Giving propranolol tablets to infants with hemangiomas - solubility in water

The discovery that propranolol can be an effective treatment for infantile hemangiomas1 is changing management protocols and many questions about optimum treatment plans are yet to be answered. We have used propranolol to treat 150 infants with a variety of hemangiomas. Babies commonly require doses of between 3 mg and 10 mg. Propranolol is sold commercially as 10 mg and 40 mg tablets. A propranolol syrup can be made up by some pharmacies. However, this has a relatively short shelf life and, unless it is subsidised (e.g. by a hospital), it can greatly increase the cost. For example, families have paid 60a?? 70 per month for syrup compared with 6 per month for tablets. For this reason, most of our parents dissolve 10 mg tablets in water and then withdraw the appropriate dose for the baby.