What Is Propranolol XL Used For?

Propranolol XL Drug Information

How Does It Work?

Propranolol XL belongs to a group of drugs called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, more often known as beta blockers. As the name implies, these medications block beta receptors in the body. Beta receptors are located in a number of places within the body, including the heart and blood vessels. Stress hormones (such as adrenaline) bind to these receptors and cause certain reactions in the body, such as:

Increased heart rate
Increased force with which the heart pumps blood
Higher blood pressure (both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure)
Constricted blood vessels.

By blocking beta-1 receptors, propranolol XL causes the reverse effect of stress hormones. It decreases heart rate and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Propranolol XL Use in Children or Teens

Propranolol XL is not approved for use in children or teens. Talk with your child's healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using propranolol XL in children.

Off-Label Uses of Propranolol XL

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend propranolol XL for something other than high blood pressure. Sometimes, the medication is used off-label for the following uses:

Treatment of arrhythmias (abnormal electrical activity in the heart)
Treatment of chest pain (angina)
Improving survival after a heart attack
Treatment of hyperthyroidism
Migraine prevention
Relief of alcohol withdrawal symptoms
Prevention of bleeding in the esophagus or stomach in people with cirrhosis of the liver
Relief of alcohol withdrawal symptoms
Treatment of anxiety, including social phobia and performance anxiety
Treatment of heart failure
Treatment of a certain type of tremor known as essential tremor.

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