Switching from Bisoprolol to Propranolol

[fetchmeacoffee]

Good afternoon, I thought this would be the best place to ask given previous good answers that I'm thankful for on other posts.

I'm going to try and see my GP this week because I've been suffering with terrible anxiety to the point it's ruining my life. I've been on Bisoprolol for a few months now with some investigations still going on, I was initially placed on a small dose by my GP as I'd had a really high heart rate after suffering QT prolongation after 12 years on an anti depressent. Over the months a cardiologist has been upping the bisoprolol to the point I'm now on 7.5mg. Because of my history with medication I'm not keen on going onto another anti depressent (I've tried a few, and mental health team even placed me on one that would cause further QT issues even though they were fully aware of the situation and why it would have been dangerous so I don't trust them)

tldr; I'm hoping that Propranolol may help with anxiety symptoms, has anyone else switched and found it beneficial? The only reason I was given Bisoprolol to begin with by my GP was that she understood it was one of the BETA blockers that had less side effects.

[DarrenRafferty]

oh I am having the same issue with Anxiety and I was wondering whether it was down to my medication. I am also on Bisoprolol as well as other stuff. I have read that Propanalol really does help with Anxiety

[fetchmeacoffee in reply to DarrenRafferty]

I shall let you know how I get on, I can't see a reason why the GP would say no to it as they know why I'm against trying a different anti depressent, I know I'll need a BETA blocker for a while so hoping to skin two birds with one stone so to speak!

[Cookieisland]

I took propranolol for a year for a fast heart rate. I did find that I was less physically anxious while taking it. I sometimes used if I knew I would be feeling panicky and it worked for that. It doesn’t help with the mental side of anxiety, but I found that if I felt less panicky, I didn’t feel as anxious in general. I also suffer with anxiety and have taken sertraline in the past but don’t take any antidepressants now.

I only stopped taking it this year as it was making me really tired when exercising, and reducing the dose made my fast heart rate return so I’ve been switched to a completely different medication.

Hope that helps!

[fetchmeacoffee in reply to Cookieisland]

Thank you so much. I was on Clomipramine for over 10 years but it started playing havoc with my heart, I tried sertraline but at the time I was still withdrawing from the other one (I had to come off of it pretty quickly because of the risk) MH team put me on Citalopram which also causes QT so you can imagine why I'm not eager to go down the route of antidepressents, as I know I'll be taking something for the heart rate for a while I'm hoping that Propronolol will help (to a degree) with the Anxiety. Thank you for your reply, I'll be seeing my GP this week hopefully and hoping they agree it may help

[Cookieisland in reply to fetchmeacoffee]

That must have been really scary to find out, I’d be the same avoiding antidepressants after an experience like that. Good luck with the appointment!

[PadThaiNoodles]

Do let us know how you get on. While my anxiety is currently reasonably well controlled with escitalopram, if I could get another bump just by switching from bisoprolol to propranalol that would be ideal.

[stevetheadi]

I was prescribed propanalol to stop my panic attacks a few years ago and it worked very well indeed.

[fetchmeacoffee in reply to stevetheadi]

That's good to hear, thank you. Were you taking them a few times a day ?

[stevetheadi in reply to fetchmeacoffee]

Twice a day to begin with. Then 'as required'. So I took one an hour before potentially stressful situations, for example. They really calmed me down, made a massive difference.

[mozart27]

I was on nebivolol and before that bisoprolol for hypertension but swapped for propranolol to deal with hypertension and a benign hand tremor. It works well for me combined with a mild diuretic

[Taichid]

Do t know about propandrol but couldn’t tolerate Bisoprolol. Terrible side effects

For over a year. Prescribed it for heart issue. I was going to physio for vestibular exercises and it as she said by balance problems were caused by bisoprolil How right she was

[fetchmeacoffee in reply to Taichid]

I sometimes wonder if some of the side effects I'm getting are from Bisoprolol, but I remember feeling somewhat like it before them, the only side effect I've managed to pin point is COLD feet with them and because of the kitten I hate wearing them in the house lol, good to know though as I can bring that up with GP

[Catlover36]

Not sure if this will help but my experience with propranolol was good for years but it eventually dropped my heart rate too low so I changed to bisopronal which worked for me Good luck

[Martin4u]

Hi, I was put on bishopholol and had problems straight away, chest discomfort and very bad palpation, I went onto propanolol right after and everything was fine ,this was 2years ago ,however my ectopic beats are back at there worst but I don't know why