{"publisher":"Propranolol Rx","product":"Propranolol 20 mg","preparedAt":"2026-11-07","reviewStatus":"Research drafts; medical review has not been claimed","facts":[{"label":"Research finding 1","text":"A systematic review and meta-analysis of beta-blockers for anxiety disorders concluded that the quality of evidence for the efficacy of propranolol at present is insufficient to support the routine use of propranolol in the treatment of any of the anxiety disorders.","href":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26487439/"},{"label":"Research finding 2","text":"A systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled randomized trials of pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder states that evidence for the efficacy of beta-blockers in treating performance anxiety was lacking.","href":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18271710/"},{"label":"Research finding 3","text":"NIMH says beta-blockers are commonly the medication of choice for the “performance anxiety” type of social anxiety disorder.","href":"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness"},{"label":"Research finding 4","text":"In a randomized, double-masked, crossover study of 5 ophthalmology residents who took propranolol 40 mg or placebo 1 hour before microsurgery, the residents' own ratings showed a highly significant effect of propranolol in decreasing anxiety (P = .0058) and surgical tremor (P < .0001); the abstract states it is unknown whether decreased tremor and anxiety improved surgical outcome.","href":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10360293/"},{"label":"Research finding 5","text":"A double-blind pilot study of propranolol 40 mg (n = 40) or placebo (n = 20) before a speech task reports that self-reported speech distress and questionnaire measures of public speaking anxiety showed clear reductions following treatment, but propranolol did not reliably outperform placebo regardless of speech duration at treatment.","href":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32499503/"},{"label":"Research finding 6","text":"A study of beta blockers and speakers' performance and memory reports that propranolol impaired recall of difficult items in the memory of anxious subjects.","href":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6871565/"},{"label":"Research finding 7","text":"A laboratory stress study states that prior findings are surprisingly mixed about whether beta-blockade (e.g., propranolol) blunts subjective stress, with many studies reporting no effects.","href":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34747583/"}],"sources":[{"title":"Propranolol hydrochloride tablets prescribing information","href":"https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=b94dcec7-7633-4a33-9cea-48161adeaf93"},{"title":"Drugs@FDA: Inderal (propranolol hydrochloride) application overview","href":"https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=016418"},{"title":"FDA: understanding unapproved use of approved drugs (off label)","href":"https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-expanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/understanding-unapproved-use-approved-drugs-label"},{"title":"NIMH: mental health medications","href":"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-medications"},{"title":"NIMH: social anxiety disorder","href":"https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-shyness"}],"guides":[{"title":"Asthma, diabetes and other label warnings for propranolol","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/asthma-diabetes-and-other-label-warnings-for-propranolol","description":"What the prescribing information for propranolol hydrochloride tablets and an FDA page say about asthma, diabetes, allergy and more.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Other approaches to performance anxiety: what the sources say","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/other-approaches-to-performance-anxiety-what-sources-say","description":"What NIMH, NCCIH and FDA pages say about CBT, beta blockers, benzodiazepines and off-label use, beside review findings.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Propranolol and music performance: what the trials measured","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/propranolol-and-music-performance-what-trials-measured","description":"What trials of oxprenolol, atenolol, nadolol and propranolol measured in musicians and singers, including null and negative results.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Propranolol for speaking, exams and surgery: what trials measured","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/propranolol-for-speaking-exams-and-surgeons-what-trials-measured","description":"What studies of propranolol measured in speakers, exam takers and resident surgeons, including results that were not significant.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Propranolol interactions: alcohol and other medicines named in the sources","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/propranolol-interactions-alcohol-and-other-medicines","description":"What the propranolol label, an NIAAA page and an FDA page say about alcohol and other medicines, plus a healthy-volunteer abstract on alcohol.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"What the propranolol label lists as approved uses and dosing","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/propranolol-label-approved-uses-and-dosing","description":"The indications and dosing statements in the propranolol tablet label, the FDA approval records, and what these sources do not cover.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Propranolol overdose and when to get help: what the sources say","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/propranolol-overdose-and-when-to-get-help","description":"What health pages, the propranolol tablet label and published reviews say about overdose, plus poison control, 911 and 988 numbers.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Propranolol in pregnancy and breastfeeding: what the sources say","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/propranolol-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding","description":"What the propranolol tablet label and FDA consumer pages state about pregnancy, childbirth, newborns and nursing mothers, as written.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Propranolol side effects: what the label and studies report","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/propranolol-side-effects-what-sources-report","description":"What the propranolol label lists as adverse events, what an FDA page says about side effects, and what single-dose studies measured.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Social anxiety, PTSD and propranolol: what reviews and trials report","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/social-anxiety-ptsd-and-what-reviews-conclude","description":"What reviews report on beta blockers for anxiety disorders, plus atenolol trials in social phobia and propranolol trials in PTSD.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"Stopping propranolol and heart warnings: what the label says","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/stopping-propranolol-and-heart-warnings-what-the-label-says","description":"What the prescribing information for propranolol hydrochloride tablets says about stopping and the heart, with each warning's own subject.","date":"2026-11-10"},{"title":"What propranolol is and what the label says about how it works","url":"https://propranololrx.com/research-guides/what-propranolol-is-and-how-it-works","description":"What the propranolol tablet label says about the drug and beta blockade, what is not established, and how health sources describe off-label use.","date":"2026-11-10"}]}