{"id":632089,"date":"2025-05-02T09:30:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T13:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=632089"},"modified":"2025-04-30T10:24:37","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T14:24:37","slug":"propranolol-and-alcohol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/propranolol-and-alcohol\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you drink on propranolol?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roughly 120 million people in the United States have high blood pressure, a good portion of whom may be taking <\/span>propranolol<\/span><\/a> (commonly known by the brand names Inderal LA, Inderal XL, and InnoPran XL) to combat it. \u201cPropranolol is a beta blocker medication. It treats high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats [<\/span>arrhythmia, caused by conditions like atrial fibrillation<\/span>], anxiety, migraines, and more,\u201d says internist Supriya Rao, MD. \u201cThe medicine slows your heart rate and relaxes blood vessels, which can help reduce the workload on your heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re taking propranolol, one of your first questions is likely whether or not you need to make any changes to your lifestyle, such as avoiding alcohol use. In general, it is not recommended to mix propranolol and alcohol. Read on to find out why, plus what can happen if you do mix them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you drink while taking propranolol?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cIt is not recommended to drink alcohol while taking propranolol,\u201d says Mary Greene, MD, a cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology in New York. \u201cMixing alcohol with propranolol may exacerbate the blood pressure-lowering effects of propranolol and cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or syncope [fainting].\u201d While alcohol technically neither interferes with the medication\u2019s ability to do its job nor with how it is broken down and utilized in the body, it can cause side effects that ultimately work against the reason you are taking propranolol in the first place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What happens if you mix propranolol and alcohol?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The first thing that can happen if you mix propranolol and alcohol is that it can exacerbate some of the <\/span>most common side effects<\/span><\/a> of the blood pressure medication. \u201cAlcohol can amplify its sedative effect, so combining the two can cause dizziness, fatigue, and a drop in your blood pressure,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Rao<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While alcohol consumption does not directly lessen the efficacy of propranolol, it can interfere with how your body processes your dose. \u201cAlcohol may cause the levels of propranolol to increase in the blood as if you were taking a higher dose than prescribed, so the medication\u2019s effects [and side effects] may be more pronounced,\u201d <\/span>Dr. Greene<\/span><\/a> explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, if you\u2019re taking propranolol to control heart conditions and prevent cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke, you should consider the effects of alcohol intake itself on your heart health. Drinking too often or too much can cause physical symptoms like <\/span>increased heart rate<\/span><\/a> and blood pressure, angina (chest pain), or an irregular heartbeat, all of which conflict with the reason you would be taking propranolol in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are certain people at greater risk of side effects?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are some groups of people who are at a greater risk of experiencing side effects from mixing alcohol and propranolol. Here are the biggest ones to be aware of.<\/span><\/p>\n

People with certain health conditions<\/span><\/h3>\n

Dr. Rao notes that people with <\/span>low blood pressure<\/span><\/a>, heart failure, liver disease, and diabetes (high blood sugar) are at a higher risk of side effects. These conditions impair all the systems that are responsible for breaking down propranolol and alcohol, which means both substances could take longer to move through your system. The result is an increased risk of side effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Older people<\/span><\/h3>\n

Older people are also at a higher risk of side effects. \u201cOlder adults are more susceptible because their bodies process medications and alcohol differently,\u201d Dr. Rao says. According to the <\/span>American Geriatrics Society<\/span><\/a>, older people\u2019s bodies break down medications more slowly. This means those medicines stay in their systems for longer, putting them at an increased risk of side effects that may have more severe consequences for older folks than younger, such as dizziness that leads to a fall.<\/span><\/p>\n

People taking other medications<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you have other prescription medications that you are taking regularly, you may also have a higher risk of side effects. \u201cIf someone was already on other blood pressure-lowering medication in addition to taking propranolol, alcohol should definitely be avoided,\u201d says Dr. Greene. Alcohol will exacerbate the effects of both medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake caution if you\u2019re taking <\/span>erectile dysfunction drugs<\/span><\/a> as well,\u201d Dr. Greene adds. Both alcohol and erectile dysfunction drugs (like <\/span>sildenafil<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>tadalafil<\/span><\/a>) can <\/span>cause a drop in blood pressure<\/span><\/a>. When they are combined with medication that\u2019s meant to lower blood pressure, like propranolol, it becomes much more likely that you will experience symptoms or <\/span>side effects of low blood pressure<\/span><\/a>, like dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or weakness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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