Doctors Warn: Don’t Stop Common Blood Pressure Medication Suddenly
People taking the common blood pressure medicine propranolol have been urged not to stop their treatment without medical advice. The warning follows figures showing that 12 people died and 318 intentionally overdosed while taking the drug during a one-year period. Propranolol is a beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure, although it may carry a greater risk of side effects than some other medicines.
Figures from the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) show that 12 people died after taking propranolol between 2022 and 2023. The deaths were linked to deliberate overdoses and were not caused by people taking the medicine as prescribed by their doctor.
Raj Patel, a pharmacist with 100,000 followers on TikTok, said: “If you take propranolol and this 12 deaths headline has got you worried, please don’t stop your tablets.”
He explained that taking too much propranolol can affect the heart, blood pressure, breathing and brain. However, he urged patients who have been prescribed the drug to continue taking it exactly as directed and not to stop suddenly because of the reports.
Propranolol is widely prescribed for high blood pressure and certain heart conditions. It can also ease physical symptoms of anxiety, such as trembling and sweating, by blocking adrenaline’s effects and slowing the heart rate.
The medicine can become dangerous when taken in excessive amounts, which is why patients should stick to the dose recommended by their doctor or pharmacist. A propranolol overdose can affect the heart, blood pressure, breathing and brain.
The NHS says a propranolol overdose can be extremely serious. It may slow the heart significantly, lower blood pressure, cause dizziness or seizures, and make breathing difficult. The amount needed to cause an overdose varies from person to person.
The health service advises anyone considering stopping propranolol to speak to their doctor first. If side effects are causing problems, a doctor may be able to recommend an alternative medicine.
Stopping propranolol suddenly can worsen the condition it is being used to treat. People who have taken it for a long time may also experience withdrawal-related side effects, including an irregular heartbeat, sweating and shaking.
Doctors will usually reduce the dose gradually over one to two weeks, and patients should follow their instructions carefully. After stopping propranolol, the medicine generally leaves the body within one to two days, although side effects may continue for up to a week.
Propranolol tablets are available in strengths of 10mg, 40mg, 80mg and 160mg. Slow-release capsules come in 80mg and 160mg strengths, while the liquid formulation is available in 5mg, 10mg, 40mg or 50mg per 5ml.
For high blood pressure, the usual starting dose is 80mg twice a day. If that does not lower blood pressure sufficiently, a doctor may increase the dose to 160mg twice daily.
The NHS notes that doses are generally lower for people aged over 65 and for those with kidney or liver problems. When propranolol is prescribed for a child, the doctor will normally calculate the appropriate dose based on the child’s weight.
