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Original poster

propranolol - presentation

58 replies

JaneSR · 21/09/2023 20:54

Hello I am speaking at a conference next week to over 200 employees at my company including the board! Stressed about it and scared voice will shake and be unable to talk. I have now got an online prescription of propranolol for situational anxiety. I have read that you should try it first. Just keen to understand dosage people take - I have 10mg tablets but hear people usually have 40mg?. Also how long before presentation should I take it? Should I try it in advance and if so in what dose - I will only really have the day before to test it out.
Thx
Jane

OP posts:
sonicsspeedchallenge · 21/09/2023 20:56

Definitively take a dose before hand just to ensure you are ok with it. I don't understand the dosing, I also have 10mg but have read both in the NHS website and general experiences that the 40mg dose is normal for anxiety.

Janieforever · 21/09/2023 20:58

I swear by it, it’s beyond fab, I often speak at large events, and my nerves were going to kill my career. Now everyone thinks I’m a natural. Pop one, these is nothing in them, it may make you feel tired if you’re not nervous, but I take one about an hour before a large event and all nerves go.

i take 20 mg tabs.

DixieLandReject · 21/09/2023 20:59

I use this for interviews. I usually use 10mg but it doesn't last long so I take it right before. I tried the 20mg and was like a zombie so went back to the 10s. That's probably just me though!

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IHateCornerBaths · 21/09/2023 20:59

I do have 40 mg tablets. I find half takes the edge off, 40 sends me to sleep!

I would maybe take half a tablet for a day or two and see how you feel and then decide how much you want to take before the conference. I would take at least 30 mins before.

ZellyFitzgerald · 21/09/2023 21:01

I've been on propranolol for years and it's brilliant for situational anxiety and panic attacks.

I take it 30 mins prior to the event and it lasts about 4-6 hours. 10mg is extremely low, 40mg is usually necessary to have an effect.

I would try it out prior to the event as it can make you feel odd if you aren't used to it.

It basically stops the physical effects of a panic attack, so although your brain is still anxious, your body doesn't respond to it, which in turn calms you down.

Hope I've explained that ok. It's really helpful and I used it for presentations and telephone anxiety.

Original poster
JaneSR · 21/09/2023 21:01

Thank you. I typically feel like my voice goes and I can’t get my words out and then it spirals and I become conscious of it all and get even worse shaky voice or stop wanting to speak. I am terrified of wrecking my career. Will it help those physical symptoms and will I still feel petrified?

OP posts:
Original poster
JaneSR · 21/09/2023 21:03

Should I try 40g the day before - I will only have one day to try it out before the conference?

OP posts:
shutterup · 21/09/2023 21:14

I am very sensitive to drugs, for example I can't take any strong painkillers without feeling spaced out and/or nauseous, but I would agree that 10mg is a very low dose. For a presentation I'd take 40mg with no negative side effects. You should probably discuss this with your doctor though.
Good luck with the presentation. Excitement and nerves are a similar physical response and somebody once told me to lean into being excited to share your expertise - tell yourself 'I can't wait to share this fascinating presentation' 😂 it sounds silly but really worked for me! Good luck!

Original poster
JaneSR · 21/09/2023 21:19

Thank you. I usually feel fine before and know my topic inside out but as soon as I take the stage and see everyone the anxiety and thought of standing there talking for a hour just overwhelms me!

OP posts:
LDNista · 21/09/2023 21:22

I take 20mg about 45 mins before a presentation and then another 10mg right before. Stops me blushing, sweating and shaking. Great stuff!

Do try it out though. The first few times I took it I felt tired and light headed.

Original poster
JaneSR · 21/09/2023 21:25

Thanks very much. Am I ok to take it on consecutive days to try it out? It arrives tomorrow and my conference is on Monday. I am now getting anxious about taking the tablets correctly and not the presentation!! 🤣

OP posts:
Iwontbecomeher · 21/09/2023 21:28

I’m prescribed it for anxiety. I don’t take it regularly but when I feel the need I take 30mg but you can take up to 40mg up to 3x a day I think. I remember when I was first prescribed it the doctor said start with 10mg and see
how you get on, another doctor scoffed at that and said 10mg was pointless, might work if you were like a 7yr old child. 30mg totally takes the edge off for me but it doesn’t make me tired or anything. Appreciate everyone is different though. Good luck!

Iwontbecomeher · 21/09/2023 21:29

Yes you can take it on consecutive days.

lilyfire · 21/09/2023 21:31

I use it for public speaking and take 20 mg about 40 mins before speaking but it lasts all day for me. It controls all the physical effects - without it my voice wobbles and I can’t control my breathing so end up stopping talking but it’s really amazing and these symptoms never happen when I take it. I get thirsty though so make sure you have water.

Georgiepud · 21/09/2023 21:31

JaneSR · 21/09/2023 21:19

Thank you. I usually feel fine before and know my topic inside out but as soon as I take the stage and see everyone the anxiety and thought of standing there talking for a hour just overwhelms me!

You need to look beyond everyone in front of you, right to the back of the room snd raise your eyes over the heads.
I take 30mg with no side effects other than weight gain.

ToxicPositivity · 21/09/2023 21:41

Do NOT take 40mg all at once if you've never had it before, that is a really dangerous thing to do. 40mg spread out over a day, fine, but not all at once. do you have a b.p monitor?

I've been off and on it for years due to essential tremor. The very first 10mg dose I ever took knocked me out cold, the gp didn't check my bp first. I now take anywhere between 10mg and 240mg a day depending on the old b.p.

Ollifer · 21/09/2023 21:48

ToxicPositivity · 21/09/2023 21:41

Do NOT take 40mg all at once if you've never had it before, that is a really dangerous thing to do. 40mg spread out over a day, fine, but not all at once. do you have a b.p monitor?

I've been off and on it for years due to essential tremor. The very first 10mg dose I ever took knocked me out cold, the gp didn't check my bp first. I now take anywhere between 10mg and 240mg a day depending on the old b.p.

I've never heard of 10mg knocking anyone out cold

Tonight1 · 21/09/2023 22:04

No no no don't take 40mg first.

I was prescribed it for shock after a fire and to say I was zoned out is an understatement as doc said 40mg. I would start off 10mg a couple of days before, see how you take to it, then possibly 20mg on the day. You might react differently to me though.

Good luck with it!

Ollifer · 22/09/2023 07:59

Those saying don't take 40mg at once I am a bit confused as this is what was prescribed to me for situational anxiety by the doctor, I didn't have the option of a lower dose. It gave me a headache but nothing apart from that

sonicsspeedchallenge · 22/09/2023 08:41

There is so much confusion over the dosage. I have seen a lot of people be prescribed 10mg and even more prescribed the 40mg dose. The info about propranolol states 40mg for anxiety but some GPs are prescribing just 10mg.

JamMakingWannaBe · 22/09/2023 10:37

Is it best to take with food or on an empty stomach? (I'm sure the patient information leaflet will tell me but I'm looking for real life recommendations).

IDriveMySupernova · 22/09/2023 11:29

@JamMakingWannaBe it doesn’t matter, either is fine.

I take 10-20mg at a time if I’m feeling anxious, but I’ll take a 40mg dose if it’s for a specific event. It doesn’t make me feel like a zombie. Definitely try it beforehand though as it lowers blood pressure and can make some people feel a bit dizzy.

Original poster
JaneSR · 22/09/2023 17:32

So took 10mg this morning - have felt a bit zombie like and tired and not quite right all day. Practiced my presentation and still felt my voice was wobbling (even with no audience!) and a bit of a tingly dry mouth. Now not sure what to do? I feel anxious that I have seen this as the miracle to help so do I persevere and maybe try it again tomorrow or Sunday and I note many people saying 10mg is low so for my presentation should I do 20mg or try 20mg on Sunday and see how I feel? (I assume tablets at separate intervals and not take 2 together?). Arghhh - I so want this to work.....

OP posts:
Janieforever · 22/09/2023 17:35

10 mg is very low, very surprised it’s had that effect, did you expect it to? Wondering if you thought you’d feel,like that so did. Also do you have anxiety about medication too?

Janieforever · 22/09/2023 17:36

Also should say it’s out your system in four to five hours, which is why, with the low dose, I think this is pscycosomatic,