Effect of acute and chronic propranolol administration on antipyrine and paracetamol clearance in patients with chronic liver disease.

The effect of chronic propranolol administration on antipyrine and paracetamol clearance was studied in patients with chronic liver disease. Propranolol caused an acute reduction in antipyrine clearance which did not persist with chronic administration. Propranolol did not influence the clearance of total or unconjugated paracetamol, either acutely or at 6 or 12 months. A slight increase in serum urea occurred in patients receiving propranolol, compared with the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that, although propranolol may have some influence on drug handling acutely, chronic administration does not interfere with hepatic drug metabolism or renal drug clearance.