Propranolol, a widely prescribed beta-blocker used to manage anxiety, migraines, and high blood pressure, faces an urgent regulatory review following data linking the medication to 12 deaths and over 300 intentional overdoses in the United Kingdom, according to the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS).
Regulatory Review Triggered by Overdose Data
Medical safety authorities, including the Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm), the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), and the NPIS, joined forces to write to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The joint working group asked whether it remains appropriate to prescribe propranolol for anxiety given the associated risks. The NPIS revealed that 318 patients in the UK took an intentional overdose of the drug between 2022 and 2023, resulting in 12 deaths. Out of those total overdoses, 173 stemmed from prescriptions, with 108 cases specifically involving medication prescribed for anxiety.
Kate Ryan, joint chair of the RCP and RCPharm medicines safety joint working group, stated: “We are concerned about the serious consequences of overdose, particularly for vulnerable individuals.” Ryan added that while propranolol remains an effective treatment for many patients, its use for anxiety presents distinct challenges. In response to the joint letter, the MHRA confirmed it will undertake a formal review of available data concerning the harms of propranolol and the specific risks of overdose to determine if regulatory action is necessary.
Rising Prescription Rates Among Young People
The safety review coincides with documented increases in prescriptions for the medication, particularly among teenagers and young adults. Data obtained via a freedom of information request by The Observer showed that prescriptions for girls aged 12 to 17 rose by 92% over the decade leading up to 2025, reaching as high as 1.1 million within that demographic. Similarly, usage among women aged 18 to 23 increased by nearly 82% between 2015 and 2025.
Public visibility of the drug has also grown through endorsements by high-profile figures. Celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Prue Leith, Emma Watson, and Robert Downey Jr. have spoken about using beta-blockers. Notably, Downey Jr. admitted to using beta-blockers prior to accepting his award at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards.
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