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What Causes Dizziness After Taking Propranolol?

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Posted on Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Question: Hi a person taking more than prescribed propranolo for the last two weeks with already usually low blood pressure ( propranolol was prescribed for heart palpitations) made the person very dizzy the dizziness is getting worse even if sitting down and the medicine stopped, what could that mean??? will it get better by itself? pit was probably just side effect and will improve after few days of completely stopping the propranolo correct?
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Answered by Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Propanolol and Beta Blocker Rebound

Detailed Answer:
Hello there, thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. From what you've told me. I understand that your friend has been taking the Beta Blocker drug Propanolol to control their heart rate and rhythm because they were suffering from palpitations.

Now, you think that the propanolol may have caused their dizziness. That's a distinct possibility. And now, the dizziness is bad, even though the medicine has been stopped.

The thing you have to understand about the drug propanolol, is that it builds up to a certain level in your blood stream. When this level starts falling rapidly.. the drug experiences a rebound phenomenon, where the palpitations could come back far worse than before, which may be responsible for the dizziness.

This MAY get better on it's own. But I don't think you should take any chances when it comes to the heart. I would get them to either their local doctors office or to the ER as son as you can so his heart can be monitored. If he needs another dose of beta blocker meds, they can give him one IV (metoprolol) to make restore the activity quickly.

So monitoring and faster healing are the advantages to handlinh this at the ER or office right away.

Beta blockers should never be stopped all of the sudden, they need to be weaned off slowly and under supervision.

I hope this helps,

Vinay
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 544 Questions

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What Causes Dizziness After Taking Propranolol?

Brief Answer: Propanolol and Beta Blocker Rebound Detailed Answer: Hello there, thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic. From what you've told me. I understand that your friend has been taking the Beta Blocker drug Propanolol to control their heart rate and rhythm because they were suffering from palpitations. Now, you think that the propanolol may have caused their dizziness. That's a distinct possibility. And now, the dizziness is bad, even though the medicine has been stopped. The thing you have to understand about the drug propanolol, is that it builds up to a certain level in your blood stream. When this level starts falling rapidly.. the drug experiences a rebound phenomenon, where the palpitations could come back far worse than before, which may be responsible for the dizziness. This MAY get better on it's own. But I don't think you should take any chances when it comes to the heart. I would get them to either their local doctors office or to the ER as son as you can so his heart can be monitored. If he needs another dose of beta blocker meds, they can give him one IV (metoprolol) to make restore the activity quickly. So monitoring and faster healing are the advantages to handlinh this at the ER or office right away. Beta blockers should never be stopped all of the sudden, they need to be weaned off slowly and under supervision. I hope this helps, Vinay