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Original poster

To ask about your experiences of propranolol?

31 replies

Sofiegiraffe · 10/02/2022 21:17

Sorry posting for traffic.

Has anyone taken propranolol? I've just started taking it for migraines and it's making me feel very "spacey" and weird, and like I'm slurring my words a bit. Is this normal?!

OP posts:
elenaf · 10/02/2022 21:21

I took it for migraines last summer. It didn't do that to me, but I could only get around one hour of sleep a night on it. I tried Nytol, herbal tablets and melatonin, but nothing helped, and I had to stop taking it. Sleep was better the first night and perfect the night after. Never again! I'd definitely talk to the GP again.

IWillBeSeeingYou · 10/02/2022 21:21

I take it for anxiety, usually 40mg each morning. Only side effects I’ve had is tiredness and a little breathless

LefttoherownDevizes · 10/02/2022 21:22

Didn't help mine at all and ended up in A&E with severe breathlessness. Think GP had upped my dose too quickly.

Resolved as soon as I stopped taking the meds.

Have heard really great things about others being helped though, hope it does for you

Susu49 · 10/02/2022 21:22

Can't get by without it atm, I take it for anxiety though.

igotdemons · 10/02/2022 21:24

I take it for anxiety as and when I need it and it’s brilliant for slowing down a racing heart (one of my symptoms). I haven’t noticed any side effects of it but I don’t take it in high doses…

abbs1 · 10/02/2022 21:24

I was on this for migraines. I had to start on it very slowly low dose and build up over a few weeks as prescribed by GP. It worked really well for me and stopped majority of migraines. I was having them up to 3 times a month bed bound for 2-3days and on propranolol I had one maybe very 3-4months and could cope with it wearing sunglasses and still work.

forlornlorna · 10/02/2022 21:24

I take it. That spacey feeling will pass after a few weeks. Works very well in reducing the frequency of my migraines.

RedSnail · 10/02/2022 21:25

I take it 3 times a day for headaches and anxiety, no issues at all

Whatthefrigisthis · 10/02/2022 21:27

I take it for anxiety.

Gives me headache. Terrible wind and stomach pain and I feel faint as well.

I don't like it at all.

gamerchick · 10/02/2022 21:28

You will get used to it. I had a tight chest and breathlessness for a few weeks, but it passed. Lifesaver at the time though.

SomeOwlsCoo · 10/02/2022 21:28

I take it 3x day for migraine and anxiety. I started on a very small dose (10mg 1x day I think) then built it up. I felt sick and spacey at the beginning, but that could have been one of the other drugs I started at the same time.

BurntO · 10/02/2022 21:28

I don’t think that is normal, no. I take to ad hoc for anxiety and I’d be alarmed at that reaction

friskybivalves · 10/02/2022 21:32

I took it for migraines and it turned me into a zombie. Nor did it help the migraines at all - and I persisted with it for a fair few weeks. It felt as if I was swimming through treacle and wasn't sure where to put my feet down on the ground. Awful side effects for me.

MargaretThursday · 10/02/2022 21:33

DD was like that for the first few days. Don't drive!

She got used to it and then was fine.

TheFormidableMrsC · 10/02/2022 21:35

My DD is prescribed this for anxiety and racing heart. Initially she felt a bit off colour but settled down really quickly and has no side effects. I'd go back and speak to your GP.

Asongfromthedarkesthour · 10/02/2022 21:36

I take it every day for anxiety. I had trouble sleeping and bad dreams for a few weeks when I started taking it. I felt really tired and put on a little weight when I first started. After 4-6 weeks the side effects settled down and I don’t really have any now.

Queenie8 · 10/02/2022 21:40

My DD has just come off of this for migraines, she said she felt spaced out but not able to sleep properly, made her skin awful, and she said that she had a permanent headache, although didn't have a migraine in the short time she was on it. She has just been changed to something else.

Zerrin13 · 10/02/2022 22:09

I take 40mg every night. I have found it to be brilliant. I sleep so much better than i did. I think its really helped my anxiety too.

IsItTooHotInHere · 10/02/2022 22:44

I was on it years ago, for anxiety. I felt absolutely knackered - drowsy, drugged and spaced-out.

I'm on Bisoprolol now, to regulate my heart (beats too fast) and I haven't noticed any side-effects

Comocomida · 10/02/2022 22:45

I took my first (and last) tablet just before bed one night and had the worst insomnia ever. I often wake during the night but this was a whole new level, I was awake the entire night and watched every hour pass on the clock. On the plus side I actually had the best sleep in a long time the following night!

NoNotHimTheOtherOne · 10/02/2022 22:52

it’s brilliant for slowing down a racing heart

Just don't try running for a bus...

Fittleswade · 10/02/2022 23:01

It gave me nightmares. I took for c 3 years for migraine. No idea of the side effect until I stopped and mentioned almost in passing to the consultant who cheerfully told me that nightmares a common side effect. They were dreadful!

NotSoLittle · 10/02/2022 23:10

Probably not that helpful to you as it's over 6 years since I last took it , but I was given "low strength" (can't remember dosage amt) propranolol for migraines as well and didn't have any side effects like that. (I stopped taking it after menopause when migraines improved drastically). Try talking to your doctor or at least a pharmacist & see what they have to say - there might be a different dose you can take or maybe taking it at night might help (this helped with my dad's blood pressure medication). Good luck

Hanna3459999 · 10/02/2022 23:10

I’ve been on them years for anxiety, they help me so much , I only take them at night now though as they relax me and help me sleep I also wake in the night and have to take one to calm my anxiety and get me back to sleep. It’s interesting how everyone reacts so differently.

Hanna3459999 · 10/02/2022 23:12

Although if I miss a dose or run out I get a racing heart and chest pains so I have to be careful not to miss a day. I did have to stop them when pregnant and I had them symptoms for a week or two it wasn’t nice.