Beta blockers and sleep - anyone found that they can actually HELP?

[Squeeeeeze]

I have been having problems with anxiety and sleep (including panic attacks/palpitations at night). Actually, I've been getting much better with some psychological intervention. But it would be very helpful to feel there are back-up options of medications if needed.
My GP has prescribed a beta blocker (propranolol) for taking at night to reduce palpitations and therefore help sleep. However, I've read that propranolol can also CAUSE insomnia. Has anyone found it helped? Not sure whether to try it or not. Thank you in advance.

Everyone is different but they have been a game changer for me and sleep. They can tamp down the racing heart feeling and over caffeinated feeling (only way I can describe it!). If I wake up panic-y I'll take one and in 20-30 mins they work but also I feel less worried just because I know I have them there IYSWIM?

Beta blockers really interfere with my sleep after a while…Make me drowsy and cause insomnia…. Try phenagan or promethazine at correct dose for sleep… but after a while they cause side effects too…

basically most medications solve one problem and cause another…. Psychological interventions are best.

When I used to take it I never took it at bedtime so cannot comment, but when I was on a placement day at ITU, the doctors were prescribing it for agitated patients at night to help them sleep.

It’s worth a try. It might work brilliantly but you won’t know until you try.

I love them. I take them as and when I need them, and twenty minutes later in calmer

Thank you all - this is so helpful.

Sounds like they may be worth a try...

You're right about all the meds having problems, I know, @Wish44 . I just sometimes get so desperate I want to have a back up.

I'm on them for overactive thyroid and they haven't helped with sleep at all. But I've been an insomniac since I was a child. They definitely stop the heart racing and the general manic feeling though.

Glad they help with the manic feelings and palpitations. Have they made sleep worse, or just not helped, @Devilsmommy ? And are your sleep problems related to anxiety/palpitations? Thanks for responding :)

Definitely help with the symptoms of anxiety which in turn helps with my sleep.
I found that higher dosages led to some very weird dreams which meant I didn’t always feel that well rested.
Lower doses don’t do this.
I started on something like 120mg over a day to get my anxiety under control but after a few months was able to slowly reduce this and now I only take 10mg a night unless I’m having a bad night and I might take 20mg. They are definitely worth a go as they tend to have limited side effects and are relatively easy to wean off.

Please can I ask what you mean by "after a while", @Wish44 ? Do you mean that it isn't an instant thing that they cause the insomnia when you start taking them?

Thank you. This is really helpful. They certainly seem to be a better idea than things like benzos in most ways, for the reasons you say.

Do they help you to be calm enough to sleep, @Mabelface ? Or is this not a thing for you? Thank you for your post :)

I take a low dose before bed some nights and have found they do help with the racing thoughts/heart, help me be calm enough to drift off

This is what I was hoping might be the case, @Throwawayagain1234 . Just as you say, there's something very reassuring about having something there if needed.

Have you tried some of the supplements such as a good quality magnesium?
I also take ashwagandha. I believe it helps keep my mood more even but it’s a bit subjective! No side effects for either of these either so I just figure at least I’m not doing myself any harm.

This is promising! Thank you

I have tried magnesium, and am not sure I saw any effect, but it may not have been very good quality.... Haven't heard of ashwagandha, but will look it up. Thank you!

This is entirely true also. Just know that I’ve got them helps! At the dose I take a large part of it is probably a psychological placebo effect!

I suppose they have made it worse but as I said, I'm a lifelong insomniac so different to what you're experiencing. And no it wasn't anxiety or palpitations keeping me awake. I'd try them out for a couple of days and see how you go. If they do mess with your sleep there are definitely other beta blockers that aren't as potent as propanol

Thanks again @Devilsmommy

Does this mean you'll take one in the middle of the night, @Throwawayagain1234 ?

This is very interesting re ITU. I wonder whether when someone's very agitated, the anti-anxiety effect far outstrips the potential insomnia effect, and promotes sleep overall.

I think it helps. I started taking them a year or so ago for anxiety and palpitations. I’ve recently been through a lot of stress and been waking at night with racing heart/ palpitations and panicky feelings. I take one and feel calmer and more settled after about 20/30 minutes.

That's good to hear. I'm sorry you've been through such a tough time.

Does anyone here take atenolol rather than propranolol?? I've read that atenolol might have less of a direct effect on sleep, since it doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier so much.

Just a shameless bump on the "does anyone take atenolol" question...
TIA