beta blockers for anxiety ??????

[startingoveragain]

brief history last may was put on seroxat for derpression and anxiety but it didnt agree with me so i was put on to fluoxetine

around september dr decided citalopram was the way to go as i was still having panic attacks all the while i was 20 mg of each ad

then in jan they advised i have 30 mg by taking 10 mg at night this trned me into a zombie and i only took this combination for a month before stoppping

well went to have a chat with doc and he has advised beta blockers and too take them either every day or every other

im confused i thought they were a blood pressre thing

i darent google any one had experience of this ???

well if you get racing heart beats with your panic attacks (I assume you do) the beta blockers slow that down which then helps slow down the physical symptoms of the panic attack

I took them for a couple of weeks AGES ago due to some blood pressure/migraine horror thing and I did notice them making me chill a bit

ty fox im glad someone else has had them i had an idea thats what they were for

I read all about Beta blockers in the BNF the other day (pharmacists drug bible!) My aunty wanted to know more about them as my uncle has been put on them for an irregular heart beat. I was surprised to read how many things they are used for including high BP, Angina,MI (heart attack), arrhythmia's (irregular heart beat), Heart failure, Thyrotoxicosis (thyroid), migraine, glaucoma(in eye drop form) and for Anxiety! It says that people who's anxiety includes tremor and palpitations respond to them best. Some beta blockers do make you a bit drowsy, and slow your heart rate down. Hope thats a bit more info for you!

I took them years ago for severe panic attacks years ago. I think they made me more socially acceptable (I was on a huge dose and they slowed me down in general) they didn't make me feel any better, but I know other people who found them really helpful. The thing they didn't warn me about is that they stop you increasing your heart rate; I remember having to pause to catch my breath twice on the way up the stairs - as a fit 18 yo.

I think they affect the production of adrenaline and this helps control panic attacks.
I take them because of heart problems and don't find that they make me drowsy. The main problem that I am aware of with them is that you shouldn't take them if you are asthmatic as they can cause breathlessness.