What Is Propranolol Sustained-Release Used For?

What is propranolol sustained-release used for? This prescription medication is used to treat conditions related to the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure, angina, and hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Some off-label uses for propranolol sustained-release include treating hyperthyroidism and anxiety disorders, as well as slowing down the progression of aortic dilation in children with Marfan syndrome.

Propranolol Sustained-Release Drug Info

Propranolol Sustained-Release Uses: An Overview

Propranolol hydrochloride sustained-release (Inderal^® LA) has been licensed to treat a number of conditions. These propranolol sustained-release uses include:

Controlling high blood pressure
Relieving angina symptoms
Preventing migraines
Improving symptoms in people with hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, which is a condition in which the middle part of the heart thickens.

(The information in this article applies specifically to Inderal LA and its generic versions. For information about InnoPran XL^®, a similar medication, see InnoPran XL.)

High Blood Pressure

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers (for example, 120/80). The top number is known as the systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as an average blood pressure higher than 140/90 with multiple blood pressure readings.

In clinical studies, propranolol sustained-release has been shown to significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The higher the dose of propranolol sustained-release, the greater the drop in blood pressure is expected to be. By lowering blood pressure, propranolol sustained-release can decrease the risks that occur with long-term high blood pressure (see Effects of High Blood Pressure). Propranolol sustained-release does not, however, cure high blood pressure.

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