A central beta-blocker in cardiovascular care is becoming rarer behind the counter. In France, propranolol 40 mg tablet, used for high blood pressure, certain rhythm disorders or migraines, has been the subject of supply tensions for several weeks.
On January 9, 2026, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) confirmed delivery delays at Arrow, Biogaran, EG Labo, Teva and Accord Healthcare France, with significant difficulties announced until February. It asks doctors to “limit as much as possible” the initiation of treatment by
propranolol 40 mg and to favor other options when possible.
Propranolol 40 mg: targeted but controlled tension
According to the ANSM, these supply delays should ease from February 2026, with a gradual return to normal. Until then, the sale of propranolol 40 mg tablet outside the national territory is suspended in order to reserve stocks for patients monitored in France.
Important for prescribers: only this oral dosage is concerned. “Other dosages of propranolol (80 mg LP and 160 mg LP, in capsules) and other presentations (oral solutions, injectable solutions) are not affected by blood pressure.“, recalls the agency, while this molecule also intervenes in post-myocardial infarction, certain obstructive cardiomyopathies, hyperthyroidism or essential tremor.
Limit initiations and choose alternatives to propranolol 40 mg
In this context, the ANSM recommends restricting new prescriptions of propranolol 40 mg when other treatments can be considered without loss of opportunity for the patient. Among the beta-blockers mentioned are bisoprolol, nebivolol and atenolol, to be selected according to the indication, age, comorbidities and current recommendations.
The agency also specifies that carvedilol is preferred for the prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding linked to portal hypertension, as in the case of esophageal varices. At the same time, she emphasizes situations where “In the management of cardiac rhythm disorders, propranolol remains essential in certain situations, particularly in breastfeeding women and children suffering from congenital long QT syndrome or catecholergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.“.
Continuity of care: what place for the use of masterful preparation?
To protect patients already under treatment, batches of Propranolol Teva 40 mg must be made available on an exceptional basis in France by mid-February, a temporary measure intended to avoid sudden interruptions. The ANSM also mentions the possibility of new actions if the tension continues, hence the interest in anticipating renewals and informing patients sufficiently early.
For its part, the National Union of Pharmaceutical Preparation highlights the masterful preparation of propranolol as a possible relay, recalling that the legislation must allow its reimbursement by Health Insurance in the absence of a suitable specialty: “Certainly, a master preparation costs more than a specialty. But the rupture is very real, and the absence of treatment will in any case cost much more, both humanly and economically.“But this is surprisingly not one of the alternatives presented by the ANSM.
In practice, any difficulty in accessing the propranolol 40 mg should direct the patient to their doctor and pharmacist rather than changing their treatment alone.