What Causes Muscle Cramps While On Propranolol?

Posted on Sat, 2 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 2 Jan 2016 Answered on

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : how serious are muscle cramps while taking propranopal?

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (17 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would explain that muscle cramps are a known common adverse effects of propranolol.

Betablockers are known to reduce the muscular performance and cause chronic fatigue.

Muscle cramps may be just a transitory adverse effect dose related (usually encountered when high doses of propranolol are used).

Nevertheless in rare cases propranolol has been shown to lead to myotonia and myopathy.

That is why, when muscle cramps are persistent during propranolol intake, you should perform muscular enzyme plasma levels (CPK, inflammation tests) and an electromyography to exclude these possible rare disorders.

In such case propranolol should be stopped.

Hope to have been of help!

Wishing all the best for the New Year!

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar