Side effects, uses, dosage, and more

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Inderal LA and Inderal XL to treat certain conditions. Inderal LA and Inderal XL may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Inderal LA for prevention of migraine headache

Inderal LA is FDA-approved to help prevent migraine headaches in adults. Inderal XL is not approved for this use.

Inderal LA should not be taken to treat a migraine episode that’s already happening. It’s not known if the drug is safe or effective when used for this purpose. Your doctor will likely recommend a different medication to treat your migraine headache.

Migraine headache explained

Migraine is a condition that can cause a headache with pain or throbbing. Migraine episodes can include other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or changes in vision. An episode can last for hours to days.

To learn more about migraine, see our headache and migraine hub.

Effectiveness for prevention of migraine headache

Inderal LA is an effective option to help prevent migraine headaches. In fact, propranolol (the active drug ingredient in Inderal LA) is recommended in guidelines for migraine prevention. The guidelines are from the American Academy of Neurology and American Headache Society.

For details about how Inderal LA performed in clinical trials, see its prescribing information.

Inderal LA for stable angina

Inderal LA is FDA-approved for use in adults with a condition known as stable angina. The drug is used to decrease how often stable angina occurs. The drug is also used to help improve the ability to exercise. This could mean that you’re able to do more activities without experiencing stable angina symptoms.

Inderal XL is not approved to treat stable angina.

Stable angina explained

Stable angina (also called angina pectoris) is a condition that can cause chest pain. Stable angina occurs during activities, such as exercise, or when you’re feeling stressed. It usually goes away when you rest. This condition is due to a decrease in blood flow to your heart, which causes your heart to receive less oxygen than it needs. Symptoms may include:

To learn more about stable angina, see our cardiovascular health hub.

Effectiveness for stable angina

Inderal LA is an effective treatment option to treat stable angina. Beta-blockers such as Inderal LA are recommended medications for adults with stable angina in treatment guidelines. The guidelines are from the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA).

For details on how Inderal LA performed in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Inderal LA for hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

Inderal LA is FDA-approved to treat symptoms of a heart condition called hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (HSS) in adults. The medication is used to help lessen the severity of HSS.

To measure the severity of HSS, doctors use a scale from the New York Heart Association. The scale ranks symptoms of certain heart conditions from I (least severe) to IV (most severe). The scale is typically used to rank symptoms of heart failure. However, it can be used for other heart conditions that cause similar symptoms. This includes HSS.

Inderal XL is not currently approved to treat HSS.

Hypertrophic subaortic stenosis explained

HSS is a condition that occurs when the heart muscle becomes too thick. This makes it harder than usual for blood to flow through your heart. Symptoms of this condition may include:

To learn more about HSS, see our cardiovascular health hub.

Effectiveness for hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

Inderal LA is an effective treatment option for adults with HSS. In fact, beta-blockers such as Inderal LA are recommended options in treatment guidelines for this condition. The guidelines are from the ACC and AHA.

For details on how Inderal LA performed in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Inderal LA and Inderal XL for high blood pressure

Both Inderal LA and Inderal XL are FDA-approved to help manage high blood pressure.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking another medication, called a thiazide diuretic, in combination with Inderal LA. This can help manage your blood pressure even more.

It’s important to note that Inderal LA is not approved to treat a hypertensive emergency (blood pressure that’s dangerously high).

High blood pressure explained

High blood pressure is a very common condition. Your blood pressure is determined by the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. If your blood pressure is too high, it can increase your risk of developing other problems such as:

High blood pressure usually doesn’t cause any symptoms. When it becomes very high, possible symptoms can include headache, nosebleeds, chest pain, and trouble breathing.

To learn more about high blood pressure, see our cardiovascular health hub.

Effectiveness for high blood pressure

Inderal LA and Inderal XL are effective treatment options for adults with high blood pressure. Although these medications may not be the first treatment options for high blood pressure, they are recommended in treatment guidelines.

Specifically, beta-blockers such as Inderal LA or Inderal XL are recommended as options for high blood pressure in treatment guidelines. The guidelines are from the ACC and AHA.

For details about how these medications performed in clinical trials, see the Inderal LA and Inderal XL prescribing information.

Inderal LA and Inderal XL and children

Neither Inderal LA nor Inderal XL are approved to be prescribed for children. It’s not known if these medications are safe or effective for this age group.

However, there’s another form of propranolol (the active drug ingredient in both Inderal LA and Inderal XL) that’s approved for use in children. The medication is called Hemangeol, and it’s used to treat blood vessel conditions called hemangiomas.

You can talk with your child’s doctor about the right treatment options for their condition.