Inderal LA and Dry Eyes

If you're taking Inderal LA and dry eyes become a problem, try blinking several times a minute while reading or working on the computer or putting a humidifier in rooms where you spend the most time. Ask your doctor whether any of the other medications you're taking can contribute to dryness. For example, diuretics, antihistamines, and antidepressants may cause a problem with Inderal LA and dry eyes.

 

Inderal LA and Dry Eyes: An Overview

There are several possible side effects with Inderal LA® (propranolol hydrochloride sustained-release). Dry eyes are a reported side effect seen in rare cases. This data comes from clinical trials that extensively studied Inderal LA and documented its side effects.
 

Inderal LA and Dry Eyes: Suggestions

If you develop dry eyes while taking Inderal LA, there are some things that you can do. The following are some suggestions that may provide relief from dry eyes:
 
  • Don't use artificial tears that irritate your eyes. Try another brand or preparation; non-preserved drops may be more comfortable.
     
  • Blink several times a minute while reading or working on the computer.
     
  • Protect your eyes from drafts, breezes, and wind.
     
  • Put a humidifier in the rooms where you spend the most time (including the bedroom), or install a humidifier in your heating and air conditioning unit.
     
  • Don't smoke, and stay out of smoky rooms.
     
  • Apply mascara only to the tips of your lashes so it doesn't get in your eyes. If you use eyeliner or eye shadow, put it only on the skin above your lashes, not on the sensitive skin under your lashes or close to your eyes.
     
  • Ask your doctor whether any of your other medications can contribute to dryness and, if so, how to reduce that effect. Some medications that can cause dry eyes include:
o Antihistamines
o Decongestants
o Diuretics
o Some diarrhea medicines
o Some antipsychotic drugs
o Tranquilizers
o Some blood pressure medications, including ACE inhibitors and other beta blockers
If you have dry eyes while taking Inderal LA and the suggestions listed here do not help, talk with your healthcare provider about other options. There are other treatments that he or she may be able to recommend, such as eye ointments or Lacriserts®, that may provide dry eye relief. He or she may also recommend trying another medicine to see if your symptoms improve.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;