Can I take propranolol while pregnant or breastfeeding?
A plain-words look at what the NHS, the US drug label and LactMed say about propranolol.
In short
Pregnancy: You can take propranolol while pregnant.
Breastfeeding: If your baby is healthy, you can take propranolol during breastfeeding. Before taking it, always check with a pharmacist or doctor.
Your doctor, midwife or pharmacist can help you decide.
What this means for you
Pregnancy
- Propranolol can sometimes affect how your baby grows.
- You'll be offered extra growth scans later in pregnancy (usually from 32 weeks) to check your baby's growth.
- If you're pregnant or trying for a baby, ask your doctor whether propranolol is right for you or whether another medicine might be better during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
- If your baby is healthy, you can take propranolol during breastfeeding.
- Before taking it, always check with a pharmacist or doctor.
- Tiny amounts of propranolol get into breast milk.
- It is not known to have caused side effects in breastfed babies.
- Side effects in breastfed babies from medicines their mother takes are very rare, but it's important to keep an eye on your baby whenever you take a medicine while breastfeeding.
- Carrying on with propranolol is important to keep you well, and breastfeeding also benefits both you and your baby.
When to get help
- Contact a healthcare professional or call 111 (NHS 111 in the UK) as soon as you can if your baby is feeding less well than normal or not gaining weight as you'd expect, seems unusually sleepy, tired or weak, looks a lot paler than normal, seems sweaty or shaky, has changes in their breathing, or has a stomach upset (for example diarrhoea or constipation).
- For symptoms not mentioned here, or if you're worried about your baby, you can also speak to any healthcare professional or call 111.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist
This page is educational, not advice for your own situation. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before you start, stop or change any medicine in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
The details: what each source says
Propranolol in pregnancy
The NHS says
You can take propranolol while pregnant.
Propranolol can sometimes affect how your baby grows. You'll be offered extra growth scans later in pregnancy (usually from 32 weeks) to check your baby's growth.
If you're pregnant or trying for a baby, ask your doctor whether propranolol is right for you or whether another medicine might be better during pregnancy.
In our words, from the NHS page Propranolol (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
The US drug label says
Pregnancy Pregnancy Category C In a series of reproductive and developmental toxicology studies, propranolol was given to rats by gavage or in the diet throughout pregnancy and lactation. At doses of 150 mg/kg/day, but not at doses of 80 mg/kg/day (equivalent to the MRHD on a body surface area basis), treatment was associated with embryotoxicity (reduced litter size and increased resorption rates) as well as neonatal toxicity (deaths). Propranolol hydrochloride also was administered (in the feed) to rabbits (throughout pregnancy and lactation) at doses as high as 150 mg/kg/day (about 5 times the maximum recommended human oral daily dose). No evidence of embryo or neonatal toxicity was noted. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Intrauterine growth retardation, small placentas, and congenital abnormalities have been reported in neonates whose mothers received propranolol during pregnancy. Neonates whose mothers are receiving propranolol at parturition have exhibited bradycardia, hypoglycemia and/or respiratory depression. Adequate facilities for monitoring such infants at birth should be available.
Prescribing label, section “Pregnancy” (opening excerpt): propranolol hydrochloride (oral), Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. Read the full section on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
More on propranolol in pregnancy: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet (external site).
Propranolol while breastfeeding
The NHS says
If your baby is healthy, you can take propranolol during breastfeeding. Before taking it, always check with a pharmacist or doctor.
Tiny amounts of propranolol get into breast milk. It is not known to have caused side effects in breastfed babies.
Side effects in breastfed babies from medicines their mother takes are very rare, but it's important to keep an eye on your baby whenever you take a medicine while breastfeeding.
Carrying on with propranolol is important to keep you well, and breastfeeding also benefits both you and your baby.
Contact a healthcare professional or call 111 (NHS 111 in the UK) as soon as you can if your baby is feeding less well than normal or not gaining weight as you'd expect, seems unusually sleepy, tired or weak, looks a lot paler than normal, seems sweaty or shaky, has changes in their breathing, or has a stomach upset (for example diarrhoea or constipation).
For symptoms not mentioned here, or if you're worried about your baby, you can also speak to any healthcare professional or call 111.
In our words, from the NHS page Propranolol (nhs.uk). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). The NHS does not endorse this site.
LactMed says
Because of the low levels of propranolol in breastmilk, amounts ingested by the infant are small and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Studies during breastfeeding have found no adverse reactions in breastfed infants clearly attributable to propranolol. No special precautions are required. Propranolol has been used successfully in cases of persistent pain of the breast during breastfeeding.[1]
“Summary of Use during Lactation”, LactMed record “Propranolol” (LM301), quoted verbatim. Everything LactMed reports about Propranolol while breastfeeding.
The US prescribing label says
Nursing Mothers Propranolol is excreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when Propranolol Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules, USP, are administered to a nursing woman.
Prescribing label, section “Nursing Mothers”: propranolol hydrochloride (oral), Golden State Medical Supply, Inc. Label on DailyMed. Quoted verbatim; US labels are written for US prescribers and patients.
Other names
UK brand names (per the NHS): Bedranol, Beta-Prograne, Half Beta-Prograne.
Sources
- NHS, Propranolol (nhs.uk), page last reviewed 6 January 2026. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- US drug label: propranolol hydrochloride (oral), Golden State Medical Supply, Inc., human prescription drug, label effective 8 September 2026, set ID 5affa0ea-db84-86fd-e063-6294a90a4d16. DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Public domain; quoted verbatim.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Propranolol” (LM301), bulk release of 22 September 2026. LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. Public domain; quoted verbatim. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy), UK Teratology Information Service: Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) leaflet. Linked, not reproduced.
Sources checked 26 September 2026. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.