People taking propranolol have been warned against suddenly stopping their medication, after a pharmacist explained why doing so can cause problems for their health. Raj Patel, known as the Straight-Talking Pharmacist on TikTok, has urged patients to keep taking the medicine as prescribed and speak to a healthcare professional if they have concerns.
Patel, who has more than 100,000 followers, issued the advice in a recent video where he discussed figures showing 12 deaths among people who had intentionally taken an overdose of the prescribed tablet. He said: “If you take propranolol and this 12 deaths headline has got you worried, please don’t stop your tablets.”
The figures relate to cases recorded in 2022 and 2023, rather than a recent incident involving people taking their usual medication. “These were not 12 people dying after taking their normal dose, and these were not reported last week,” he reassured.
A total of 318 people who had intentionally taken too much propranolol were included in the figures, with 12 deaths recorded. The medicine is a beta blocker prescribed for conditions including high blood pressure, certain heart problems and physical symptoms of anxiety.
Although propranolol can be beneficial when used as prescribed, taking too much can dangerously affect the heart, blood pressure, breathing and brain function. Patel explained: “Propranolol can affect your heart, your blood pressure, your breathing, and your brain if too much is taken.”
His main message was that patients should not make abrupt changes to their treatment because of concerns about overdose reports: “If it’s been prescribed for you, please continue to take it exactly as prescribed. Don’t stop it suddenly because of this headline.”
The NHS warns that suddenly stopping propranolol can make the condition being treated worse and may cause symptoms such as sweating, shaking or an irregular heartbeat. Anyone who wants to come off the medicine should speak to their doctor, who can advise whether the dose needs to be reduced gradually.
Patel also highlighted the difference between managing the physical symptoms of anxiety and addressing the worry itself. He said: “It can calm the racing heart, the shaking, and the sweating, but it doesn’t really treat the worry behind them.”
Anyone concerned about their medication should contact their prescriber or pharmacist before changing how they take it. If someone takes more propranolol than prescribed, they should seek urgent medical advice, calling 999 if they experience severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties, a seizure or collapse.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
