Has anyone taking beta blockers for anxiety?

[Somepoorbugger]

I've seen a few anxiety related threads lately where people are recommending the use of beta blockers for help reducing anxiety. Having looked into it a little I think it may suit me. I'm not keen on the idea of daily medication or antidepressants as my anxiety is sporadic. I don't wake up anxious daily and in fact when I'm in familiar surroundings or routines i feel fine. It happens when I have to tackle something different such as travelling, work meetings, ceremonies, public transport, crowds...situations where I feel unable to escape. In those cases the anxiety is very sudden and very bad and I'm finding it's happening more and more regularly and severely which is stopping me wanting to do certain things.

So my question is...how did beta blockers help you? Were there any side effects? Can they be taken on a "when you need them" basis or should they be taken daily? I understand they work by stopping the flow of adrenaline to the heart but can they help with other symptoms of panic - one of mine is needing the loo urgently but I'm not sure if this is brought on by anxiety or if the anxiety just makes it worse.

Would really like to hear any personal experience. I should also add that I have tried cbt and counselling before which didn't really help me so this is kind of a last resort for me.

Bump

I took them for a few months after I found cbt didnt work. I used to wake up with chest pain and it did help. I had to change my lifestyle though to actually get rid of my anxiety. I stopped watching the news and social media for a while and got more exercise with pilates.

@Jobseeker19 thank you for replying. I've tried counselling and cbt - neither worked. I've changed my diet and exercise more which has helped me feel better in general but doesn't stop the panic in certain situations. I've tried meditation which is the same. I'm just at the point now where I want to be able to go where I want and do what i want without fear of an attack. I have tried to avoid medication for a long time but I don't what else to try.

Did you take beta blockers routinely or just when you felt particularly bad? I'm kind of hoping that I could use them as and when needed - so before travelling or a work meeting and so on.

I take them. If I'm struggling when I wake up I have one and it takes the edge of so I can function a little more. You can take several a day. After CBT, Counselling and trying 4 different antidepressants that this was the only thing that helped me. There are side effects for me. I can't sleep later and sometimes get a bit headachy. This could be caused by the anxiety though I suppose.

I took propanalol and it did help with anxiety, but unfortunately it exacerbated my asthma really badly so had to stop. I take diazepam now as and when I need it.

I take propanolol for a combination of high bp and anxiety, so I take it every day. I find it really helpful for the physical manifestations of anxiety -so it may well help you with the needing the loo side of things. If you don't have high bp I suppose you might feel a bit tired/giddy from low bp taking it.

My bp is ok as far as I know. I think the fear of the panic and needing the loo is what sets me off to begin with. Then the mental anxiety creates the physical symptoms. If I could take something to control those it might give me some confidence

I took them around every other day.

Thanks all, I think it's worth having the chat with my gp. They might not agree to give me then anyway but I can always ask. This seems like a better option for me than antidepressants

@Somepoorbugger hello hun I know this was last year but did u end up going on them I get the urge to go to the loo to and have just been prescribed these just wondering if they work