Propranolol is the oldest beta-blocker still in everyday use. It blocks the effects of adrenaline on the heart and blood vessels and, unlike newer 'cardioselective' beta-blockers such as metoprolol and atenolol, on the lungs and other tissues too. The heart slows and beats less forcefully, tremor settles, and the physical surge of anxiety — the pounding chest, shaking hands, sweating — is blunted. That last effect is why it is so often asked for in Nigeria by students, speakers and performers, and why it is also used for migraine prevention and for the symptoms of an overactive thyroid.
In the NAFDAC register
7 registered products
from 7 registration holders
What it costs online
Price varies — check with a pharmacy. This drug has not yet appeared in our fortnightly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies.
Brands of Propranolol in Nigeria
Those 7 products from 7 registration holders, counted in our October 2026 copy of the register, include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form | NAFDAC Reg. No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Propranolol Tablets (Mankind) | Mankind Life-Sciences Limited | 40 mg | Tablet | B4-5907 |
| Timec Propranolol | Great Timec Pharma Nigeria Limited | 40 mg | Tablet | A4-7847 |
| Festpropra | Manfes Pharmaceutical Company Limited | 40 mg | Tablet | B4-7842 |
| Eden Propranolol Hydrochloride 40 mg | Eden U-K Pharm Ltd | 40 mg | Tablet | B4-9819 |
| Propranolol 40 (First J. Pocco) | First J. Pocco Pharmacy Limited | 40 mg | Tablet | B4-6323 |
Propranolol Price in Nigeria
Our sampled online pharmacies held no propranolol listing this cycle, so we quote no price. Every registered product in Nigeria is a plain 40 mg tablet from an Indian maker, and they are among the cheapest heart medicines in the chemist — a strip of ten costs roughly what a strip of paracetamol does. The 10 mg tablets used for anxiety and the long-acting 80 mg capsules sold abroad have no registration in our copy of the register. Ask a licensed pharmacy and check the NAFDAC number before paying.
We show a price here once it appears in our monthly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies (MedPlus, HealthPlus), or when we have a reliable market figure. For now, confirm the current price directly with a licensed pharmacy.
How to Verify Your Propranolol is Genuine
- 1Check the strip or box for its NAFDAC registration number. In our copy of the register Festpropra (B4-7842) and Eden Propranolol Hydrochloride 40 mg (B4-9819) are Active; Mankind's Propranolol Tablets (B4-5907) and Timec Propranolol (A4-7847) are recorded Inactive
- 2First J. Pocco's Propranolol 40 (B4-6323) is recorded as Inactive, and Multichris Propranolol and Propraderel have Expired registrations — confirm the current status of any of these on the official Greenbook before relying on it
- 3Inderal does not appear in our copy of the register, nor does any 10 mg tablet or long-acting capsule. A pack carrying those names or strengths should be looked up by its printed number and refused if it carries none
- 4Enter the number in our free NAFDAC checker and confirm the product name, strength and holder match the pack. Several of these registrations fall due for renewal within the next year, so a lapse can appear between register refreshes
Where to Buy
Buying Propranolol wholesale, by the carton
Cartons of propranolol are bought at Nigeria's open drug markets: Idumota Market in Lagos, Ariaria Market in Aba, Ogbogwu Market in Onitsha and Sabon Gari Market in Kano. Each guide says where the market is and how to buy there safely; where we list sellers, they are named.
- Idumota Market, Lagos · wholesale sellers in Idumota Market
- Ariaria Market, Aba
- Ogbogwu Market, Onitsha
- Sabon Gari Market, Kano
No shop we list has Propranolol on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
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Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Propranolol in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
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What is Propranolol?
Every propranolol product in our copy of the NAFDAC register is a 40 mg tablet imported from India: Festpropra (B4-7842) and Eden's Propranolol Hydrochloride 40 mg (B4-9819) are recorded Active, Mankind's Propranolol Tablets (B4-5907) and Timec Propranolol (A4-7847) Inactive since 2026, First J. Pocco's Propranolol 40 is recorded Inactive, and two older entries have expired. Inderal, the ICI original that older prescribers still write, does not appear in our copy; nor do the 10 mg tablets or long-acting capsules common elsewhere, so a 40 mg tablet split in half is how a small anxiety dose is usually taken here.
It is a prescription-only medicine for good reason. Because it blocks beta-receptors in the lungs, it can provoke a dangerous asthma attack in someone who wheezes; it hides the warning signs of low blood sugar in people with diabetes; and stopping it suddenly after regular use can trigger rebound palpitations, angina or a heart attack. Taken as prescribed it is safe and very useful. Bought loose for exam nerves by someone who has never been asked whether they have asthma, it is not.
What is Propranolol used for?
In Nigeria, Propranolol is commonly used for:
- Situational and generalised anxiety — the physical symptoms (racing heart, tremor, sweating), not the worry itself
- Migraine prophylaxis — reducing how often attacks come
- Essential tremor
- Symptom control in thyrotoxicosis (overactive thyroid) and thyroid storm
- High blood pressure and angina; prevention after a heart attack
- Fast heart rhythms; prevention of variceal bleeding in cirrhosis; infantile haemangioma (specialist use)
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
Doses vary a great deal by use, so follow the prescription. For the physical symptoms of anxiety, 10 to 40 mg taken 30 to 60 minutes before the event, or 40 mg two to three times a day for ongoing symptoms — since only 40 mg tablets are registered in Nigeria, half a tablet is the usual small dose. For migraine prevention, 40 mg two or three times daily, increased to 80 to 160 mg a day if needed. For an overactive thyroid, 10 to 40 mg three or four times daily. For high blood pressure, 80 mg twice daily, raised as needed to 160 to 320 mg a day. Taken with or without food, at regular times.
Children
Specialist use only — for example a few drops of an oral solution for infant haemangiomas, or weight-based doses for certain heart conditions and migraine — with the dose calculated by a paediatrician. Not a medicine to give a child for exam nerves.
Elderly
Start low. Older adults are more prone to a slow pulse, dizziness, cold extremities, confusion and sleep disturbance, and often have the lung or circulation problems that make a non-selective beta-blocker a poor choice; a cardioselective one is usually preferred.
Never stop propranolol abruptly after regular use: taper over one to two weeks under a doctor. If you have ever wheezed or been told you have asthma, say so before the first tablet — a non-selective beta-blocker can close the airways. Check your pulse: a resting rate under 50, faintness or cold blue fingers mean the dose is too high for you.
Side Effects
General information for a reader holding a pack, not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist. If something on the serious list is happening, seek care now.
Common side effects
- •Tiredness, low energy and reduced tolerance of exercise
- •Cold hands and feet; a slow pulse
- •Dizziness, especially on standing; low blood pressure
- •Disturbed sleep, vivid dreams, nightmares; low mood
- •Nausea, diarrhoea; erectile difficulty in some men
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Bronchospasm — sudden wheeze and breathlessness — in anyone with asthma or COPD; can be life-threatening
- A very slow heartbeat or heart block with fainting
- Worsening of heart failure or of poor circulation in the legs
- In diabetes, a severe hypo without the usual warning signs
- Hallucinations or confusion, mostly in older adults; rarely, a severe skin reaction
When to see a doctor
Seek help urgently for wheezing or chest tightness, fainting, a resting pulse under 50, or new breathlessness and swollen ankles. See a doctor before stopping for any reason — tiredness, low mood or poor sleep can usually be managed by adjusting the dose or switching, but abrupt withdrawal is the dangerous option.
Warnings & Precautions
General information for a reader holding a pack, not a substitute for a doctor or pharmacist. If something on the serious list is happening, seek care now.
Do not take Propranolol if you have:
- Asthma, or a history of wheezing or bronchospasm — the clearest contraindication to any non-selective beta-blocker
- Second- or third-degree heart block, sick sinus syndrome, a resting pulse under 50, or severe low blood pressure
- Uncontrolled or decompensated heart failure; cardiogenic shock
- Severe peripheral arterial disease; Prinzmetal (variant) angina
- Untreated phaeochromocytoma; metabolic acidosis; prolonged fasting
- Known allergy to propranolol
Drug interactions
- •Verapamil and diltiazem — severe slowing of the heart and heart block; avoid the combination
- •Insulin and sulfonylureas (glibenclamide, glimepiride) — hypos are masked and prolonged
- •Adrenaline — in someone on propranolol an adrenaline injection can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure; tell any clinic you attend that you take it
- •Rizatriptan and other triptans (migraine), chlorpromazine, cimetidine, fluoxetine and fluvoxamine raise propranolol levels; rifampicin, carbamazepine and phenobarbital lower them
- •Clonidine — must not be stopped while on a beta-blocker; digoxin and amiodarone add to the slowing of the pulse
- •NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac) blunt its blood-pressure effect; alcohol increases dizziness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Propranolol crosses the placenta and prolonged use can slow the baby's growth and heart rate, so in pregnancy it is used only when clearly needed — for example for an overactive thyroid — with obstetric monitoring; labetalol is preferred for high blood pressure in pregnancy. Small amounts pass into breast milk and breastfeeding is generally considered compatible; watch the baby for unusual sleepiness, poor feeding or a slow pulse.
Related Resources for Propranolol
Guides, articles, and tools related to Propranolol and other hypertension medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Propranolol on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Propranolol.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.