Beta blockers?

[Flibbertigibbet]

Does anyone have any views on beta blockers? I've just been prescribed but am unsure.

[Agora1]

Hi MrsBowman, I'm assuming you mean using beta blockers for anxiety and not high blood pressure. If you don't have high pressure readings, then it is important the dose be monitored more closely so that your pressure doesn't get too low. Otherwise, that is your doctor's choice as to what is best for you. My best. x

[Flibbertigibbet in reply to Agora1]

I think one of the reasons I'm so dubious is that up to date I have always had low blood pressure. The doctor didn't take a reading though I did tell him about it.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. x

[Flibbertigibbet]

Thank you for telling me about your positive experience, it really helps to know that! Palpitations can be so unnerving. At present I just feel like I have a constant heavy feeling or pressure in my chest.

I have been prescribed 40mg of propranolol 3 times a day.

Thank you for your reply.

[Needtofigureitout in reply to Flibbertigibbet]

I have used propanalol. It's good to use before heading out to a situation that may cause anxiety. If you have that dreaded feeling of anxiety in your chest, propanalol will definitely get it out of your way. 😀

[Flibbertigibbet in reply to Needtofigureitout]

My whole life is one big anxiety attack! I was getting worried that I had something wrong with my heart!

Thank you for sharing your positive experience with me, I think I'llgo to the chemist today. x

[Dan12341]

They can make you tired been on them for about 7 years, but they are not so bad. Once you have taken them for about a month the side effects do subside.

[Flibbertigibbet in reply to Dan12341]

Thank you.

[honey1699]

Hi, I was prescribed beta blockers for anxiety, i was only on the low dose for a week when my doctor decided to up them to a much higher dose, bisporol. because my anxiety was so bad it did nothing for me but made me really ill due to the side effects, i had numbness in my foot and hand and crunching sensations in my head as well as being soaked in sweat every night like i had been in the shower, needless to say i had to have several ambulances has my heart rate was at 148 and didnt come down at all. After all of this my doctor still insisted on keeping me on them for another 4 months and then to top it off gave me anti depressants as well, as you can imagine i couldnt even get out of bed, then one day i seen a different gp out of hours and he suggested i seen a neurologist as my movements were very jerky. when i had the appointment with him he thought because my heart rate was so high and i was so ill with the crunching in my head he thought i had a brain tumour. after my brain scan i went back to see him and he said my brain was normal and the bisporal was the main cause of all of my problems and i should never have been given them to begin with, because my anxiety was triggered by fear and stress he referred me to a psychiatrist who gave me talking therapy and within a few weeks of this i started to feel better, i still had anxiety and the withdrawal of the bisporal was even worse than the beginning, i visited a&e a total of 77 times over the course of the year due to the side effects of these drugs. I changed doctors immediately after seeing the neurologist as my doctor disagreed with him even after the results. It took me a year to get back to my normal self and all of my anxiety has gone which i never thought would happen. my new doctor will not even give me antibiotics unless i am really ill. sorry to go on but my point is unless you have a heart condition you don't need beta blockers for anxiety, talking therapy is the first thing your doctor should help you with, it's too easy for them to dish out tablets all the time when they don;t have enough qualifications with mental health. if i didnt see that neurolist i think i wouldnt be here now so i have a lot to thank him for. if you are not happy with you gp and they dont listen to you please seek a different opinion.

[Flibbertigibbet in reply to honey1699]

I have just been forced to change gp as even though I am still only 10 mins from my gp I am out of their catchment area so can't yet comment on the Dr.

I have 3 teens, a 2yr old, a 3month old downs baby, after a c section & live rurally so am basically taxi for everyone including getting my husband to & from the train station for work. My point is being even more tired than I already get or being out of service isn't an option for me. I would never take antidepressants again as I felt like a zombie last time I took them, though that was 22 years ago.

I just want to feel well again & taking tablets worries me, especially when I'm still breastfeeding.

I'm really sorry you've had such a hard time,these things are supposed to help us not make us worse.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me.

[honey1699 in reply to Flibbertigibbet]

Hi, Thank you for your reply, i would now take tablets as an absolute last resort, they do make you feel like a zombie. i now find it is important to take time out in the day just for me instead of constantly running around. I know that this must be really difficult with your children and husband to look after but please try to look after yourself as well. Are there any parent child groups you could go to just to even get out for half hour, do your teens help you out at all. Even though when i was ill i had everyone around me i still felt that people did not understand what goes through your mind. I have learnt now though just to think of yourself and do what is right for you. please take care, congratulations on your new baby. Ally

[Flibbertigibbet]

So do I! Haha. I still didn't make it to the chemist, think I'm worried about adverse side effects.