs to the class of non-selective beta-blocking agents. Used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

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