Treatment of acute intermittent porphyria with large doses of propranolol

A patient had an acute attack of intermittent porphyria with severe neurologic manifestations, hypertension, and tachycardia. Treatment with propranolol hydrochloride (Deralin [Israel]; Inderal, comparable US product) intravenously administered in a total dose of 284 mg during a period of 18 hours, was followed by clinical remission associated with a decline in urinary excretion of porphyrin precursors.