Propranolol for anxiety

[moggie22]

I have posted about this a few times but am looking for advice or experience from anyone who has take propranolol for anxiety and panic attacks.

I am really struggling lately. When I'm home, close to home or in a familiar place or routine I'm totally fine. However travelling, going to new places, attending appointments or basically anything outside of my daily routine causes a big panic attack. Today for example we took a drive out with the dc to the seaside. Should have been a lovely day but within the first 10 minutes in the car I was having an attack and had to get dh to change route and find a loo.

My panic creates the urge to use the loo really urgently. And it is a real need not something in my head. I have realised anxiety cannot hurt me but it seemingly can and nearly has made me shit my pants on a few occasions. I think this is why I am so scared of travelling and new places - I need to know I can get to a loo quickly should my panic flare up.

I am seeing my GP this week and plan to ask for propranolol because from the research I've done I feel like it's the most appropriate treatment for me. If I could take a tablet that stopped physical panic symptoms when I was due to go somewhere I feel like it would transform my whole life. I could start doing things again.

However I also read that diarrhoea and nausea can be symptoms of this medication which could be totally counter productive. If you have taken propranolol for anxiety how have you found it? Do you think it would work for the type of physical symptoms I have? I'm desperate to just feel normal again.

Hi just wanted to update - I was prescribed propranolol today and will pick up my tablets tomorrow. I feel nervous of any side effects and also nervous in case they don't work as well as I'm hoping they will. I guess I've pinned quite a lot on this.

I was put on propanolol x 3 a day alongside lorazepam when I ‘needed a booster’ and then strong anti depressants. They worked wonders for me - yes I was zombie like when on all three, but it was that or be admitted to hospital for sedation. The propanolol allowed me to function more like my old self, and I still have them now as an option to take if I feel I need them. No nasty side effects :)

I had it for migraines and all it did was make me faint.

Hey OP. I take propranolol for anxiety - it's genuinely changed my life =)
Like you, my body would react with loads of adrenaline, fight or flight instinct over anything slightly out of my usual routine and I'd have to dash to the toilet too. Not had any anxiety or panic since starting them 1 year ago. Hope it works for you too

I take it for social anxiety 10 mg as and when needed (before big events, parties, certain work stuff etc.). Did start off on 20mg but reduced it. Works for me no side effects I don’t take it daily though. Mindfulness/meditation is also helpful for me.

My 15 year old daughter takes this. She was getting headaches when her anxiety flared up.

it’s stopped the headaches, but she’s still just as anxious.
i don’t like the thought of her being on beta-blockers long term, but she’s tried Calms therapy too, & still struggling.

This is so reassuring, I hope this happens for me. I just want to be able to enjoy normal things again without having a huge panic.

Hi op here (after a nc).

Thought I would update again in the hope that anyone has anything else to add on this. I've been taking propranolol for 4 days and during some anxiety inducing situations and am sorry to say I haven't noticed a big improvement.

I would say it perhaps takes the edge off the panic feeling but it hasn't improved or altered any of the symptoms, particularly the toilet issue. Yesterday I went with my family to a Christmas market about a half hour drive away. As soon as we got on the motorway I started panicking and once again had to get dh to stop at the services for the loo. I'd taken a propranolol (and an immodium!) half an hour before we set off and the racing heart, panic perhaps did seem a little less severe but I suppose I'd just hoped for some miracle pill that would stop all of the symptoms in their tracks. It's worth noting I'm only on 10mg though so maybe not a high enough dose to make a noticeable difference.

Oddly enough once I get to the destination I'm mostly ok. And when we're on the way home I never have any issues either. It's always when we are on the way somewhere. So bloody frustrating.

Hi OP, I would definitely try a higher dose and see how you get on. 10mg is very low. I’m on 40mg (that’s the dose GP started me on) and it’s been an absolute godsend for me. It basically blocks the adrenalin and thus stops the bodies physical panic symptoms, which for me was the worst part, (the racing heart etc), at the right dose it should stop the adrenaline from affecting your bowels.

Good luck! Let us know how you’re getting on with them.

Sorry I missed your update! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Definitely try a higher dose if necessary but you may need to combine with other therapies (CBT etc) to work through / re-programme your wonky thinking. But hopefully they’ll keep you calm enough to be able to enjoy days out a bit more.

I share the same anxiety as I'm blessed with IBS and 20mg of propranolol is brilliant at completely blocking the adrenaline that comes with anxiety/panic attacks. I also take mebeverine/colofac (which you can buy OTC or online) as I feel it takes away some of the urgency and occasionally immodium instants.
Aside from that, just focus on keeping your breathing nice and slow and steady.

The only side effect I get is tiredness, and my blood pressure can drop a bit low sometimes which can make me feel light headed if i stand up too quickly etc

OP, if you download the DARE app and buy the DARE Book on www.audible.co.uk/pd/Dare-Audiobook/B01ETUCS7Y and follow it to the letter I pretty much expect you would fully recover from what you describe.

Also the not eating the night before is classic safety seeking behaviour which is a driver of worse panic the longer you do it.

Get the app and the book and use drugs if you want but I would say you wont need them.

Thank you all. I do think 10mg isn't quite enough. It's like I can notice a small change but not enough to really stop or alter the symptoms enough for me to be comfortable. I am due to see the nurse in a few weeks for a review so I will mention this then and see if I can get an increased dose.

Thank you for the recommendation @Onceuponawhileago I will have a listen. I have tried CBT before and it did absolutely nothing for me. Hopefully this is a different technique?

I take it every morning because it lasts all day and I can actually socialize without anxiety for the first time in years. I’m amazed. I am able to be relaxed. No more racing heart, no shaking, no stuttering, no sweating, and I can look people in the eyes. I can just be chill. I am so grateful. I haven’t noticed any side effects. I have been on it for a week - https://healthful-online.com/c2831/propranolol.html

I used to use it for important presentations and any situation where I might get 'stagefright' sort of symptoms - racing heart, red prickly flushing of the skin, etc. It's very good for that but won't make you feel loads calmer in general.

I still occasionally use it when starting new jobs. Most recently when I'd just learned to drive a new type of truck and was having to operate it on my own for the first time in a high pressure environment with a whole gang watching/waiting impatiently on me.

I tried it for sleep problems - waking in the early hours in a sweaty panic.
Didn't work but they always start you on the lowest dose, 10mg, so possibly if I'd had a higher dose it might have worked.
I have been reading about 5Htp online and think I'll give that a go.

Hi Moggy22….this is the first time I have ever replied on this forum but I just had to respond as I swear I could of written this thread myself & felt like I was the only one to feel like I do. Its hell. I too have been prescribed Propranolol. Prayjng for some sort of relief as its effecting my life in every way. The anxiety is crippling at times

Hi Moggie22.. I am new & have had to join mumsnet purely for the reason of reading yr op on the anxiety u experience. I swear to u, I could have written it myself. Word for word is exactly what I experience on a daily basis. It is hell. Effecting everything & anything I do, its relentless.I have tried 3 different ad’s with no joy. Been on hrt, no joy. Do online cbt & face to face cbt, no joy. I too have been prescribed propranlol & am awaiting counselling. I noticed u originally put the post on at the end of 2022. Can I ask how are u getting on now? Has the propranolol helped u at all?

I’m also joining in - I could have written the same, it started after a few very upsetting life events and it is now MY life sentence.

Is there any update on how you got on with Propanolol OP? I’ll try anything.