Propranolol after break up?

[Amby138]

Hi everyone,
really struggling after my break up with my ex a couple of weeks ago, been to the doctors this morning as I can not function and feel like I need medical help.
I’ve been prescribed propranolol, an anti-anxiety medication. Has anyone here ever taken it before and did it help with whatever you were struggling with at the time?
Thank you!

My DD was prescribed this alongside Sertraline for severe anxiety. She was suffering with horrendous palpitations. It has worked very well and she is very much back on an even keel now.

Yes it definitely did help me, just make sure not to take it too late in the evening as it will have you up all night. It's not a miracle cure, just helped take the edge off. Gym, walking, going out with friends got me back into a better place. I used to hate when people said time is a healer, but it really is x

It’s a beta blocker, not an anti depressant so it just helps stop the physical symptoms of anxiety - racing heart etc.

You shouldn’t have any side effects and it will help you feel physically better while you work on your emotions x

Used it for anxiety and panic attacks, worked a treat. Just calmed everything down and stopped my physical symptoms which helped ease and control the psychological symptoms. If i need to do a presentation at work or feel anxious going to the dentist etc i will take one (40mg) about half an hour before and i am a totally different person. I did take them daily when i was having bad anxiety but now only use them when i really really need to.

Thanks for your replies! I’m really hoping it will get me through this initially fog, my heart beat has been going through the roof, sweating shaking, just wanting to literally start running. So I’m hoping it will give me the chance to work through my emotions helpfully instead of breaking down and panicking :/

@Amby138 this time next month you'll be so much further on x

It is a wonderful treatment to take away the physical symptoms of anxiety until you feel able to get through the day by yourself.

But I found the weight gain/ water retention too much to deal with so had to stop taking them after a few weeks.

So pleased you didn’t get anti depressants. I have rhese, just for big work presentations, musicians take them for stage fright. I take one an hour before a big presentation. There is nothing in them and they do the job.

Propranolol is great! It does make me feel physically sluggish and tired though.

Ive been on it for years op it's fine. It helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety but not the emotional pain

They really are effective as stopping my heart racing and anxiety but they made me sweat a lot! Like pouring with sweat it was awful. Shame because they really did help

It'll take the edge off the anxiety symptoms so you don't have to worry about them catching you unawares or being uncontrollable (fear of them happening can cause a vicious circle of anxiety-anxiety about having anxiety-anxiety-more anxiety). There's also a far, far lower risk of negative/dangerous side effects than with other medications.

However - you did say something very important. Your anxiety is giving you an urge to run. You can also use that as a way to cope.

DP had severe anxiety that was generally OK on propranolol, but he still had some symptoms; he was experiencing the fight (never going to happen)/flight/freeze response. So he was freezing and feeling trapped, which causes anxiety in itself.

I asked him that if his brain was screaming at him to run, what would happen if he actually did? So we went out to a quiet park, early on a Sunday morning and walked-ran for half an hour. As far as his body and brain was concerned, he'd fulfilled the flight reaction, so he didn't need to be on high alert/wasn't at risk. He relaxed and actually slept soundly for the first time in months that night. As the weeks went on, we increased to twice a week and then, on his instigation, we joined a gym because he realised that sometimes he didn't want to run, he wanted to 'do something staying still' because he was feeling frustrated or something other than fear. His anxiety meant that he really wanted me to go along with him, as he knew I'd used gyms before and I had been thinking about rejoining.

It's been transforming for him both physically and psychologically. And I'm not complaining about how either of us look for exercising 45 minutes, 4-6 times a week, either.

There's a strip of propranolol in his work bag. It's been there for six months and there are only two out of it.

Might it be worth thinking about at some point, OP? Seeing if working with your body and instincts as well as a very well tolerated and helpful medication could be useful? DP says it would never have occurred to him that it could help so much or that he'd ever be somebody who does it, but he's gone from being somebody who was completely paralysed by symptoms to how he is now.

I take these for migraines as a prophylactic and they have the happy side-effects of dealing with anxiety and some peri- menopausal symptoms too. Apparently, they are also the drug of choice for doctors etc when they are doing something nerve-wracking like giving presentations etc. I would second the advice about taking them am and exercising as much as you can - a possible but rare side-effect is nightmares. Hopefully, they will help quell the physical symptoms of anxiety so that you can sleep properly and be in the right place to do the self-care things that will help you heal.

Just jumping in, would this work for a nervous tummy? I get the uncontrollable urge to run to the loo when I’m nervous, I wonder if it would have a calming effect on that?

Thank you for talking about running, it’s definitely something I’m considering. At the moment I’m not looking after myself too good, been struggling to eat as I have no appetite and it makes me nauseous when I force myself, and barely drinking water, barely sleeping, just drinking nutrition shakes, energy drinks, coffee and wine. Not good at all, I know. I’m trying to get better, and hopefully I will soon. I don’t think my body could cope with too much exercise right now with out the fuel, but after what you’ve said especially maybe running could be really good for me

Start with going for walks.

I think it did help a little with mine, but Imodium was better

Well, hopefully after a few days with the propranolol, that'll give you some space to look after yourself.

The caffeine, energy drinks and wine won't be helping your symptoms though - could you try laying off the alcohol first (it completely negates the effect of the meds) and then maybe cut down on the Monster/Red Bull?

You might also be feeling unwell because you're not having much in the way of protein and minerals - there's nothing savoury there. Could you try some savoury snacks like maybe pretzels or crackers? They can help to stimulate both your appetite and encourage you to drink water. And you can have a couple, then come back to them later. It also means you won't have awful slumps in your blood sugar due to having quite as much sweet stuff; they can also make you feel agitated and uncomfortable/shaky.

If possible, I think it can be more restorative to think 'I'm feeling weird and wobbly. I'm just going to take five minutes' and lie down (on the floor can feel the safest), knees up, hands on your tummy and just breathing, feeling your tummy move up and down and knowing that it's OK, it's just your brain getting mixed up and thinking you're in danger, it'll catch up and realise you're safe in a minute when you can get up and have a snack or shake - rather than necking another can.

You can do this. You will be OK. You will be calm, relaxed and happy.

It's a tough time, but it can and it will ease, sooner if you can manage to do things that are good for you (which you've already started by seeing the GP). And if you do find in the future that exercise/running helps you, I'd love to hear about it!

I take it every day on the way to work to stop panic attacks while I’m there. Definitely helps!