Propranolol = Anxiety Free (for now at least)

[johncraig]

After a few months of being relatively anxiety free the dreaded curse of mental health came back with a bang a fortnight ago.

Usually when this happens to me it can takes weeks or months for me to get over it.

This time i talked to my doctor to see if i could try some meds to ease it as it was bad.

I had the shakes the sweats the whole range of anxiety symptoms which we are all used to.

I suggested Propranolol which is used for reducing blood pressure as well as anxiety as someone had suggested it to me.

I'm already on blood pressure medication so he didn't want to give me too big of a dose...10mg up to 4 times a day.

At first no real difference then i took 20mg in the morning and 20mg at night and POW the anxiety cleared in 2 days... i suffered light headedness which is a common side effect because it lowers your blood pressure but i'd happily have that than the anxiety.

I've now come of the Propranolol for 2 days and i'm still fine and the light headedness is also gone.

I'm hoping it was this medicine that helped and that i can turn to it in the future if i need it.

I hope some of you out there can discuss it with your doctors to see if it can do the same for you...John.

[aber218deen]

I'm so happy for you John!! Propranolol actually reduces the flow of adrenaline that is released when you start to get anxious, so propranolol really helps to cut off the release of adrenaline that happens in most cases of anxiety. Hope this helps you understand what happens with propranolol. I agree with you in your thinking that propranolol is a good med for anxiety. I personally need a bit bigger dose as my anxiety is chronic and my body has gotten used to it. So sometimes the propranolol does not work. What I do is the same as you, come off it for a while so the brain forgets about the chemical and things go back to the start and the cycle starts again. A bit of a tangent there, but if anyone disagrees with me, you're more than welcome to put me right!! Again, I'm so glad you got some relief from this dreaded condition. Speak soon John. John.

[Aazz]

Propronlol is great for the physical symptoms of anxiety, i have taken it a few times and it definitely helps but I am just stupid and afraid to take it al it of the times because of the low blood pressure and reducing the heart rate even though my phychiatrist said I should be fine.

Glad you are feeling better

[johncraig in reply to Aazz]

i was told by my Doctor to take them when i need them...i don't really want to take them all the time as the light headedness bothers me.

So hopefully they will work again if/when my anxiety comes back.

At least it's good to know i have something that i can try...good luck with yours Aazz...John