The NHS has issued a warning to anyone who takes a common heart medication. The health service is advising people to look out for serious side effects, including having yellow skin or « 10-minute nosebleeds ».
Propranolol, a beta blocker, helps slow the heart rate and relaxes blood vessels to reduce blood pressure and the heart’s demand for oxygen. It can also help relieve symptoms of anxiety, such as shaking and sweating, as well as migraines. Propranolol is only available on prescription but is commonly used across the UK.
As reported by the Mirror, the British Heart Foundation said there are over 50 million prescriptions for beta blockers in the UK each year, which includes propranolol. The tablet is typically taken once a day and is available in a standard or slow-release form.
However, Propranolol does come with potential side effects. The NHS urges people to call 111 if they notice serious red flags with their blood or kidneys.
The health service states: « Like all medicines, propranolol can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones. Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine. »
The common side-effects include headaches, feeling tired or weak, cold fingers or toes, feeling or being sick, and stomach pain. Although most people aged over 12 can take the medication, the NHS does warn patients to consult their doctor if they have previously had conditions such as low blood pressure, heart failure, depression or diabetes.
Propranolol can trigger more serious side effects, including the whites of your eyes turning yellow, skin turning yellow and having pale poo or dark urine. The NHS also warns that some patients may have « nosebleeds that last for more than 10 minutes », have unexplained bruising, or find that they bruise more easily than usual.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms should « tell a doctor or call 111 straight away ». The NHS also urges people to not uddenly stop taking propranolol without talking to your doctor first, because it could cause serious heart issues like chest pain or even a heart attack.
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