Propanolol

[Meljb69]

I've been suffering with crippling anxiety over the past few days, brought on by being poorly a few weeks ago with a UTI. I live alone and it's been hard. I've been experiencing tingling in my fingers, pain in left arm, racing heart, blinding headaches, went to out of hours last week and my blood pressure was 169/110 Doctor prescribed me 40 mg of propanolol. I've been experiencing the shakes to the point I can't stop. My hands go bright red. Anyone else experiencing these symptoms?

[Bagrat]

Hi Meljb, It must be very scary feeling unwell and living alone. I have on and off issues with anxiety so understand your concerns re the symptoms you're getting.It sounds like you need to follow up your out of hours visit with a consultation with your GP.

You don't say if you've had heart probs before this feeling that your heart is racing. I've certainly experienced the finger tingling years ago and more recently chest aches unconnected with my heart issues. With all the symptoms you describe there is usually an innocuous reason. Your blood pressure will be up if you are stressed, frightened and anxious but all these things need checking out for your peace of mind and to rule out issues which may need treatment.

Difficult as it is, if you can practice slow deep breaths this will slow the racing heart ( does that come and go??) and may well stop the tingling finger issue.There are lots of relaxation/ meditation videos on YouTube which help a great deal, while you wait to see a doctor.

[Blearyeyed]

You need to follow up with your GP with an urgent appointment tomorrow.If they do not have a face to face request to have the GP call you. Explain what happened and what medication and dose you were put on but that you are having extreme symptoms and urgently need advice.

You may just require something simple like a change in dose or different beta blocker , but you need a follow up examination and professional advice asap to get your treatment right.

Hope you get this resolved soon. Let us know how things go , take care and try and relax and use some deep breathing to get some relief until you get to see someone.

If things get worse call 111 or go back to AandE.

Take care , Bee

[opal11uk]

I take this drug twice a day and have no problem with it, check with your pharmacist who should be able to advise you.

[Ppiman]

I think propanolol, being an older beta-blocker can have a range of effects not only on the heart. It is often given for anxiety as, in slowing the heart a little and reducing the impact of adrenaline caused by anxiety and high emotion, it can sometimes help. It has no direct action on anxiety, however, only on the heart.

The only likely eventual answer for you, and I can imagine the hell that you are going through, is time. This will pass and allow you to look back and realise the effects of the mind on the body if only through the lens that all of your fears about what lies around the corner have come to nothing: that you are still here, and functioning reasonably well: no stroke, no heart attack, no passing out, or even worse.

Health anxiety is horrible and can seem never ending as new symptoms begin and set it all off again. But, looking back from a future vantage point and realising that it is an effect of the mind that causes the physical symptoms will, eventually bring you some peace.

In the meantime, as that future state will invariably eventually occur and a greater sense of peace will eventually be yours, relaxation and breathing exercises can and do help. These can be done alone likely as effectively as in with an expensive CBT therapist. Many books are available to help and, if you are tech minded, some apps on the mobile phone, too.

You can trust in the above. You will eventually conquer your fears even if they will forever hover in dark corners waiting to jump out at you again. Such is the problem with an over-active mind. Time really is a great healer.

Steve

[Auriculaire]

How was your UTI treated?

[jeanjeannie50]

Welcome to the forum Mel. You have had some good replies here to your post.

Can you please let us know how you are feeling now and if you contacted your GP?

Feel free to ask as many questions as you want, people here love to give help and support to others.

You are amongst people here that truly care and understand how worrying strange symptoms can be.

Jean