Alprenolol

Oral
Hypertension

Oral
Angina pectoris, Cardiac arrhythmias

2nd and 3rd degree AV block; sinus bradycardia; uncontrolled heart failure; asthma or bronchospasm, severe peripheral arterial disease, metabolic acidosis, phaeochromocytoma. Concomitant use w/ clonidine.

1st degree AV block. May mask symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypoglycaemia. May unmask myasthenia gravis. May aggravate psoriasis. Abrupt withdrawal may cause angina, MI, ventricular arrhythmias and death. Patients on long-term treatment should discontinue medication gradually over 1-2 wk. Pregnancy and lactation.

Bradycardia; heart failure, heart block; hypotension; bronchospasm; fatigue; coldness of extremities; pneumonitis; pulmonary and retroperitoneal fibrosis; pleurisy; CNS effects; myopathies; GI disturbances; reversible alopoecia; skin rash; pruritus; lupus-like syndrome; male impotence; sclerosing peritonitis; muscle cramps; paraesthesias; peripheral neuropathy; haematological reactions. Changes in blood concentrations of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol.

Concomitant use w/ other drugs that cause hypotension; NSAIDs; other cardiac depressants; sotalol; digoxin; insulin and oral hypoglycaemics; sympathomimetics; ACE inhibitors; Ca-channel blockers, verapamil. Anaesthetics causing myocardial depression (e.g. ether, cyclopropane, trichloroethylene).
Potentially Fatal: Increased risk of withdrawal HTN w/ clonidine. Withdraw several days before slowly discontinuing clonidine.

Description: Alprenol is a non-cardioselective β-blocker w/ intrinsic sympathomimetic activity and some membrane-stabilising properties.

Beta-Blockers

Buckingham R (ed). Alprenolol. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 25/11/2013.