Precautions for oral propranolol

Propranolol has gradually been accepted by doctors and patients since it was found to have significant efficacy in hemangioma in 2008. There are some issues that need to be taken into account when using this drug for treatment. The first is that case selection is important, mainly effective for hemangiomas in the proliferative phase and ineffective for atrophic phase or vascular malformations. When taking the drug, the following matters should be noted: 1. Propranolol was originally a common drug used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and belongs to beta-blockers. Studies have shown that oral propranolol has significant effects in the treatment of pediatric hemangioma. 2. Routine electrocardiogram must be performed before propranolol is applied, and if there is any abnormality, cardiac ultrasound must be performed to exclude cardiac disorders before propranolol is chosen for the treatment of hemangioma. Propranolol should be taken for a long time at a dose of 2mg/kg body weight/day, once a day for 8 hours, or 3 times a day. Inpatients should monitor their heart rate every day, and if the heart rate is significantly lower than the normal range, the dose should be suspended and the doctor should be consulted. 4. During the home medication, parents should measure the heart rate of the child before each feeding, and do an ECG examination for the child once a month. 5. Possible adverse reactions of propranolol in children include: bradycardia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, rash, gastrointestinal discomfort and upper gastrointestinal reflux, fatigue, bronchospasm, but the general adverse reactions are few and appear mostly after high doses. The dose should be continued until the end of the proliferative phase of the hemangioma or until the tumor subsides and no longer grows, and then gradually reduced until it is discontinued, which should take more than 2 weeks to avoid rebound effects.