{"id":60269,"date":"2023-09-07T14:41:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T18:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60269"},"modified":"2024-11-20T14:23:14","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20T19:23:14","slug":"propranolol-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/propranolol-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Propranolol Hcl (Inderal) alternatives: What can I take instead of propranolol?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Propranolol<\/span><\/a> is the granddaddy of the <\/span>beta-blocker<\/span><\/a> family of medications. First approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over 50 years ago under the brand name Inderal, it has accumulated a diverse list of uses. Propranolol can be taken for neurologic conditions like migraines, tremors, or anxiety or a cardiac condition like <\/span>hypertension<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>atrial fibrillation<\/span><\/a>. Propranolol\u2019s broad use puts it on the World Health Organization’s <\/span>essential medication<\/span><\/a> list. That honor and its long history do not necessarily mean that it is the best option because taking propranolol certainly has some drawbacks in the form of side effects. We will lay out other options here so that a meaningful conversation with a healthcare provider can occur.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of propranolol?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The first stop in the search for potential propranolol replacements does not even require leaving the beta-blocker family. Depending on the circumstance, there may be compelling reasons for simply changing to a different drug within the class. Differences in beta receptor activity and the addition of alpha receptor action comprise the nuances of picking a proper beta-blocker.<\/span><\/p>\n

If moving away from the drug class makes the most sense, then the best alternative will depend on what indication propranolol is being taken for. Options for migraine prevention are quite different from options for atrial fibrillation. With that said, let’s delve into the details to offer a better understanding of the available alternatives..<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare propranolol Hcl (Inderal) alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Propranolol<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, atrial fibrillation, angina (chest pain), cardiovascular event risk reduction after heart attack, migraine prophylaxis, essential tremor, performance anxiety (<\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/td>\n80-320 mg daily divided into two to four doses for hypertension<\/span><\/td>\nPropranolol coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inderal LA (long-acting propranolol)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, angina, migraine prophylaxis, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis<\/span><\/td>\n80-160 mg once daily for hypertension<\/span><\/td>\nInderal LA coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bystolic (nebivolol)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 to 40 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nBystolic coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coreg (carvedilol)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, congestive heart failure (CHF) with low ejection fraction (EF or heart squeeze), left ventricular dysfunction after MI<\/span><\/td>\n3.125 to 25 mg twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nCoreg coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Toprol XL (metoprolol extended-release)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, angina, CHF with low EF, migraine prevention (off-label)<\/span><\/td>\n25 to 400 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nToprol XL coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zestril (lisinopril)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, CHF with low EF, acute MI, migraine prevention (off-label)<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 to 40 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nZestril coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, peripheral edema (swelling)<\/span><\/td>\n12.5 to 50 mg once daily (higher doses up to 200 mg may used for edema)<\/span><\/td>\nHydrochlorothiazide coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diovan (valsartan)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, CHF with low EF, left ventricular dysfunction (reduced heart squeeze) after MI<\/span><\/td>\n80 to 320 mg once daily (or daily dose divided into two doses)<\/span><\/td>\nDiovan coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Norvasc (amlodipine)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD)<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 to 10 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nNorvasc coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cardizem CD (diltiazem extended-release)<\/span><\/td>\nHypertension, angina, ventricular rate control in atrial fibrillation (off-label)<\/span><\/td>\n120 to 480 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nCardizem CD coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Verapamil<\/span><\/td>\nVentricular rate control in atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter<\/span><\/td>\n80 to 120 mg three to four times daily<\/span><\/td>\nVerapamil coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lanoxin (digoxin)<\/span><\/td>\nVentricular rate control in atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter<\/span><\/td>\n0.125 to 0.25 mg once daily<\/span><\/td>\nLanoxin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nurtec (rimegepant)<\/span><\/td>\nMigraine headache prophylaxis, acute migraine headache<\/span><\/td>\n75 mg as needed or every other day for prevention<\/span><\/td>\nNurtec details<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Qulipta (agogepant)<\/span><\/td>\nMigraine headache prophylaxis, acute migraine headache<\/span><\/td>\n10 to 60 mg as needed daily for prevention<\/span><\/td>\nQulipta coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mysoline (primidone)<\/span><\/td>\nEssential tremor (off-label), seizure<\/span><\/td>\n50-250 mg once daily at bedtime<\/span><\/td>\nMysoline coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to propranolol<\/span><\/h3>\n