In this article, we will review the journey of propranolol from its inception to the present day.Įven today, more than half a century after they were first introduced, beta-blockers are still the most commonly used class of drugs for managing cardiovascular diseases. Propranolol has thus become an important tool for physicians to manage several cardiovascular as well as noncardiovascular conditions. Interestingly, many of these indications have, in fact, been discovered serendipitously. Over the years, other applications of propranolol in several noncardiovascular conditions including migraine, essential tremors, anxiety, portal hypertension, hyperthyroidism, and pheochromocytoma have been recognized. Soon, it was discovered that propranolol is not only effective in the treatment of angina, but it also has therapeutic effects in other cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmias. Until propranolol was invented, the only drugs available to treat angina were nitrates, which were effective only partially. Sir James Black has credited the Ahlquist's theory for his work, which led to the development of propranolol. His work, to find a way to reduce myocardial oxygen demand in patients with reduced oxygen supply due to arterial disease, began in 1958. For his work, Sir James Black was awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1988. The invention of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol, by Sir James Black in the 1960s revolutionized the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this article, we attempt to recount the journey of propranolol right from its inception to the present day. Moreover, propranolol treatment has been found to be cost-effective when compared to other corresponding treatment options for individual indications. Interestingly, even today, newer indications of this age-old drug are being discovered. Right from reduction in postmyocardial mortality to control of anxiety in performers, propranolol plays an important role in a plethora of medical conditions. Owing to its action at multiple receptor sites, propranolol exerts several central and peripheral effects and is therefore useful in various conditions. Propranolol soon became a powerful tool for physicians in the treatment of numerous conditions such as hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, migraine, portal hypertension, anxiety, essential tremors, hyperthyroidism, and pheochromocytoma. It was not long before several other cardiovascular as well as noncardiovascular therapeutic uses of propranolol were discovered. Propranolol is a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist that was developed by the British scientist Sir James Black primarily for the treatment of angina pectoris, more than 50 years ago.
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