Can Propranolol make your heart rate too low?

[MyGiddyAunt1]

I’m not comfortable taking medication- but need to take the above to control my anxiety when flying. I’ve been prescribed 40mg but I feel this is too high and cause adverse sideeffects - I’m thinking if cutting a tablet into two which would lower the dosage. But would it cause my heart rate to go too low?

My usual resting heart rate is between 58-64

Bump

It absolutely can, I was on it and when the DR followed up she was so worried I nearly had to go to hospital. I'd take half. Turns out I generally react really strongly to medication

Yep, it definitely can. DD takes 10mg, her resting heart rate has dropped from 90 (due to anxiety) to around 65, so she feels loads better.
Not great if your starting heart rate is 65 though!

I take 160mg a day and my resting heart rate is usually 48-55 when I’m awake and 40-52 when I’m asleep. I feel totally fine though.

Propranolol is a beta blocker, which blocks the adrenaline hormone, causing your heart to beat slower and reduce blood pressure. If your doctor gave you 40mg then I'm sure it would be OK, that is quite a low dose. I wouldn't half the tablet unless it has the point in the middle to break it.

Yep it can

Yeah I have a low rhr and 40mg was too high for me. Made me nearly faint. I halved the tab with a pill cutter and was great.

I was on 10 and that was too high

I'm on 80mg a day and no issues here. Worth getting it checked if you're worried though.

Yes! My dr gave me some for anxiety when flying. I still felt anxious but I also felt I was going to die my heart beat was so slow. I almost missed the flight as a consequence. As soon as I got back I asked her never to prescribe beta blockers again and to note it on my file. I'm not trying to scare you but I would try it BEFORE your flight.

I have taken propranolol for palpitations due to Graves disease, I don't think it helped with my fear of flying. It just stopped the palpitations.

My doc prescribed xanax for anxiety when flying, which really helps.

Just to add unless your anxiety gives you palpitations/rapid heart rate then I’m not sure it’ll help your anxiety. I take it for migraine prophylaxis, I also have anxiety. It doesn’t help my anxiety at all.

@DuckDuckOstrich I don't always have the rapid heart beat, palpitations etc-i get an intense feeling of doom. But the GP was too quick to prescribe the meds-

@themessygarden The GP said they don't prescribe Xanax,Diazepam etc for fear of flying anymore

I'm really worried about taking this medicine and then having to deal with a new problem-

How many tablets have they given you? Could you take half on a day you're not flying anywhere etc try it?

I hate propanalol.i was prescribed it for cluster migrains as it's meant to prevent them. I don't remember the dose. I do remember the impact on me was huge. I couldn't walk without breaking out into a sweat, slowing down and then needing an actual rest, and I had to eat a lot, like a blood sugar crash. I'm not medical and I never learned about it, i just came off it.

@Ontomatopea I was prescribed two boxes of 40mg tablets-
I was planning to halve a tablet and try it tomorrow but truth be told I don't want to-im really scared about the side effects which will cause me to panic-

But my inlaws are emotionally pressuring my husband to visit and he wants me and daughter to join him- I used to be a normal functioning person before all this- just feel so lost

I am not in the UK anymore, so maybe things have changed.

I am absolutely terrified of flying, and have to fly quite a bit, however I was on propranolol for health reasons, so maybe that's why it didn't help me.

Xanax really helps, the effects are pretty much immediate and it really calms me, I also don't have the pounding heart from fear. . I think some GP's are wary of prescribing it because it can be abused, maybe it is also has something to do with prescribing it on the NHS, could you afford a private GP?

I'm on 80mg a day as a 40mg split dose for migraine prevention and haven't had any issues

A 20mg dose is pretty low. If you don't have a major day out or anything planned it will be fine to try it tomorrow and see how you get on. In all likelihood you won't experience masses of side effects and it will be fine. And if you're anxious about taking it will be a good test of its efficacy.

My doctor prescribes me Valium for flying. Beta blockers at 40mg slowed my heart too much - I went red and felt dizzy. I mean you’re seriously unlikely to die or anything though - they’re pretty safe!!

@Bigchezemakeme its reassuring to know they are safe- I really don’t want to end up in the A&E… I’ll try halving a tablet and force myself to take it tomorrow

I’ve decided to ring the GP(private as nhs appointments not available) and get a prescription for 10mg- I cannot bring myself to take 40mg