10mg propanolol 1x daily - skipped 2 days and panic attack ensued. Is withdrawal possible from such a low dose?

[cheese_fantastico]

Hello all, I started taking 10mg propanolol as needed for anxiety, I suffer mostly from general anxiety, health anxiety and moderate PTSD. The small dose helped me not worry about the side effects/dependency and it actually worked great. I found myself beginning to take it each morning before work since I usually feel overwhelmed with work and its helped me focus much better. I've been taking it now for about 10 days, had a couple of headaches, but otherwise smooth sailing.

Saturday rolls around and I don't feel stressed as I typically do with the work week, so I skipped it that morning. I felt fine all day Saturday, no issues. Sunday morning rolls around and I wake up with a bit of a headache so I take some excedrin, but I did not take propanol. My headache subsides, but then I start to feel very lightheaded, fatigued, shaky, and then very panicky - and BOOM--i am in full panic attack mode. I call my sister and start crying, and just very emotional- but eventually it passes. I then took a 10mg propanolol pill and feel fine now.

I was so caught off guard that such a small dose could have that effect on me. Curious to hear anyone else's experiences, because now I am considering weaning off as I don't want to be dependent on a medication every day and am worried about harmful effects longterm. Appreciate everyone's time and attention, wishing you all the best.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

I read your post and can see you are having lots of anxiety problems. But I did wonder if you have heart problems, too?

I am no expert but just looked up ‘stopping propranolol’. It says you should taper any reduction, not stop quickly.

We are best here with sharing experience on managing our heart problems, so do tell us more if you think we can help with these.

[cheese_fantastico in reply to Kristin1812]

Hi Kristin, thanks for the reply back. I have a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV), fortunately I have not had any complications with it. I am a 31 year old female active, otherwise healthy female.

[4215]

I was on Propanolol for two weeks 10/mg 2x a day. Horrible side effects. I had to wean myself off of it over a two week period. It's been two months since my last pill and I'm now just starting to feel like myself. I'm not totally symptom free but 90% better than being on it. Be patient. You will get better but you can't stop and start that medicine.

[Hidden in reply to 4215]

Thank you for sharing your experience I’m experiencing withdrawals now and it’s only been less than 3 weeks awful drug

[Hidden]

I experience the same ... you are probably better by now but I wnated to let you know exedrin has caffeine in it which isn’t good to combine w propanolol