SynthesisEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2026
Effectiveness of treatments for propranolol toxicity: a systematic review of current approaches and evidence.
Synthesis in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposePropranolol, a non-selective beta-blocker characterized by high lipid solubility, is extensively prescribed for cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders. Nevertheless, it is frequently implicated in intentional overdoses due to its central nervous system penetration and membrane-stabilizing properties, often resulting in life-threatening bradycardia, hypotension, seizures, and cardiac arrest. This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy of the current medical and mechanical interventions employed in the management of propranolol toxicity.
methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar for studies published between 1965 and March 18, 2025. Search terms included "propranolol toxicity," "glucagon," "high-dose insulin therapy," "lipid emulsion," "calcium," and "extracorporeal life support." Studies were included if they confirmed propranolol toxicity, evaluated at least one therapeutic intervention, and reported the clinical or hemodynamic outcomes. Expert opinions, narrative reviews, and letters to the editor were excluded from the analysis.
resultsA total of 92 studies were included, comprising observational studies, case series, detailed case reports, preclinical animal experiments, and animal control trials. Glucagon emerged as the most frequently utilized pharmacologic agent, followed by high-dose insulin euglycemic therapy (HDIET), intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE), inotropes, and calcium salts. Mechanical interventions such as extracorporeal life support (ECLS), pacing, and hemoperfusion have been reported in severe or refractory cases. The quality of evidence varied, with most studies limited by design heterogeneity, small sample sizes, and a lack of randomized controlled trials.
conclusionMultiple interventions, including glucagon, HDIET, ILE, calcium, and ECLS, have demonstrated benefits in managing propranolol toxicity. However, owing to the low level of evidence and wide variability in patient presentations and treatment protocols, no single therapy exhibits universal efficacy. Individualized multimodal treatment remains essential, and high-quality clinical studies are necessary to establish standardized evidence-based protocols.
Indexed as
Identifiers
41546730What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.