Propranolol for anxiety

[Lockdownmum1010]

Evening all,

I've been prescribed a low dose of propranalol for anxiety/panic but ironically I'm worried about taking my first dose in case it makes me feel worse. Any positive stories please to help me be brave enough to take it?

I take it. It’s been a life saver.

Really slows down the symptoms of anxiety.

Yes it will make you feel worse but that is temporary. Once it starts working it does really help with anxiety.

It lowers your heart rate and I think it's relatively short lived. I find it helps to calm me but definitely not spaced out in any way. It just removes the panic symptoms you get when stressed

Yes I couldn't recommend it more, I had it for ages thinking no way will this work, tried it on a whim on day and it was great, it's really good for calming me.

Life changing x

Amazing, just what I needed to hear!! Thank you all x

Really recommend, it is a beta blocker so doesn't make you feel spacey or slow. It just makes you feel calmer by removing the physical symptoms of anxiety - slows heart rate, stops shaking etc.

The only thing I notice is that it makes exercise harder for me - like walking upstairs feels more breathless but that could just be me.

It does work, but you might not be totally aware it's working, if that makes sense, so you won't feel woozy or spaced out from it. I find it is really good for reducing the physical symptoms associated with anxiety, like running to the loo every 5 minutes when you're especially nervous or pain like 'anxious tummy' .

I’ve not had any particularly poor side effects the times I’ve taken them. Definitely relieves the physical sensations of anxiety (panicky feeling, heart racing, etc). I can’t really exercise on them though (which is a major stress reliever for me) as I feel like I’ve run 5k after a 5min warm up! I guess that’s a side effect but when I need to take the propanol then just resting is generally what I need - so I don’t think of it as a negative really.

I would say I was super nervous about taking my 1st ever antidepressant (citalopram) as I couldn’t face it if it made me feel worse. My mum actually stood over me and made me take it (in a loving way - I was 40!). Best thing I ever did - life changing. I know it’s not the same - but sometimes you just need to take the plunge! Good Luck xxx

Thank you! I know I need to try them as am getting into a bit of a circle of panicking about panicking so hoping if the physical effects are lessened that will help with that!

Absolutely life changing for me. Never had any side effects and I’m really drug sensitive so if there was going to be any adverse effects I guarantee I’d have them!

I'm afraid i had a bad experience. Felt like I was suffocating. I think it brought my heart rate down too quickly. It was scary. Can you try a very low dose and see how you react?

Forgot to say, preferred Diazepam.

I recently had a baby and was hit with the most horrific postpartum anxiety. I was prescribed sertraline and prolanalol and I was so scared to take either of them. They sat on the shelf for days before my husband stood with me and made me take my first one (out of concern for my mental health!) I had no bad side effects, I don't think a low dose would cause dizziness or any of the side effects they warn about. My first day I took 10mg 3 times, the second day I took 40mg 3 times as I found them so helpful. I understand the nerves about taking new medicine, I'm the same but together the sertraline and prolanalol have changed my life!

*propanalol

They are great! I was on 40mg 3 times a day, I was having panic attacks one after the other for months and was an absolute MESS. Like an absolute shaling, crying scared chronically anxious mess. I'm down to 20mg a day and it just ticks me over nicely. Life changing!

Hope you feel better soon! Keep your fluids up! x

Shaking*

Propranolol is genuinely the best thing that ever happened for me. I was having panic attacks every night. I'd take one pill before bed and it would stop the physical symptoms so I wouldn't have a full blown panic attack. After a couple of months I started taking it every other night. I've been off it for 2 years now and not had one since. Just knowing that it's there if I need to take it is enough to stop me panicking.

Ps. I was same as you - panicking about panicking. I'd go to bed scared that I was going to have a panic attack which then resulted in a panic attack. 1 pill before bed stopped it all for me x

Probably depends on how your anxiety affects you physically. I take propranolol for migraine prophylaxis and I also have anxiety. Propranolol hasn’t helped my anxiety at all but then I don’t get panicky symptoms.

I was prescribed it for migraines (fairly effective) & I wondered if (male) GP had decided that anxiety was causing the migraines?
I came off it as it made my Raynaud's worse though.
Anyway, apart from the Raynaud's, no other side effects.
Hope you feel better soon xx

I have it to take as and when. No bad affects from it at all.

I’m on 40mg three times a day. Takes away a lot of the physical symptoms. Doesn’t cure you but gets you through.

Thank you all so much, plucked up the guts to take my first one. Onwards and upwards hopefully! Can't tell you how much this thread has helped me tonight so thank you!

I take it for anxiety, used to take one or two a day, but now only take it as and when I need it. For me it not a 'bam' I can feel it working, I just find myself not feeling as anxious, don't have that horrid stress feeling. But without the 'high' that diazepam can give you.