Propranolol for anxiety

[Cbpoppy]

Hi All
Happy new year..
So can you tell me you're experiences of Propranolol for anxiety please..
2025 was an interesting year for me with anxiety on a new onset of panic attacks..
I'm now in a place where I feel anxiety about going out / events / travel etc..
I have been prescribed Citalopram to start so thats certainly an option for me going into the new year now But I also have Propranolol and wanted to ask experiences because I know some people talk about this medication being great for just panic attacks and racing heart etc, although some seem to talk of this being a great way to help with getting out of the house / social events, travel etc..
Advice much appreciated please

Hi OP, I have a history of anti depressants for anxiety and was fed up with them.

My last phase of acute anxiety 4 years ago I was prescribed propanalol plus I think prozac or something like that which I refused to take. Propanalol worked great for me whilst I gradually rebalanced. I took it because it's non addictive unlike ADs.

I still have an old prescription and I pop one now and then, really helps take the edge off. You've got nothing to lose with them because as I said they are non addictive and don't stay in your system and create a dependency.

For me it was about easing off my GAD symptoms but sure they help with a lot of issues, actors take them for stage fright.

I use propranolol for my anxiety and although I only take a small dose (10mg three times a day), I find it really takes the edge of when I feel myself getting a bit panicked.

Do you drink alcohol?

I take mine when I feel getting panicky or anxious rather than on a daily basis - although I would probably benefit from a more regular dose to stope "the anxiety wave rising".

It works well at taking the edge off, but does not address any of the root cause (which in my case is compounded by hormones + lack of sleep). HRT has helped a bit also, although I think i d probably benefit from a slightly higher dose.

Hi @Bedheadbeachbum
Thanks for the reply!
I tried sertraline last year & was a no no for me.
I think mine is a mix of a previous illness and a bit of peri as now 44..
Hrt didn't work for me right now.
My issue is this weird off balance / fuzzy head feeling that occurs as anxiety strikes and this is at the thought of going out in the car, going out the house.
So annoying..
Do you think propranolol would chill me out for these events..
I have 10mg pills..
I also get this weird type feeling if I get tired, stressed & with hormones..
So hard to know what to take at times xx

Hi @LondonLady1980
Thank you for your reply
Yes if I get a bit anxious or panicky my head goes kind of running and almost like off balance sometimes..
I do wander if these would help daily..
Also to get me out the house more!!

@FromthefireintoWhat
Me too with hormones
I tried hrt with no success. I'm 44 & find my periods/ovulation 100% contribute to these awful fuzzy head feelings..
My estrogen is high & found hrt made me feel worse.
I have amitriptyline which is really good for sleep.
I too do find if I don't sleep well though those feelings do enhighten too..
Also stress sets me off & doing too much..
Maybe I need to take propranolol daily..?

And No i dont drink any alcohol since this anxiety all started..
I was just intrigued to see people's thoughts as I know so many say it only only helps with racing heart & sweats etc which isn't really the issue..
Mines more fuzzy head type anxiety

I don’t really rate them. Also had the 10mg dosage. It slowed my heart rate (just less not actually made it slow if stressed) but it didn’t stop the adrenaline rush in my chest or the thoughts and it made my head feel heavy.

@Cbpoppy I've got 40mg haha 😅 I don't know why it's such a large dosage compared to others but hey, it cuts through the anxiety so I'm grateful.

I wish I could get some of that gas and air from the labour ward, that was good too!

Just give it a try, if you've got the 10mg ones, take 3 spaced out in the day, if it doesn't help maybe get them to give you a stronger dose.

I’ve been on 80mg slow release propranolol for about three years now and it’s been a life saver

I’m prescribed up to 80mg a day. I usually only take 20mg as soon as I wake up and it helps a lot.

The only way to find out is to take them and see how you feel. Other experiences won't help you to find out how you react to them.

I take Citalopram and have 10mg Propranolol for when I need them. I’ve recently been struggling with panic and the GP has just prescribed 40mg Propranolol as she said 40mg is a more ‘normal’ dose. I haven’t tried a 40 yet but have taken 2 or 3 10mg’s before. I wonder sometimes if it’s more of a placebo effect but it seems to help. I think I need to look into CBT though for the cause of the anxiety x

I can't take them and neither can my DM.
Drops our BP really low and we can pass out.
Along with a really dry mouth and generally shaking.

I take them as and when I need them, a few times they have lowered my heart rate a little too much but 9 out of 10 times they work a treat. At the moment I wake up with terrible anxiety so I take one when I wake up (if I feel I really need to). I have tried many anti depressants over the years but they are not for me. Now I am perimenopausal the anxiety has really ramped up so I take them more often.

Hiya, I was prescribed this for anxiety and heart palpitations but it gave me horrific nightmares so they switched me to atenolol and that stopped the nightmares and relieves the anxiety somewhat.

Propanalol stops your heart racing (and the effects of that) when you have a panic attack. They helped me when I was at my worst and waiting for antidepressants to kick in.
What you're describing with the fuzzy head sounds like hyperventilating, which I get too.. but Propanalol won't help with that x

@Moonlightfrog
When you say you take more cos perimenopause
How do you find the peri makes you feel?
I get a horrible brain fog type feeling that makes me feel anxious and awful more so on my period..
How does the propranolol make you feel? Calmer?

@sausagedog2000
How do you feel when you wake up that makes you take them?

@OverTheWater28
You've been on them a while.
What started you taking them?
Panic attacks or anxiety

@Bedheadbeachbum
Haha yes gas & air would be nice hehe..
Do you take more for anxiety or panic

I have terrible brain fog, sleeping issues have probably been my main issue, I have trouble getting to sleep and when I do sleep I have awful vivid dreams, I think this is why I wake up so anxious and with the feeling of doom most mornings. Some days I feel totally exhausted and struggling to function. I don’t have periods as I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago, I kept my ovaries but the are starting to fail (I was having peri symptoms before surgery). I get awful head aches too which the propranolol also helps. I am in a low dose of HRT (just upped my dose), when I change my dose my anxiety tends to be a little worse for a few weeks.

I am diagnosed ASD and ADHD which makes my brain struggle to shut down and makes it hard for me to rest, my heart rate is often too high. Propranolol helps me relax a little….sometimes too much.

I think it’s advised to take your first dose at night incase it lowers your heart rate too much and makes you sleepy. It can make you a little dizzy. It takes my heart rate from around 80 down to 60….sometimes slightly lower.

Yes that stuff was gooood.

I take it for anxiety, I don't have panic but I'm sure it would help with that by slowing you down.