Propranolol anxiety & heart rate

[Reb1]

Hi,

Quick question for anyone who has taken propranolol...I've been prescribed 40mg x 2 daily for anxiety. My anxiety is mainly shortness of breath and social anxiety at the moment. My blood pressure is on the lower end and resting bpm is between 60-70. I've heard that these tablets can lower your bp and bpm. I'd like to try the propranolol to see if it helps with my peripheral symptoms of anxiety, but bit worried about the bpm and bp dropping below normal. Anybody have similar experiences with this?

Thank you

[Hidden]

I've technically taken it once but take Atenolol as a beta blocker due to asthma. Propranolol is very helpful for social anxiety, but it does decrease the pulse and your blood pressure. Propranolol itself can be difficult in terms of those with breathing disorders. If you have asthma, you'll need to find a cardio selective beta blocker because it can cause asthma to worsen. I would imagine your doctor would have caught that, but as an asthmatic, mine did not and thankfully I caught it. You might ask about one like atenolol which is purely cardio selective (beta receptors are in many areas....lungs, heart, etc.). One of the things to watch with any beta blocker is orthostatic hypotension. This would be taking your time standing up as you can feel dizzy for a few moments while your blood pressure returns to normal. For most of your questions, I would ask your doctor....maybe take it once daily...and mainly when your anxiety symptoms are at their worse. I am given 100 mg of atenolol, but I take it 12 hours apart at 50 mg doses so I don't feel dizzy, woozy, tired, and so on. If you have a healthy resting heart rate and blood pressure, it is a good question for your doctor or pharmacist to answer to get a professional's opinion.

[Reb1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Docs checked for asthma, so not asthmatic. I think I'll try one first and see how it goes. Really helpful

[Natsteveo]

Hi @reb1

I take propranolol I have for years I find it stabilizers your rhythm. I've been on venlafaxine 300mg for some years and was put on propranolol last 8 years ago now so while venlafaxine increases my heart rate the propranolol calms it down if it does get very fast or faster than you would like ask your Dr to reduce your mg I was on 40mg now I have 10mgx2 I swear by propranolol it's done me wonders if your worried go back to your GP and ask his advice.

NAT

[Reb1 in reply to Natsteveo]

Thank you. I tried the 20mg to start with last night and did find that it stopped adrenaline from really working up and managed to calm down for a while. Will keep going with the 20mg for now. Thanks

[Natsteveo in reply to Reb1]

Just take baby steps reb your doing very good with keeping you calm for a while that's progress in itself

NAT x