Reducing Propranolol dose

[mummyofspot]

Hi there

I posted a while a go about my anxiety and cardio phobia making me have lots of palpitations and high resting heart rate. I've been taking 40mg Propranolol 3 times per day for about 12 days. At first it was great. I didn't feel any anxiety at all and my heart rate was nice and low, I thought I'd finally found something to help. After about a week of taking them I started to feel nauseous and headachy and no energy. I'm considering lowering my dosage. I'm thinking maybe I'll start with lowering the middle dose down from 40mg to 20mg and then doing that for a week or so and then lowering one of the other doses. I'm keen to still take it as it definitely helps with the anxious feelings/high heart rate, Hoping that 20mg 3 times per day will still do the job but not as many side effects. Anyway got any successful experience of reducing dose to combat side effects?

Thank you so much x

[b1b1b1]

I would talk to your doctor before you change the prescribed doses. As I understand it this is a heart medication, and I would not make changes on your own without the doctor's OK.

[mummyofspot in reply to b1b1b1]

Thanks. I will speak to my dr but I'm keen to hear other experiences.

[Starrlight]

I take 20 mg twice a day and I find it helps without any side effects. Best to you!

[mummyofspot in reply to Starrlight]

Thank you. I reduced this afternoons dose to 20mg and I definitely feel better. Will try reducing the morning dose too.

[Starrlight in reply to mummyofspot]

Awesome

[kenster1]

stopped using these for more or less the same reason as you.

[mummyofspot in reply to kenster1]

Thank you for replying. Did you taper off or just stop?

[kenster1 in reply to mummyofspot]

I just stopped but had only been on them a few weeks maybe so it wasn`t really that bad.

[mummyofspot in reply to kenster1]

That’s good. I’ve been on them 12 days but only a week at 3 x 40mg per day. Did you have any withdrawals from stopping?

[kenster1 in reply to mummyofspot]

no didn`t suffer after stopping you might be ok if it`s only 12 days.

[Starrlight in reply to mummyofspot]

I’ve stopped and restarted and never any withdrawals that I noticed.

[mummyofspot in reply to Starrlight]

Thank you both for replying. Really appreciate it x

[Good_for_us]

Hi! I used to be on Atenolol (similar) for years, but gradually it made my blood pressure drop too much and I felt faint, etc. My blood pressure is kind of low to begin with, and those type of drugs lower BP-that is what they are designed to do. So some of those side effects you are having could be from low BP. I talked to my doc at the time and he told me to just stop- I didn’t have to taper- and I had no issues. It was a bummer tho- cause I really liked how it kept my heart rate lower. I think if you are taking those drugs for cardiac purposes, you might have to taper, but not sure about that.