Compare Lamictal vs. Propranolol
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Prevents seizures and stabilizes mood.
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) is most useful for treating severe seizure disorders, and for bipolar disorder with more depression symptoms than manic symptoms. Just be careful to increase your dose slowly to avoid skin rash.
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3.7/ 5 average rating with 184 reviewsforLamictal
Lowers blood pressure and controls heart rate.
Inderal (Propranolol) is good for treating many heart problems and other problems in the body, but it has more side effects than other beta blockers. You can't miss doses.
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3.9/ 5 average rating with 61 reviewsforPropranolol
Upsides
- Effective at lowering the frequency of seizures in people with epilepsy or Lennox-Gestaut syndrome. Typically used together with other medications for severe seizure disorders.
- Works best for partial, tonic-clonic, and absence seizures.
- A first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. Effective long-term treatment for stabilizing mood. Prevents both depressive and manic episodes, but the effect is greater for preventing depression.
- Doesn't require routine blood tests.
- A first-choice treatment to prevent chest pain (angina).
- A first-choice treatment for heart failure, heart attack, heart valve disorders, and abnormal heart rhythm.
- Also treats and prevents many non-heart problems, such as tremors, anxiety, migraines, and liver disease symptoms.
Downsides
- Can cause double vision, dizziness, sleepiness, and headache.
- Has the risk of a rare but life-threatening rash.
- Can make hormonal birth control less effective.
- Might be less effective than other medicines for treating manic episodes (acute mania) in people with bipolar disorder.
- Taking a beta blocker might make you feel more tired or out of breath during exercise or normal daily routines. This gets better for most people, but for some might not go away.
- Has more side effects than some beta blockers because it crosses into the brain and central nervous system.
- Not a first-choice treatment for high blood pressure according to the latest guidelines, except if you have heart failure or heart disease. As a second choice, your doctor might add it to medicines you're already taking if your blood pressure is still too high.
- Can hide symptoms of low blood sugar if you're diabetic.
- You can't miss doses. Stopping Propranolol suddenly can cause your blood pressure to go up suddenly, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Extended release
- Chewable tablet
- Dissolving tablet
- Pill
- Extended release
- Liquid
Price
Lowest price
$26.95
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$14.43
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Reviews
184 reviews so far
66%
saidit'sworth it
58%
saiditworked well
18%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Lamictal (Lamotrigine)?
Leave a review61 reviews so far
66%
saidit'sworth it
62%
saiditworked well
15%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Inderal (Propranolol)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
36possible side effects
- Dizziness38%
- Headache28%
- Diplopia28%
- Ataxia22%
- Nausea19%
- Blurred vision16%
- Somnolence14%
- Rhinitis14%
- Pharyngitis10%
- Rash10%
- Vomiting9%
- Cough increased8%
- Flu syndrome7%
- Dysmenorrhea7%
- Fever6%
- Diarrhea6%
- Incoordination6%
- Insomnia6%
- Abdominal pain5%
- Dyspepsia5%
- Constipation4%
- Tremor4%
- Depression4%
- Anxiety4%
- Vaginitis4%
- Convulsion3%
- Irritability3%
- Speech disorder3%
- Pruritus3%
- Vision abnormality3%
- Neck pain2%
- Reaction aggravated (seizure exacerbation)2%
- Anorexia2%
- Arthralgia2%
- Concentration disturbance2%
- Amenorrhea2%
Risks and risk factors
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
- History of depression
- Serious skin rash
- People also taking Depakote
- Taking more than the prescribed dose
- Increasing the dose too quickly
- Serious allergic reactions
- Blood disorders
- Meningitis
- Interactions with birth control pills
- Taking birth control pills
- Withdrawal seizures
- Stopping Lamictal (Lamotrigine) suddenly
- Increased chest pain or risk of heart attack
- Suddenly stopping Inderal (Propranolol)
- Heart failure
- Increased risks during surgery
- Major surgery requiring anesthesia
- Masked symptoms of low blood sugar
- Diabetes
- Masked symptoms of overactive thyroid
- Low blood pressure
- Concurrent use of non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, digoxin or clonidine
- Serious skin reactions