What's your experience of propranolol?

[Miracle29]

Hi all. After 5 years of suffering with nerves I've finally been to see my gp. I thought it was something that would go away but didn't and got worse, mainly my driving is affected so I no longer drive as I get too nervous. The last straw for me was my very first panic attack. It was awful and I knew I needed to get it sorted. Gp has diagnosed gad and put me on 10mg of propranolol to start with and will up it of needed. I've read a few horror stories about it and I'm a little nervous of taking it. Did this help for you? Did you get any side affects? How long did it take to work? My gp said I need to take 1 a day for a week then 2 a day for a week then 3 a day and she'll review me. Is there anything I should know or be wary of when taking it? My gp didn't explain alot really just that it was a beta blocker and she'll review me in a month. Any advise will be appreciated, thanks.

It works wonders for the feelings of panic. I was it on it years ago and was taking 40mg 3 x a day. When my life situation changed I slowly reduced and came off it completely, and was off it for several years. I have recently restarted but I only take 20mg in the morning, and another 20mg at lunch time on the 3 days I am at work. I don’t take it the rest of the time unless I have something going on that would cause me stress & anxiety, so just as and when needed.

I will say that when I was taking the high dose regularly it did cause tinnitus. It didn’t go away even when I was no longer taking it. If I take a few doses regularly it does get louder, it’s been several years and I’m sort of used to it now. I know I still would have taken it if I’d registered that as a possible side effect though as my life was very difficult at the time. Propranolol was a life saver.

Absolutely saved my sanity after the death of my daughter and my Dad in 2021. I take 20mg at bedtime otherwise I can't sleep, and 10mg whenever I leave the house.

For me, it doesn’t alleviate the fundamental anxiety but really dampens the acute panic (fast heart rate, adrenaline rush etc - that’s what it’s designed to do). The main side effect I’ve had is tiny red spots on my hands. I’m on 60mg and very fair-skinned so this might not be an issue for you. They haven’t solved the problem but it’s much better than nothing. They don’t help with the thoughts on their own but you can stay much calmer and more rational when your physiological responses are damped down.

I take these for anxiety and essential tremor, I’ve been on them for about 10 years, 3x40mg a day. They are the only thing that has worked for me, they’re amazing, without them I would not be able to function. The Drs were cautious about putting me on them as I have asthma and they can interact, but I’ve been fine. I don’t have any side effects, they work within an hour. I have had a period of several months where I didn’t take them, no problems or withdrawal coming off them (obviously apart from my original symptoms returned)

I appreciate not everyone is the same, hope this helps.

The good thing about it is you can just take it when required. You don't have to take it every day. It helped my anxiety hugely. As did self referring for some cbt.

Yes this. You can take them as and when needed. Sometimes I cut mine in half if I feel i don’t need the whole dose. My Dr said I can also take more than my dose if needed as my tremor is worse in the heat of summer, and said I would know if I had taken too much as they will make you tired. Flexible as far as medications go.

Thanks for your replies. I took my first one lastnight. I have read you take when required but my gp told me to take everyday but I'm not sure if that's because my symptoms can appear for no reason at all. It can happen watching TV. I'm really hoping it works because it's gone on for so long I just don't know me anymore of rhat makes sense. I don't know what caused this or why. Alot of people don't understand why I'm like this because my life is good, lovely children, long term relationship, a nice home so people think I shouldn't feel this way. There is also a stigma around anxiety because so many people have it. I am very good at masking my feelings and when I do tell someone how I feel or what is worrying me and them it's silly or I shouldn't worry about this and that so I kind of try and deal with it alone. I've tried talk therapy in the past but it doesn't work for me really.

I hated it. It made me very lightheaded & unwell. My resting heart rate went really low. However, some people love it, so best to see how you react.

I found it was really great for me... no issues