Propranolol - all thoughts appreciated!

[TessMcGillsOffice]

Hello, first time poster so apologies if this is long.

I've had depression on and off since 2011 and started Sertraline in 2015 when I had PND. Have been on 25mg until last year when I started getting anxiety symptoms so went up to 50mg daily.

Just over a week ago I was hit with my worst depressive episode to date which started as anxious symptoms three weeks ago (tightness around tummy, reduction in appetite, sense of impending doom, chest pain) and was then followed by intrusive thoughts and has been debilitating this week. Got myself to the GP and my Sertraline was upped to 75mg daily and was also given 10mg propranolol daily to address the anxiety. After feeling near comatose on Thursday I went back to the GP and they upped the propranolol but the anxious feelings remain. I spoke to my original GP on Friday and she said I could up the propranolol again but if that doesn't help to just stop it altogether.

I have some fairly typical side effects of propranolol per Google searches but the original anxious feelings still remain. Plus my brain feels slow and I'm getting mild pins and needles in my arms.

Has anyone else has propranolol and what was your experience? Should I give it longer or pull the plug on it? My depression makes me utterly terrified of making anything worse as this week has been pure hell. All thoughts welcome.

Thank you x

Bit of a long story but I've been having some neuro health issues which first included anxiety that got quite debilitating alongside vestibular problems.

I found propanalol helpful for a couple of months to take the edge off anxious periods and allow me to think the situation through more logically which helped me get out doing things again and push through the dizziness and anxiety. I'm off them again now but keep them in my bag for reassurance.

I was on 40mg 3x a day as needed but may have a larger build than you.

It basically stops your heart from absorbing excess adrenaline which then lowers your blood pressure and heart rate.

The lowered BP could be causing the pins and needles. If you're dehydrated this can cause even lower BP so make sure you're drinkingplenty. Maybe ring the surgery to ask their advice before making a long term decision on whether to stop as it may settle down.

10mg of propanol is very low - my teen daughter is on 20mg for PoTS but could go higher. I would have thought you would need 20mg for it to help? Worth googling PoTS as this can be a physical cause for some people's anxiety. Your setraline is not high either - highest dose is 200mg although my daughter's psychiatrist said 150mg max unless inpatient care than can go up to 200mg.

also propanol slows the heart and setraline can increase it so don't take them together ie at the exact same time. Propanol only works for 6hrs I am really not sure on your GP's suggestion of 10mg once a day....a single slow release propanol pill starts at 80mg a day.

It didn't work for me either.

What is PoTS?

I only ever take 10mg of propranolol, seems to work ok?

10mg works really well for me too

Maybe it’s the sertraline?!
i was on sertraline for a year due to panic attacks that came out of the blue and anxiety also propanonol, it took about 3 months to feel the benefit of sertraline and I stopped the propanonol cos I didn’t want to take both. but for the next 9 months id still get panic attacks.. racing heart, nausea, headaches on and off.. so i thought i would taper off sertraline which went fine no problem, i did that in 6 weeks .. i did this because i really thought the sertraline should have done its job but it never i was on 50g and i didn’t want to up it.. its now been 8 weeks and yesterday i felt jittery and nausea
.. I came off sertraline with the intention of using propanol as and when for these unexpected moments .. i haven’t as yet as I’m trying to work through what I think is causing.. but I know it’s there if I need it.
i know it’s stops the racing heart and everything.
i know you suffer from depression but maybe there’s something better out there for you than sertraline. Good luck xx