Beta Blockers

I take a beta blocker to treat high blood pressure, sorry I can’t help. I can understand your anxiety about taking something new, I would speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Janet21 I took those, many years ago, for anxiety. They made me quite drowsy. I take Bisoprolol to slow down a fast heart rate now (following a stroke).

Apparently, some snooker players used to take Propranolol before a match (to stop their hands from shaking), in the 1980s

I take 40mg Propanalol daily. Originally prescribed 80mgs for “pick axe headaches” about 20 years ago. The headaches were so sudden and devastating I was terrified to stop taking them in case they came back. The dose was dropped to 40mgs because my feet were freezing and blue.(I have Raynaud’s so that was probably unrelated)
I feel they help with anxiety and I’ve never had any side effect I’ve associated with taking them.
I did hear about an experiment where people were less likely to express racist views when given Propanalol.
I was gutted I’d always thought I was “nice” not medicated.

Janet21 Yes, I was prescribed propanalol in the early 2000's for essential tremors. In other words my hands shook and it was highly embarrassing trying to drink a cup of tea in company amongst many other things. It had a huge impact on my life actually.

Like you I was terribly unsure about taking them but they did stop the shakes. I don't remember any side effects and I'm sure I would.

I have used propranolol for a couple of years for anxiety and it has been brilliant for me. No side effects whatsoever and I just take them as and when I need them.

Yes, I take it regularly. I have both high blood pressure and 'nerves' so it does a double job. When I first started taking it I had explosive diarrhoea for a couple of days, but that is long over now.

I've taken them since my 20s for an accelerated heart beat, just the way I was made apparently. I'm still here, 40 years on, the only side affect being a bit of weight gain - well that's what I like to blame it on anyway!

Hi Janet21, I've very recently been prescribed the same but slightly higher dose of 3 x 20mg per day, for anxiety. I was told this was a very low dose.
They do help in that they slow my heart rate down and when the physical feeling of a racing heart stops then my mental state seems to relax.
I used to take them on a 'as needed basis' and I think I'll go back to that because 3 x day hasn't made me feel any less anxious than just taking them when I felt I needed them.
I understand your unease of new meds, I feel the same.
The side effects I felt taking them 3 x day were tiredness and cold hands but i didn't feel any strong or horrible side effects.
For me they work and I'm glad to have them, I hope you'll feel similar and feel some relief from the awful feeling anxiety gives us.
Take care

Have been on them for anxiety and associated blood pressure spikes,even typing the word blood pressure causes it to rise,and taken them for 30+ years.
I started on 160mg once a day,but made me slow and cold,and depressed,was change to 80mg in a Sustained release capsule once a day.
No side effects.

Propranolol is tried and tested .
If your GP has prescribed them then see how you progress .
If you have any side effects ie : feeling cold then consult him / her again .

I know exactly how you feel Janet21, hate new medications, always seem to have reactions to them which doesn’t help my anxiety. I do know the doctors are trying to help me.

Anxiety is not an illness but a symptom and whilst propranolol may relieve it, it is not dealing with the root cause. This is what your doctor should be trying to establish. Good luck!

I too take them for essential tremor . I take 3x 49 msg a day and they seem to have controlled the tremor which is in my head/ neck. I have taken them for a few years and not noticed any side effects. I am interested that flappergirl sounds as if she doesn’t still take them and whether her tremor stopped ?

Should be 3x 40 mg !

I was prescribed Bisoprolol for 3 years for paroxysmal supra-ventricular tachycardia which was eventually treated by heart procedure, but when I was on the drug, I noticed how calm I was. I do know that performers, eg. concert violinists, who suffer from performance anxieties are prescribed beta-blockers with a high degree of success, but it's always good to look at what is driving anxiety. Some people are naturally 'highly-strung' and benefit from beta-blockers on a long-term basis.

I was prescribed them a few years ago to cope with the physical symptoms of anxiety - dry mouth, churning insides etc - and they worked well, and I don't remember any side effects.

Agree that the cause of anxiety should be addressed, but beta blockers can help break the cycle of the anxiety symptoms causing more anxiety, and when the anxiety ramps up it is hard to address the causes of the anxiety, feeling that little bit calmer makes it easier to cope and to work on whatever is causing anxiety

I passed my driving test ( early 80s) with the help of Beta Blockers. In a test situation my brain and body went to mush.
I knew about Beta Blockers so I went to my Dr. I told him what was happening on my tests and that I’d read a lot about them.
He was perfectly happy to proscribe them.

I’ve taken propranolol 40mg, sometimes 80mg for migraines for about 40 years. I’ve had no side effects.

I have been taking Propranalol for tremors when standing still. I have been on them for 3 years. They don't seem to be working. I want to come off them. Has anyone come off them and did they have side affects.

My son takes them for crippling panic attacks and they have definitely helped him. He can take a regular daily dose or as and when needed, so he takes one each evening before bed and occasionally one if he feels an attack might be developing, during the day. If they make you at all drowsy, as your GP if you can try sticking to one at bedtime, once your anxiety throughout the day is more controlled. I take a different type for high BP, and find they also really help with random palpitations and dizzyness I was experiencing.

I have been taking 20mg a day on and off for over 10 years. Originally prescribed for headaches which miraculously stopped when I retired! I then only took them for long journeys in the car as I was so anxious with my husbands driving! I was using my unused stash for these long trips driving around Europe. But after he died my anxiety increased and I am now back on 20mg a day. I have had no side effects at all.

Autumnrose Generalised anxiety disorder is a recognised mental health condition not merely a symptom.

I had them as a last resort for anxiety due to work. No side effects and were a great help. They’re not addictive either.