Hi again,
Has anyone had any experiences of taking propranolol for anxiety at all? I have been prescribed 40mg to take 1 to 3 times aday or when i feel particually anxious/start of an attack. Obviously suffering from anxiety is making me nervous about taking them, ergh cant win!! Any advice appreciated.
Thanks x
out of ssri's and benzos, beta blockers such as propropanol have the least scary side effects I think the only one is tiredness it's really not a scary medication and it helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety such as palpitations. I have used it before only at 20mg and it really helped with the physical effects. Good luck I hope they help you 
Hi. My sister took the same dose as you and helped her so much. She was working full time too and functioned just fine. She managed to cut them down as things got better. I wish I could take them as have chronic anxiety aswell but recently diagnosed with atrial flutter so on day ten of taking bisopralol. It has helped a little with my anxiety too but has some side effects.
You shouldn't have any issues with propranolol as it's widely used.
if your worried you could half the dose and if your fine on that then ask for the 20mg tablets. I was told not to halve mine though as it releases the tablet too quickly as you break through the coating. Might be ok with yours though.
Good luck and I'm sure they will help you.
Vicky x
Hi vicky
Thank you so much for the reply, do you know whether they helped her with just the attacks or with the constant feeling of anxiety aswell? As although i do suffer with anxiety attacks my anxiety tends to be lurking constantly all day. I think i will try 20mg just to make myself more confident that nothing bad of going to happen and of it doesnt try the 40.
Thanks xx
Hi. It helped with both anxiety and the panic attacks. It worked almost straight away. She was a different person in a week from needing me to go everywhere with her as she couldn't even pay bat the checkouts to going on her own.
It seems to have quite a quick calming effect and she had no side effects. Give them a go as soon as and don't be frightened. You will hopefully feel better really soon.
They aren't a cure but certainly help until it's under control.
My sister isn't a tablet person but said they were a life saver.
Let me know how you get on with them and don't worry about taking them x
Hi ya
Ahh thats great, thank you so much for the reassurance and your sisters experience, it makes everything so much easier hearing from real people who have been through the same thing.
I have been advised to take one when i am feeling especially anxious so as soon as iv tried them i will let you know my experiences
Thanks again i really appreciate it xxx
Hi again sorry......
Just another quick question do you know if your sister suffered with anxiety tension headaches? And if it also helped for the sort of symptoms or just the heart palpitations.
Sorry so many questions
Ali xx
Hi. Don't feel scared to ask questions. Anxiety causes tension which can give you headaches which I experience. Once you feel calmer the headaches should go too.
You tend to tense everything when your anxious and know my shoulders are round my ears when I'm feeling bad.
Once your more relaxed you will be amazed how many symptoms disappear. Try taking half the dose in the morning. It won't do anything other than make you feel chilled. Stop panicking as you will be fine and feel so much better xx
Hi ya
Thank you so much for your help, its nice knowing we're not alone through this.
I will let you know how i get on.
Ali xx
Your not alone and yes please let me know how you get on in the morning. Don't panic taking them as you won't feel anything bad only less anxious. Good luck and hope you feel better really soon. Nobody understands unless they deal with it every day like we do. You will be fine Ali xx
I have been told to take them by my doctor to but am scared to I have health anxiety x
Hi Saz. As I've just been saying to Ali they are really good for all sorts of anxiety. They have few side effects and can make a difference. Try them and see if you see a difference.
Give them a go and let us know how you get on with them xx
I guess I am not in the norm when it comes to propranolol. It did absolutely nothing for me...at all. It was like I was not taking anything. I tried it for a month. The good thing was I had no side effects from it and that is coming from someone that is very sensitive to medication.
Yes I take 80g a day they slow down your heart rate
The one drawback to them (beta blockers) is that you can only be on them for so long. How long that is, I don't know. I was on propanolol for a little over a year (for a non-anxiety reason, I was on it for varices) when they took me off of it, ostensibly because my new hepatologist thought I had been on it long enough, even maybe too long. Basically what it does, regardless of why prescribed, is to lower your blood pressure and pulse.
One concern I would bring up with your Doctor is why he/she is taking this tack. Because from what I have understood about beta blocker usage in anxiety cases is that they combine it psychoactive drug, an ssri or something similar. Just using the propanolol suggests that the Dr. thinks that if they can just stop your heart from racing, you can control anxiety. I don't know about your anxiety, but mine is a little more complex than that.
But don't be afraid of taking it. You shouldn't really notice the difference, except maybe getting up in the morning. That was my only problem, but I was taking a pretty big dose. Again, not for anxiety, but for complications of another disease.
Hi there, I am new on this site, I usually post on Thyroid Uk and lupus as I have. A number of medical conditions.
Due to a recent hyperthyroid crisis I was in a terrible state of uncontrolled heart rate, tremors, excessive sweating, breathless, fast pulse, shaking and high anxiety albeit brought on by a swing from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism. It was terrifying. The GP gave me propranolol 80mg slow release last Friday with a short course of diazepam.
I can honestly. Say that I am a different person, the propranolol has mostly stopped the pounding in my chest and the diazepam has helped me get some sleep.... I had been deprived for nearly 7 weeks as they were treating my thyroid and not my other symptoms.
Don't be afraid to take them, I hate taking anything but they will really help
BB
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