What are Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis?

Propranolol belongs to a group of medicines called beta-blockers. It is used to help treat a variety of illnesses such as:

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.

You can buy Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis online at registered pharmacies such as e-Surgery or through your local GP.

What is a beta-blocker?

Beta-blockers work mainly by slowing down the heart. They do this by blocking the action of hormones like adrenaline. Beta-blockers usually come as tablets. They are prescription-only medicines, which means they can only be prescribed by a GP or another suitably qualified healthcare professional.

You can use our free Ask-A-Pharmacist service to support further questions you might have.

How to take Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis?

If you buy Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis online (or through your GP) always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Take with water before meals. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to stop. When you buy Propranolol online the dosage prescribed will depend on what condition you are trying to treat.

Propranolol for migraine prophylaxis is severely toxic if used in overdose. If you have accidentally taken more than the prescribed dose or are experiencing symptoms of overdose, you should urgently seek medical attention.

Can Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis help with high blood pressure?

If you buy propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis they can help reduce high blood pressure in combination with diet and exercise.

Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. Adults over 40 are advised to get their blood pressure checked every 5 years. If your blood pressure is high you are at risk of developing certain diseases and can be a sign of more serious issues like obesity.

You can read more helpful information about high blood pressure before you buy Propranolol tablets online through the Patient Info website.

What causes high blood pressure?

Common causes of high blood pressure include:

age the risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older
a family history of high blood pressure
being of African or Caribbean origin
a high amount of salt in your food
lack of exercise
being overweight
regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol
smoking
long-term sleep deprivation
Long term health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and lupus

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help keep your blood pressure at a normal level. High blood pressure can also be triggered by certain medications. These include:

the contraceptive pill
steroids
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen
some pharmacy cough and cold remedies
some herbal remedies particularly those containing liquorice
some recreational drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines
some selective serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) antidepressants such as venlafaxine

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is often symptom-less, and you will not necessarily know you have it until you get tested. Although some symptoms can include:

Headache
Fatigue or confusion
Vision problems
Chest pain
Difficulty breathing
Irregular heartbeat
Blood in the urine
Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears

If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor straight away.

Side effects of Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis?

Like all medications, Propranolol tablets can cause side effects. You can find out more about side effects in the Propranolol tablet online Patient Information Leaflet. Stop treatment and contact a doctor at once if you have 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
an allergic reaction such as itching, difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue

Some common side effects include:

tiredness and/or weakness (these symptoms usually disappear), cold extremities, difficulty in sleeping
slow or irregular heartbeat, Raynaud’s syndrome
nightmares

Interactions between Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis and food/alcohol?

There is no reaction between Propranolol tablets and food, though a healthy diet will help decrease high blood pressure.

It is not recommended to drink whilst taking Propranolol tablets as it can increase certain side effects such as dizziness and light-headedness. If you do drink it is recommended to stay under the national alcohol recommendation.

Interactions between Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis and other drugs?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, especially:

medicines to treat heart diseases such as verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, nisoldipine, nicardipine, isradipine, lacidipine, and dihydropyridine
medicines to treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) such as disopyramide, quinidine, flecainide, amiodarone, propafenone
ergotamine derivates or rizatriptan (to treat migraine)
adrenaline (epinephrine) (used in anaphylactic shock)
medicines to treat diabetes such as insulin
lidocaine (to treat irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or as a local anaesthetic)
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) such as indomethacin
medicines to treat heart conditions (digitalis glycosides) such as digoxin
chlorpromazine and thioridazine (for mental illness)
cimetidine (to treat stomach ulcers)
other medicines to treat high blood pressure such as alpha-blockers, clonidine, moxonidine, methyldopa or hydralazine
levodopa (used in Parkinson’s disease)
monoamine-oxidase inhibitors, imipramine or fluvoxamine (to treat depression)
warfarin (to prevent clotting)
rifampicin (to treat infection)
barbiturates (to treat severe insomnia)
theophylline (treating asthma and reversible airways obstruction)
medicines to clear excess water from the body (diuretics)
anaesthetics
medicines to treat high blood pressure or difficulty passing urine such as prazosin
smoking tobacco

Is there any reason I would not be able to take Propranolol Tablets for migraine prophylaxis?

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Propranolol tablets if you:

have a history of allergic reactions
suffer with muscle weakness (myasthenia gravis)
have a heart weakness or first-degree heart block
have kidney or liver disease
suffer from blood circulation problems (which may cause your fingers and toes to tingle or turn pale or blue).
have symptoms of hyperthyroidism (increased appetite, weight loss, sweating)
suffer with or have a history of psoriasis
suffer from Raynaud’s disease (cold sensations in fingers and toes) or intermittent claudication (narrowing of arteries in the legs causing pain when walking)
You are a smoker
You are elderly

How do I store Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis?

If you buy Propranolol tablets store them in a cool, dry place away from children as per instruction of the Propranolol tablets patient information leaflet.

Do not use Propranolol tablets after the expiry date on the box, when you buy Propranolol tablets online always check the date when they arrive.

Can I buy Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis online?

You can buy Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis online from registered online prescribers such as e-Surgery.

Whenever you buy Propranolol tablets online or any other medication, make sure you check for the green GPhC logo on the bottom of each page of the website you are using.

You can use the GPhC website to check if a pharmacy is registered. This will ensure that when you buy Propranolol tablets online they will be genuine.

Where can I get more information about Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis online?

You can find out more in the Propranolol tablets online patient information leaflet.

You can also use our completely free Ask-A-Pharmacist service to get health advice from a trained professional. We’re here to help!

Migraine prophylaxis can be treated with a variety of different medications. If Propranolol does not work for you please speak to your GP or local pharmacist so they can advise alternative treatment. Always follow the advice of your healthcare provider when taking medication.

How will my Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis be delivered?

e-Surgery uses Royal Mail delivery with choices starting from; Royal Mail 48 tracked delivery, Royal Mail tracked 24 and Royal Mail 1 pm special delivery (discover more about e-Surgery delivery). Whenever you buy Propranolol tablets online they will arrive in discreet, recyclable packaging at a delivery address of your choice.

Find out to recycle packaging from e-Surgery.

How to dispose of Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis?

Whenever you buy Propranolol tablets for migraine prophylaxis online they will come in blister packs that are not currently recyclable, so once they have been used can be disposed of in a general waste bin. If the Propranolol tablets are unfinished dispose of the medication safely and drop them off at a local pharmacy. Cardboard packaging and paper patient information leaflets are recyclable. For any more information on the disposal of Propranolol tablets, you can use our free Ask-a-Pharmacist service.