{"id":1245,"date":"2023-08-31T11:57:25","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T11:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/?p=1245"},"modified":"2023-09-08T14:04:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T14:04:39","slug":"propranolol-and-cancer-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/blood-pressure-medications\/propranolol-and-cancer-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Propranolol: Your Beta-Blocker May Also Be Fighting Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Highlights<\/b><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Propranolol is a beta blocker that\u2019s often prescribed to manage heart conditions and as a second-line treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure).<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>As retrospective patient data has become available to study, doctors have noticed a strong correlation between taking propranolol and survival rates for various forms of cancer.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Other studies have found that propranolol can keep cancers from growing and spreading and can encourage the natural death of cancer cells, making cancer easier to manage.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Major clinical trials for propranolol are needed before definitive conclusions can be made.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>If you have elevated cancer risk and are a good candidate for propranolol for its prescribed use, talk to your doctor about its risks and benefits.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S., propranolol is used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure and headaches. Recently, researchers are finding it may have an even more important role \u2014 fighting cancer. Learn what propranolol is, why it may be able to help treat certain cancers, and the future of this promising medication.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What Is Propranolol?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/home\/medicine_details\/propranolol-10-mg-tablet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propranolol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a beta blocker that blocks the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine. This action helps to prevent the various reactions of the body\u2019s fight-or-flight response, like constricted blood vessels. It\u2019s most commonly used to help people who\u2019ve had a first heart attack manage the risks of a second one. It\u2019s used to treat migraines, as well, and can also be used to treat high blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propranolol is the generic name of a medication that\u2019s also available under the following brand names:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inderal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inderal LA<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inderal XL<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">InnoPran XL<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propranolol Hydrochloride ER<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hemangeol<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Propranolol and Cancer Prevention: What We Know<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, there\u2019s a wide range of research into the possible way propranolol can be used to treat various forms of cancers. This is a fast-moving area of research, but here are the most notable findings so far.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propranolol and Liver Cancer<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propranolol has been used for liver cancer patients for years to help with both the side effects of treatments and some symptoms of the cancer. However, over time, doctors began to notice that patients who take it regularly seem more likely to have better outcomes than those who don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So far, this theory has largely been borne out by research. For example, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6534323\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a 2019 study of patient data<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the Taiwanese health system found a 22% reduction among propranolol users with liver cancer, while <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aacrjournals.org\/cancerpreventionresearch\/article\/5\/8\/1007\/50037\/Effect-of-Long-term-Propranolol-Treatment-on\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a 2012 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found positive results on patients with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/liver-disease-medications\/what-is-cirrhosis-of-the-liver\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cirrhosis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or scarring of the liver.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why this is the case is still being studied. Bench tests have found <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5865987\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">propranolol can inhibit the growth of liver cancer tumors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and speed up their apoptosis, or self-destruction process, but it\u2019s not yet clear if that ability translates to the human body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propranolol and Breast Cancer<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1249\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2.jpeg-8-min.jpg\" alt=\"middle-aged woman in consultation with a doctor\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With breast cancer, the evidence is just as promising, although still in early stages. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aacrjournals.org\/clincancerres\/article\/26\/8\/1803\/83212\/Preoperative-Blockade-with-Propranolol-Reduces\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One small phase II clinical trial<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that propranolol helped keep breast cancer cells from metastasizing after surgery to remove tumors, while <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/21632503\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">retrospective studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have shown <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s13058-016-0782-5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">evidence of reduced breast cancer mortality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Much like with liver cancer, researchers are still figuring out why it works. In cell tests, it appears that propranolol keeps cancer cells from moving through the body, particularly if <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5356849\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">combined with other drugs, such as metformin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Propranolol and Melanoma<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similar to the other two cancers, propranolol has shown promise for helping melanoma survivors. Melanomas that metastasize have a significantly lower survival rate than other forms of melanomas, so preventing that spread is key to better outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamaoncology\/fullarticle\/2655005\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study using propranolol off-label<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found it helped drive down the risk of melanoma coming back by up to 80%. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/aacrjournals.org\/clincancerres\/article\/27\/1\/87\/83678\/Phase-I-Clinical-Trial-of-Combination-Propranolol\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another small study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that paired it with pembrolizumab, better known as Keytruda, also showed promise.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Propranolol and Future Cancer Treatment<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/3.jpeg-2-min-1.jpg\" alt=\"man harvesting carrots\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the promise of the research, there are three core challenges facing propranolol as a treatment for cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding The Mechanism<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biggest challenge at the moment is launching the studies that will definitely show how propranolol works, or doesn\u2019t work, for cancer one way or the other. While the research is promising, propranolol isn\u2019t yet approved to treat any form of cancer. And there\u2019s no guarantee that research will come back with positive results, or show enough of an effect for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sign off on it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding The Right Combination of Drugs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another factor is that propranolol might need to be tested with other drugs, such as immunotherapy-based cancer treatments or other well-known medications, like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/home\/Medicine_Details\/metformin-hcl-500-mg-tablet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">metformin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to see if there\u2019s a notable effect. This creates another layer of complexity in figuring out which medications should go forward as potential cancer fighters.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which Cancers Propranolol Therapy Should Target<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also a question of which cancers propranolol can target. Analysis of propranolol historical data and other sources have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4504645\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">found possible benefits for other forms of cancer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head and neck<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prostate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Esophagus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stomach<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This creates multiple lines of research, each of which are going to need to be followed carefully. Finding which cancers propranolol is best suited to treat, and who will most benefit, will need to be worked out by researchers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1252\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/4.jpeg-2-min.jpg\" alt=\"middle-aged man looking out a window and smiling\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who Will Benefit Most, and Who\u2019s At Risk?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even when that work is done, propranolol still won\u2019t be available for everyone. For example, people with certain heart conditions or breathing problems like asthma shouldn\u2019t take propranolol. Any drugs it\u2019s paired with will have similar issues with contraindications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, like any medication, propranolol does have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/sfx\/propranolol-side-effects.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drugs.com\/sfx\/propranolol-side-effects.html#serious-side-effects\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serious side effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are rare, however, so your provider may feel that the benefit to you outweighs the potential risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right now, the best thing to do is talk to your doctor if you\u2019re at risk for these cancers and are already a candidate for propranolol for its approved use. No matter what, only take propranolol when it\u2019s prescribed to you, and follow any directions or warnings to the letter.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While recent research into propranolol\u2019s cancer-fighting properties is encouraging, the research is still in its early stages. As of this writing, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/about-cancer\/treatment\/clinical-trials\/intervention\/propranolol-hydrochloride?redirect=true\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">several major clinical trials are underway in the U.S<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Their outcomes will likely guide future research into propranolol\u2019s full potential as a cancer-fighting agent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the meantime, if you\u2019re taking propranolol for another condition, let us help you find the most affordable price.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Get the Lowest Price for Propranolol with BidRx<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re considering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/home\/medicine_details\/propranolol-10-mg-tablet\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">propranolol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for its primary purpose or want to talk to your doctor about other uses, BidRx can help you find the lowest price. With BidRx, pharmacists come to you and offer their best price to compete for your business. Choose the price that\u2019s right for you, and have it shipped straight to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get started on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/home\/Contents\/medication\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">our medications page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to see how BidRx can save you money on all your prescriptions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn what propranolol is, the basics of taking this medication, and why it may be able to help treat certain cancers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1283,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blood-pressure-medications"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1245"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1267,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1245\/revisions\/1267"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bidrx.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}