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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Have you ever taken beta blockers for anxiety? What dose?

21 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 01/02/2020 23:23

I have some a doctor has prescribed at 10mg a night if needed for palpitations.

Dimly remember a UK doctor prescribing some years ago for anxiety, saying they could be taken ad hoc but I never really took them - I assume there was of course a max you could take a day.

Currently having bad physical anxiety symptoms (heart pounding, tight chest, sort of getting tripped up by my breathing) thanks to a stressful unrelated medical diagnosis, and today I have taken 2 beta blockers, morning and evening. I'm hoping that's ok? Google seems to say so?

It's helping the physical stuff go away - I can manage my upsetting medical news as long as I don't need to deal with the physical anxiety, it all gets overwhelming together.

I see my GP on Monday so obviously can ask then, but wanted to see if anyone has taken a dosage like this?

OP posts:

blossomberry · 01/02/2020 23:29

Hello,

I’ve recently been prescribed propranolol for anxiety/panic attacks. I’m on 40mg that can be taken 3 times a day if needed. 10mg must be absolutely fine. Anxiety is awful but the beta blockers definitely take the edge off!

Iwant2move · 01/02/2020 23:30

I was prescribed 10mg propranolol and told I could have up to eight a day. I now take 80mg slow release propranolol once a day.

kingkuta · 01/02/2020 23:31

Yes Propranolol 40mg up to 3 x a day.
10mg is a low dose so if your symptoms are severe it may be worth going back to your GP

MyNameHasBeenTaken · 01/02/2020 23:32

I started with 2 x 40mg of propranolol as needed. I was told that was a medium starting dose.
So 2 x 20 is nothing to worry about
One thing that did raise a concern was an interaction for diabetics, they should not take prop as it can mask a hypo.

yogo · 01/02/2020 23:33

40mg as and when needed, usually 2 per day.

BodenGate · 01/02/2020 23:34

I take 2x 40mg of propranolol too. You can’t have it if you’re asthmatic.

MrsBungle · 01/02/2020 23:36

My 10 year old 33kg dd takes 50mg of atenolol a day for her SVT.

YouTheCat · 01/02/2020 23:40

I've just started taking propanolol for panic attacks. I'm on 10mg x2 3 times a day, if I need it.

My panic attacks are work related so I shall see how it works out when I go back on Monday.

The dosage you have should be fine though.

hookiwooki · 01/02/2020 23:41

I am assuming Propranalol. I was prescribed on an as-needed basis years ago. I stopped taking it when I decided to TTC my DD(5).

40mg is a starting daily dose. So once every day 40mg is taken, to be increased on medical advice up to three times daily.

So 40mg in a 24 hour period is absolutely fine. If you feel like you need to take two 20mg doses I don't see there being an issue technically speaking.

If you've been prescribed a nightly dose of 10mg though, I would check with your current GP on Monday that she/he is happy for you to adapt your own dosage in this way. If you have a medical diagnosis I would also bear in mind that any medications may be affected by a higher dose of Propranalol, and consider carefully if your condition may be impacted as well.

NHS link for Propranalol info.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/propranolol/

Sorry about your bad news.

Original poster

AbsentmindedWoman · 01/02/2020 23:45

Thanks folks, seems to be generally that it's ok. It definitely feels like it's doing me good rather than harm. Will check it out with the gp on Monday, but this is kind of my plan for easing through the weekend.

I'm diabetic but wear a Dexcom with alarms if I go too high or low so feel safe enough there.

Anxiety really sucks.

OP posts:

Fatasfooook · 01/02/2020 23:47

Have you tried cbd oil? It works for me.

JunkshopLil · 01/02/2020 23:48

Originally I had 10mg propranolol to take as needed, which was usually at night, because that's when I seemed to get the thumping fluttering heart. Lying still in bed you really notice it and of course that triggers the anxiety even more.

But then I had an A&E visit and the doctor there prescribed Bisoprolol. It was like a magic bullet. So my GP now prescribes that for me. I'm getting to the stage now where I am able to skip nights, and I'm hoping I can come off it completely.

c0ffeeandcake · 01/02/2020 23:48

I take the 80mg slow release capsules. They are amazing.. they have changed my life

Original poster

AbsentmindedWoman · 01/02/2020 23:51

If you have a medical diagnosis I would also bear in mind that any medications may be affected by a higher dose of Propranalol, and consider carefully if your condition may be impacted as well.

Thank you. I'm type 1 diabetic and my eye is leaking and affecting my sight. I get really anxious about it, and once my heart starts pounding and I get really tense then I start to have secondary worry about my blood pressure going crazy - as high blood pressure is really bad for my dodgy eye - so I sort of feel the beta blockers are combatting the things I'm anxious about twofold.

I need to stay as calm as possible, keep the blood flowing steadily in a non crazy way through tiny vulnerable vessels.

Diabetes also really fucking sucks.

OP posts:

Apirateslifeforme · 01/02/2020 23:54

Yes I was on propranolol for a few years, quite recently been given buspar which is a godsend, if Propranolol (I assume?) Isnt doing what you need it to soon, ask for Buspar. Its helped me quite a bit.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Anxiety is the gift that just keeps giving sometimes.

Original poster

AbsentmindedWoman · 02/02/2020 00:00

Have you tried cbd oil? It works for me.

I'm looking into this! It's meant to be good for a lot of things.

OP posts:

Lndnmummy · 02/02/2020 00:00

Yes I have been on Propranolol 40mg up to 3 x a day for a few years now. Doing well at the moment so I’ve not used them daily for a while.

I am on sertraline as well 200mg so max dOse. I find that once I got the sertraline dose right, I could reduce propranolol

hookiwooki · 02/02/2020 00:03

I have close family with diabetes, one a T1, and it does suck. He doesn't have a Dexcom so I don't know how these work, but if it will alert you to a low sugar level fairly early on then it sounds ok. If not then I see that Propranalol can mask symptoms of a sugar drop.

Anxiety also sucks. Take it minute by minute. Propranalol is good. Make sure you keep your breathe even, restricted oxygen flow will make you feel more anxious. I always keep a paper bag nearby - old habit, but it helps me. I find the sound of the bag soothing and counting the seconds it takes to inflate and deflate the bag gives me something to focus on.

GetMeOffThisCycleOfMisery · 02/02/2020 05:43

They reduced my BP by half and HR down from 125 to 75 almost within 24 hours, but turned me into an exhausted sleepy zombie.

I loved how they removed that constant, anxious chest flutter, but hated how tired I feel on them. So I stopped. :(

olivehater · 02/02/2020 06:15

My dh takes it when we fly as he struggles with a phobia. It’s more about being trapped and the loss of control so when he tried Valium and that never worked for him and made him worse. Beta blockers work much better for him.

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 02/02/2020 06:23

I take up to 5 x 40 mg a day but I have high blood pressure too. I need to monitor B.P./heart rate to make sure it doesn't go too low. Normally 3.5 is enough. I didn't get on with the slow release ones. 2 x 20mg is a pretty low dose.

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