Anxiety and Propranolol

[MyGiddyAunt1]

Do you take propranolol? I’ve been prescribed this for my travel anxiety- I took o r yesterday to test. I felt my heart racing and all sweaty. I felt a sensation of panic and light headed. I don’t know if I was imagining this or not. Im nervous about taking medication. I’m worried that I’ll end up being one of the people who try to open the door mid flight!

i’m trying my best to make this trip as I haven’t seen my family in 3 years. But convinced I won’t/we won’t make it alive- like the Malaysian flight.

I also struggle with claustrophobia and worried we’ll run out of oxygen- as silly as that sounds.

im exercising- taking meds, practicing breathing - I’m doing everything I can. Any tips on how to make this trip?

I need to travel 7 hours then a changeover and another 4.30 hours to reach the destination.

Do the fearless flyer course. They're really good.

How much propranolol are you taking? It will lower your heart rate so if you get woozy that’s totally normal :)

your heart racing after you took the meds is probably a mental response to your phobia of taking medication rather than a physical response.

Sometimes our brains can muddle up excitement and anxiety - so the next time you feel anxious about the trip. Turn on some “brown noise” and try and mentally switch the anxiety to excitement!

have a nice trip

I’m taking 40mg

I take propranolol not for anxiety but because I have a medical condition which makes my heart go a bit too fast, and the propranolol slows it down. Have taken it for years, it's absolutely fine. If your heart was racing it sounds like more of a nervous reaction than anything. Normally I find it takes at least 20 minutes for it to kick in so if the reaction was fairly immediate it probably wasn't due to the medication.

Propranolol works amazing for my anxiety but it dangerously lowers my blood pressure (literally talking down to 60/40 at times). It is supposed to stop the physical side of anxiety - slows heart rate, stops shaking etc - so I would say it’s more of you having a panic attack rather than a side effect of the medication x

Do you find alcohol affects you more when you’re taking this. My DD(21) takes it and occasionally she’s come home very drunk and blames this rather than overdoing it 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Iamnotanowl thank you that helps. I’m hesitating pushing the ‘book’ button as the worst case scenario’s keep reeling through. Have taken a break and will go back to see if I can muster the courage to book.

I’ve been prescribed 40mg propranolol in the past for anxiety. I remember not taking the medication for the first week or so as I was so worried about the effect it would have on me. The first time I took a tablet I was constantly monitoring myself to look for changes & felt really overwhelmed & on edge.
I did start to notice that the tablets were working & I still felt like me, but it just took the edge off how I was feeling & allowed me to carry out my normal activities without that heart racing, sweating, panicking feeling.
Try to stick with it. Hope you are able to take your trip & all goes well.

@BigSandyBalls2015 sorry I’m a teetotaller- cannot comment on the effects of alcohol

@Doghelplease this is my worry. My blood pressure is pretty low..and the doctor prescribed this over a video call so no check was done. Would it lower it to a dangerous level?

Will I pass out?

I take 80mg a day. And it makes me drunk much much quicker!

Especially anything bubbly

Does anyone know what happens if you have a panic attack on a flight? Are the flight attendants trained for this sort of thing?

Yes they will be well versed in panic attacks. Maybe try some Valium to relax your mind before the flight..it sounds like you're getting yourself very worked up - Valium can help just take the edge off those thoughts. It's horrible to be so anxious but try to think rationally - very very rare for planes to crash etc.. you have my sympathy - you can do this!

Yes I took it years ago.

I had a knot of anxiety in my stomach 100% of the time, day and night for about a year.

I took 10mg and it disappeared, no side effects.

I have a fear of flying and have panic attacks during - I wouldn't use propanol.
I use Valium for that.

Your anxiety about taking the medication is causing your panic symptoms.

It sounds like you'd benefit from some CBT rather than beta blockers as your anxiety is so generalised.

I don't think it's the right medication for travel anxiety. I use it for interviews and presentations. I'm still bloody terrified but I just don't have the shaky voice, shaking hands, racing heart or any other outside signs that people can see and would send me spiralling into disaster.

When you're travelling the issue isn't whether you look anxious to other people, it's that you are anxious. My only real phobia is spiders and it would do nothing to help me there.

I take 40mg up to 3 times a day for anxiety and it's amazing for me. It means I can function.

Literally saved my life when my anxiety was at its worst. I swear by it. 40mg once it twice a day when needed. Most days I don't need it anymore

I’ve had it prescribed for my anxiety several times over the years. The first few times I took it, I experienced what you described - heart racing and super on edge - which seemed counterintuitive to what I needed it for.

but lately I have been really suffering with heart palpitations and a constant knot in my stomach and I’ve been taking 40mg a day, and it’s wonderful. Really calms me. No idea what those first few reactions were about but I would say persevere with it.

Propranolol stops the physical sides of anxiety, so even though you could be freaking out in your mind your body won't react I.e heart rate, shaking etc.

I would ask the GP If they can prescribe something for the mind instead - valium would work best.

I'm sure air attendants deal with panic attacks on an almost daily basis.