Should I take the Beta Blockers?

[RickyZooom]

I’m currently living through a new onset of anxiety, driven by having a panic attack for the first time in almost 20 years! The first week was awful, was in full on panic mode most of the day, the second week I felt slightly calmer but really struggled with my sleeping. I’m now on week 3, have spoken to the Dr and he’s given me a prescription for sleeping tablets (which I haven’t yet needed thankfully as I’ve been making a real effort to relax before bed and have managed to get some sleep) and also Propanolol to help with anxiety symptoms.

so far I haven’t felt brave enough to take it. My anxiety usually manifests in the morning - I wake with a pit of dread in my stomach, heart thumps (doesn’t really go too fast though), the shakes, dizziness, feeling like I can’t cope etc. Usually as the day goes on these feelings do subside and I can manage to get through the day OK.

Dr has prescribed me quite a low dose, 10mg twice a day. I’m just nervous about taking them! Are my physical symptoms enough to warrant them? What if I feel worse on them? I don’t want to rely on them and struggle to come off them.

Im really trying to manage my anxiety through natural methods but the mornings are really bad. Any advice would be appreciated!

[SherlockTomes]

I've taken them on and off for years for migraines. No side effects and certainly not addictive.

[Aquamarine1029]

Have you considered that this new anxiety is related to peri-menopause? Horrible anxiety, and waking up with it, is a very common symptom.

[TeenPlusCat]

Propranolol has really helped my DD. She is on 40mg.
If your GP prescribed you medicine for anything else, would you take it?
Maybe try it for a week and see if it helps whilst carrying on with other methods too?

[RickyZooom]

It could be peri-menopause. I’m 39 so feels a bit early but possible. I’ve got two pre schoolers, I hate feeling like this every morning!
I think I will give it a try for a week and see if it helps, I just wasn’t sure if my physical symptoms were severe enough to warrant it. I thought it was more to slow the heart rate down?

[Caminante]

I strongly recommend you to just try one at least. You could be feeling so much better. I take them on and off, definitely don't feel reliant on them, no side effects and just make me feel better.

[MangoBiscuit]

I have propranolol, 40mg 3 times a day. I usually only take one a day, and when my anxiety is down, I stop taking it (This has been discussed with my GP) I've never had any side effects, and even taking it for months on end hasn't created any sort of dependancy that I'm aware of.

They don't stop the anxiety, but they do stop the physical symptoms which makes it a lot easier for me to get a handle on it. Taking it daily means that I find the acceleration from 0 to panic, is much lower, which gives me a chance to ground myself with breathing, sensory tools etc

I hope you start feeling better soon OP.

[RickyZooom]

Hi all, just wanted to say that I started taking the beta blockers and they really did help so thank you for encouraging me! They really seem to reduce the massive Adrenalin rushes that I was getting, which is my worst symptom of panic!
just wanted to ask - do you take them even if you don’t feel panicky? For example, today, I took one this morning as I always get morning anxiety. Now this afternoon I feel a bit subdued and probably a bit negative thinking but I don’t feel particularly panicked. Funnily enough I had my best sleep in weeks last night - I thought I’d feel great today! Should I take another one to keep to the two a day recommendation? Or only take as and when I feel anxious?