Need advice about taking Propranolol

[donkeylover1311]

I was prescribed to take Propranolol 3 times a day (10mg dosages) for anxiety and migraine on Wednesday. Before and during taking them, I have been experiencing pains in my wrists, hands, arms, feet and legs like an achy, tingling feeling. My GP has told me to stop taking them but I feel awful without them, I have heart palpitations and I get a tight chest, breathing becomes so hard and I have insomnia because of it (I was experiencing this before I started taking the medication). I don’t know if my GP told me to stop taking them as a precaution because she didn’t look into it. The pains can’t be from low blood pressure because paramedics measured my blood pressure earlier this week and said it’s fine.

Do you think I would be okay to reduce the dosage to 1 10mg tablet a day just to take the edge off my anxiety?

[Agora1]

Hi donkeylover, as simple as it may seem in adjusting the dosage, it is never wise to do

it on our own. We are not doctors and don't have the knowledge or authority to advise.

Best thing is to call your doctor and see if he might tell you to try a lower dosage.

Medications are powerful drugs. There are other meds out there that can give your

the same effects without causing side effects.. good luck xx

[donkeylover1311 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you for replying. As for alternative medication, my doctor hasn’t provided or suggested anything alternative. They’ve suggested therapy and I’ve referred myself but while I’m waiting I’m left without any help. I ended up taking a tablet last night because my chest was in agony and I started shaking from anxiety. There was no chance I would have slept without taking it. I’ve also noticed that the tingling has stopped xx

[Agora1 in reply to donkeylover1311]

That's good donkeylover...it's better that it's your decision, I hope

you understand...Apparently it was the medication causing it.

I also had a problem when I was on the same med. Stay safe xx

[donkeylover1311 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. Sending my best wishes to you xx

[Bigbrovaz]

People react to drugs and dosage differently, i was on propanolol 25mg per day, the side effects only exacerbated my anxiety with side effects consistent with hypotension and I couldn’t go out, I lowered the dose to 12.5mg and it was still the same till I couldn’t take it anymore...

[donkeylover1311 in reply to Bigbrovaz]

Thank you for replying!

[Bigbrovaz]

Propanolol still gives symptoms consistent with low blood pressure even though your blood pressure is normal

[donkeylover1311 in reply to Bigbrovaz]

I don’t mean to sound stupid but what does that mean?

[Bigbrovaz]

You can actually take 10mg daily but discuss that with your GP first.

[donkeylover1311 in reply to Bigbrovaz]

Also thank you for this. I’ve decided I’m going to ring my doctor ASAP to see if I would be okay to reduce my dosage because I might not experience the side effects and they help me a lot!

[Ranxiety]

I was on propranolol for anxiety for a couple of months and asked my GP if I could stop taking them as they seemed to make me have bad chest pain, and they didn’t seem to help calm my anxiety symptoms so I didn’t see the point of taking them. My GP said it was fine to just stop taking them, I seemed to have bad shortness of breath, palpitations, and my chest pain seemed worse, so bad that I had to ring 111 and visit A&E after I stopped taking them. This happened for about a week after I stopped taking them so I imagine it was my body getting used to them not being in my system anymore! If I were you I would contact your doctor about reducing your dosage as it might benefit you to do it in stages, rather than a sudden drop, so that you don’t have bad side effects, I would say you feel awful not taking them as your used to having them in your system, you kind of have to stick it out when you come off them, it does get better though! Hope you feel better soon.

[donkeylover1311 in reply to Ranxiety]

Hi there, thank you for replying.

I only started my medication on Wednesday, I took 3 tablets on that day, 2 on Thursday and 1 last night (Friday) so I wouldn’t say it’s a sudden drop. Thank you, I hope you’re feeling better now!

[ginarose]

Do what your physician says & schedule an appointment to discuss it. I take 180mg of propranolol for essential tremor & I’ve never experienced any problems with it (I started on 60mg). I’m asthmatic & very rarely asthmatics may have trouble with propranolol ~ I work beside primary care providers

& nurse practitioners who I’ve discussed this with because I had concerns. Always keep in touch with your provider about your medications. They care. If you have one who doesn’t, find a different one. All the best to you.

[donkeylover1311 in reply to ginarose]

Thank you for replying. I’ve decided I’m going to ring my doctor as soon as I can to ask if I would be okay to continue the medication and just reduce my dosage to see if the side effects subside because they’re so helpful for me! And if not, I’m going to ask for alternative medication. All the best to you as well.

[EGwin54 in reply to ginarose]

Hi, I was reading your experience with propranolol and decided to tell you my concern. I have been prescribed propranolol 2 days ago because my heart rate es very high and my hans shaky because I have been diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism. I'm asthmatic and tight now I'm taking antibiotics because I have a chest infection. My gp tells me that I might experience just a little wheeze but I'm very scared because I feel short of breath already. I should have started today but I was too scared. You mentioned that you are asthmatic. Do you get any bad side effects with you breathing? What dose do you take? My dose is 30mg a day.

Thank you

Emma

[Fran16]

I take 80mg slow release for migraine (I also have anxiety) I would say stick with it. The first time I tried propranolol I had the sort of symptoms you described and more. This time I stuck with it and they eased off. I built up tom80; slowly then went on slow release. I still,get migraine but not so many! Good luck