Anyone take propranolol to help with anxiety?

[Olivesandwine]

I'm seeing doc tomorrow for something but I'm also going to discuss getting help with my anxiety. Anxiety is definitely making my symptoms worse.

I've suffered with anxiety for many years, been on antidepressants a few times but really do not want to go on them again.

I have this permanent feeling in my chest, a nervousness/adrenaline feeling. Don't know how to describe it but I'm on edge all the time. Was thinking about asking for propranolol or similar just to calm me a bit and tide me over until my current health issue resolves. I don't want to be on anything permanently and have heard you can take this as and when.

Anyone done the same? Does it help?

oh my mistake i thought you did, there is a gp in my surgery that does the same will only focus on one issue at a time, i try and avoid them when i can they really are a fantastic doctor but i think most people leave going to the gp untill they have at least two issues when its not something like a suspected chest infection for example,

ahh thank you ! is there a page i can read up on the acronyms do you know? ie only beenon mums net a handful of months so still struggling with some

There is an acronym list somewhere but don’t know where.

I think they are daft but everyone uses them.

Well just back from gp with propranolol. Taken first one so will see. I was a blubbering mess in the doctors.
I'll see how I get on with them.
Don't give me any horror stories about these please - my nerves are in bits to start with

What's the dose?

40mg two or three times a day.
Do you feel any effects straight away. Took one and feel slightly lightheaded but that’s all. Haven’t noticed any difference in heart rate and there’s no way I’m reading the leaflet that came with it.

No horror stories op, but they can lower blood pressure so until you're used to them take care getting out of bed, standing up etc in case you feel lightheaded. Lots of folk take them without any such problems, it's just something to keep in mind.
I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I hope they help you.

Hi OP,

I take this and it works absolute wonders for me. I've been given 3 a day to take, but I tend to manage on one. If it's a very bad day, I'll take two. It can space me out and leave me feeling a bit high, but I am so calm. It's unreal. Don't take any tablets after 3pm as you won't sleep.

If my anxiety hasn't gone physically say half an hour after first one I take another one (I checked with the GP I could do that). It's rare that happens though.

Once you're used to them you'll be able to take them whenever. I've taken them during the night when the anxiety has woken me up so I can get back to sleep.

I've never felt high or spaced out though.

OP we are all different but I personally found 40mg to be a bit high. I got the 10mg ones prescribed and found that one or two worked well.

I take 160mg slow release once a day, when I was on the normal 80mg twice a day my heart was racing and then felt like it stopped, my chest would feel tight and I got dizzy all the time. I was ok on 40mg twice a day though. I don't find it helps my anxiety but I take it for migraine prevention as well and it helps with that.

I had a panic attack earlier this year. Honestly thought I was dying! Two women walking past me called an ambulance... Really embarrassing! ANYWAY, my lovely GP gave me Propananol (??) and it was perfect. I could take one when I felt an anxiety attack coming on, or just one every day for a few days to calm me down.

It really broke the cycle of feeling panic/panicking about having a panic attack/etc. I never take them now.

Good luck, OP!

All it did for me was lower my heart rate as it's meant to. It didn't help with the other aspects of my anxiety. I now take pregabalin for anxiety which works in a much better way.

Didnt do anything to me but make me feel faint, but my main problem is the racing thoughts which it doesnt help with.

Anxiety is physically exhausting, I hope the medication gives you a break from the permanent stress symptoms.

Do you need to take them for a few days to notice any effects? So far they have just made me lightheaded and but I’ve only taken one tablet in the mornings.

No they dont work like that.

I take one when I get the butterfly/washing machine stomach or heart racing then I take another one when that feeling comes back or if it comes back. They are an as an when you need them medication, not a long lasting take them the same time every day type.

They never made me feel lightheaded though.

They work by stopping the body dumping a ton of adrenaline into your system. It's the adrenaline that causes the physical symptoms of anxiety. If one pill doesn't stop that then take another one after around half an hour.

The mental effects of anxiety they don't help with, they just help you cope with them better.

Like if you need a painkiller, do you take one in the morning and expect it to last all day? You don't need to be scared to take these, they don't make you high or spacey.

Thanks Gamerchick. They did make me feel a bit spaced out though so I was scared to take another one.
I think I was expecting too much of them, like they would calm me down.

I take the 160mg slow release and it's a godsend, I've been taking it for 3 or 4 yrs now. For me the physical symptoms of anxiety were awful and caused my actual anxiety to spiral. Quenching the physical symptoms has made a huge difference to my life and anxiety, I stay calm now in situations, I never have that adrenaline feeling in my stomach, honestly I'd be lost without them.

I take mine once a day every day btw. I tried the smaller doses throughout the day and my doc upped it until I found the dose that was best. So for me that's 160 mgs slow release every morning.

I was prescribed beta blockers for irregular heartbeat, but I think they also helped me get through the last 3 years of teaching before I retired from Secondary.