Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
Original poster
JaneSR · 22/09/2023 17:50

Yes I was worried before about how it may affect me and had done the usual google research on side effects so taht was probably front of my mind. I may try 20mg on Sunday and see how I feel.

OP posts:
IDriveMySupernova · 22/09/2023 18:19

You take them at the same time, e.g. 2x10 mg in one go. I agrée 10mg shouldn’t make you feel like a zombie. Good luck!

RaisinforBeing · 22/09/2023 18:34

I had to take that when my BP was too high during pregnancy. I can’t recall the dose but when I started taking it I couldn’t even lift the dishes out of the dishwasher and into the cupboard I was so tired. It did seem to work shortly after it’s taken.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Redlarge · 22/09/2023 19:00

Ive taken 30mg for years. Take it an hour before. Good luck xxxx

thecrispfiend · 22/09/2023 19:49

Is it easy to get hold of? Do you need a prescription?

Mstxxx · 22/09/2023 19:52

Definitely try it beforehand - I was prescribed it a few weeks ago for anxiety before an interview and thank god I tried half a 10mg tablet the day before because I didn't have a great reaction!

Nothing majorly bad so don't be scared to try it. I just got a weird thumping every couple of minutes in my chest that went on for hours. Not idea what it was because I've never had it before. Wouldn't try it again though because of that personally! If that would have started happening in my interview I would have been massively distracted.

Redlarge · 23/09/2023 09:16

IDriveMySupernova · 22/09/2023 18:19

You take them at the same time, e.g. 2x10 mg in one go. I agrée 10mg shouldn’t make you feel like a zombie. Good luck!

Even 40 shouldnt. Its not a sedative.

Pollymollydolly · 23/09/2023 09:24

I take 80mg (not for situational anxiety though) and it has no zombifying effect! I don’t feel any different after taking it

InterFactual · 23/09/2023 09:31

Let us know what you decide in the end OP. I've never tried it but I'm considering it so I'm interested to know if you get used to it and how your presentation goes.

tenpoundpombear · 23/09/2023 09:54

Pollymollydolly · 23/09/2023 09:24

I take 80mg (not for situational anxiety though) and it has no zombifying effect! I don’t feel any different after taking it

Same, in fact I thought I'd posted something to this effect yesterday. I've been on 80mg since it was prescribed to me 18 months ago and apart from the first day when I felt mildly light headed for about an hour I haven't noticed anything. It certainly didn't "knock me out", it's a beta blocker not a sedative!

The weight gain though, oh I've noticed that.

tenpoundpombear · 23/09/2023 09:56

Quite annoying actually as I suffer from anxiety and it's not made a blind bit of difference to that.

Original poster
JaneSR · 23/09/2023 10:00

Thanks all. I think I am now more anxious about getting dosage right than I am over the presentation! I tried 10mg yesterday and felt a bit zonked but that may have been as I was overthinking it. I know some people go to 40mg straight away so may try stronger tomorrow and see

OP posts:
Purpleraiin · 23/09/2023 10:06

Have you got a smart watch to monitor your heart rate as that's what you need to do if you want to take a higher dose. Propranolol will lower your heart rate but you are safe to take it as long as your heart rate stays above 60bpm.
10mg is the usual recommended starting dose but if you feel you need more then monitor your heart rate, if its above 60 you are safe to move up to 20mg. If 20mg isn't working then same again, monitor heart rate and go up to 30mg if heart rate is above 60. You can then go up to 40mg if you feel you need it so long as your heart rate still stays above 60.

budgetingnovice1993 · 23/09/2023 10:08

I have these and was prescribed 40mg. Wish I had the 10mg as 40mg is very strong. I can feel the veins in my neck opening and hyper sensitive of the blood flow, makes me feel more anxious!

budgetingnovice1993 · 23/09/2023 10:09

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 was prescribed 40mg and told I could have 2 a day!

Original poster
JaneSR · 24/09/2023 10:31

Thanks all. I can’t try anymore in advance of presentation now as only 5 tablets arrived (!!) - I tried one on Friday and thought others would come yesterday but they haven’t so will just have to take a view on the day how many tablets to go with and hope for the best . Ideally I would have tried 2 or 3 today to see how it affected me but can’t now.

OP posts:
InterFactual · 24/09/2023 19:01

Good luck for tomorrow @JaneSR , I really hope the meds help and you stay calm 🙏

Streamorwatchlive · 24/09/2023 19:08

It cannot knock you out or make you sleepy it’s not a sedative. It slows your heart rate and reduces adrenaline.

I think a lot of the reactions reported here are psychosomatic……

I used to take it quite a bit, but 40mg did slow my heart too much and I felt a bit unwell. But I have a low resting heart rate. Still did the presentation fine though!

you’ll be great. Take 20mg an hour before and top up half hour before if needed

honestyisnotthebestpolicy · 24/09/2023 19:57

Streamorwatchlive · 24/09/2023 19:08

It cannot knock you out or make you sleepy it’s not a sedative. It slows your heart rate and reduces adrenaline.

I think a lot of the reactions reported here are psychosomatic……

I used to take it quite a bit, but 40mg did slow my heart too much and I felt a bit unwell. But I have a low resting heart rate. Still did the presentation fine though!

you’ll be great. Take 20mg an hour before and top up half hour before if needed

Fatigue is listed as one of the most common side effects, up to 1 in 10 people experience it. It's real.

Streamorwatchlive · 25/09/2023 12:25

Fatigue or tiredness is very different to being incapacitated or knocked out though!

HerbalTeal · 25/09/2023 20:34

How did it go @JaneSR ?

Original poster
JaneSR · 26/09/2023 15:32

OMG it was life changing!! I took 20mg an hour before - was worried it would make me feel dizzy or weird but felt fine. Felt really anxious sitting waiting for my turn to speak so sat stressing that it didnt work or I should have taken more but I took to the stage and the words flowed without my usual stumbling or losing my voice and got great feedback after it. I did feel my mouth was a bit dry but had a few sips of water along the way which was fine and equally my mouth usually goes dry to the point I cant speak so had none of that. I felt such a wave of happiness and enjoyed doing it. I wont use them except for major presentation situations but they made such a difference. I am hoping that the experience will give me more confidence to present to large audiences anyway but it really was a game changer. Thank you all so much for the advice. 😀

OP posts:
IDriveMySupernova · 26/09/2023 15:33

So pleased they helped @JaneSR. They really are life-changing.

JamMakingWannaBe · 26/09/2023 16:15

Thanks for the update Jane! So pleased they worked for you and congratulations on smashing your presentation.

InterFactual · 26/09/2023 16:25

Great news @JaneSR , I'm tempted to try them myself for big events!