Propranolol.

[fermonos]

I was prescribed Propranolol for anxiety and didn't do any research on the drug.


Anyway, Doc told me to take 40mg three times a day as needed when having an episode (panic attack). I've been getting really dizzy and constant pins and needles in my legs while on this drug also.


I took some and it seems to really help my anxiety so me being an avid drug user I of course over did it. I've been taking 120-160mg everyday for the past 3 weeks, I just recently done some research on the drug and apparently it can be very departmental to your health suddenly stopping this drug, I'm just a little scared now which is kinda weird this Propranolol is supposed to stop this..




Basically, should I be okay continuing doing what I am doing or should I get in touch with my Doctor and express my concerns?


Oh and I took 40mg of amitriptyline as I was feeling down and wanted to get some sleep so I didn't have to feel like this.


But now I can feel a weird feeling in my chest I've never felt before and a sharp shooting sensation around my neck, back and shoulders. Oh and my fingertips are numb.

 

[oxlong27]

I'm not sure why he would prescribe propranolol for anxiety when its a beta blocker (heart medication) you definitely should not be trying to abuse it. The reason you are getting dizzy and tingly is because its lowering you blood pressure. Taking more than prescribed dose could dangerously lower your bp. You will not get high from this stuff

 

[CousinCocaine]

I am also prescribed this medication. It is not recreational at all but is pretty good for lowering your heart rate while on amphetamines but don't take more than prescribed. As the post above said taking too much can cause hypotension which is why you're getting so dizzy and I think in high enough doses it has a possibility of causing cardiac arrest. Don't remember where I heard that about the cardiac arrest so I don't know if it's true but it is still really bad for your cardiovascular system in high enough doses.

 

[d1nach]

Do you mean detrimental to your health? Everything is detrimental to your health if you google it. If you went off what you read on the web you wouldn't be able to use plastic bottles, TV dinners, caffeine, no organic food, Splenda, sweet n low, carbonation, chemotherapy, vaccines, antibiotics, eggs, milk, meat, grains, preservatives, food dye, cell phones, bug spray, antibacterials, I could go on forever. My point is if your already a anxious person the internet will give you a endless amount of reasons to be scared of imminent death from every choice you make

 

[fermonos]

D1nach, exactly. Thus why I am here asking for the opinion on you amazing people!

 

[d1nach]

Suddenly stopping any medication can be bad. Your taking a medication that people are taking for high blood pressure or heartrate. So obviously if someone who suffering from hypertension or rapid heart beat if they suddenly stop they might have a stroke, clot, heart failure ECT. However, the reason why it is dangerous to stop is because it is strong enough to do something. Like my grandpa had a clott in his leg but he has a harder worker tough guy mentality where if he takes a pill he feels it means he's lesser of a man. He has to take drugs to prevent blood clots and if his wife wasnt always on top of him basically refusing to stop annoying him till he takes it he'd prob decide he doesn't need it and just suddenly stop it. Now nothing is helping to prevent a clot so suddenly he'd prob end up back in the ER with a blood clot. but if he never took the drug in the first place he'd prob be dead. So obviously if you have a medication treating a population with life threatening illnesses if they suddenly stop it prob would seem horrendous.

 

[Intense]

Very strange he prescribed that for anxiety, especially such a high dose.



Unless you have high blood pressure as well? The beta blocker will only take care of the physical symptoms of anxiety really, rapid HR etc.. But isn't going to do much for your mind/thoughts.



I love the stuff when I can get my hands on it, but I don't use it for anxiety...

 

[fermonos]

Yeah it doesn't stop the mind side of things when it comes to anxiety but it works great for the nervousness and rapid heart beat. It's like having a panic attack but feeling fine about it. Easier and much faster to get it out of the way, while using propranolol because you aren't feeling like you are going to die just thinking it.

I'm going to try and get prescribed something different though but I don't think he will give me shit, he wouldn't even prescribe me pain killers when I fell out a 3 storey building and broke both legs and in hospital for a month. He gave me some bullshit Naproxen and then gives me Propranolol for fucking panic attacks.. Jesus I envy the docs you guys have who get anything they want. :/

 

[d1nach]

I took benzos for panic attacks worked amazing for like a year or two. Then I had to pay for making a deal with the devil. The best way I could describe Xanax is like a payday loan. You are all stress over needing cash. You can get the cash almost instantly then pay everything off and it feels amazing like a huge relief. Then the interest keeps building and building soon your taken out loans just to pay the interest from your previous loan. Then eventually your like damn I messed up.

 

[fermonos]

D1nach, thing is though man. I've not left my house since 30th of December 2016.. I'm too scared, I managed to get out the door on Propranolol but I still couldn't go any further. My life is already a mess, adding benzos isn't going to really worsen it. At least if I can leave the house while on benzos I can start to 'live' again. See my friends, go to job interviews, have a job, girlfriend, etc. At the moment I'm in my bed all day every day. Only leaving for food, a drink and toilet.

It's really taking a toll on my mental health as well as psychical. I've gained 10kg since then, I'm not overweight (yet) but even walking up the stairs tires me out. I'm starting to fantasise about suicide because I feel like this will never get better and I'll never get my life back, but don't worry I won't kill myself I don't have the balls. I just wish I could tell my Doctor all this, when I last seem him I played it all cool and told him everything is fine apart from the panic attacks.

 

[Slow_Mobius]

I'm sorry to hear all that. Did something happen to cause you're anxiety to get much worse, or has this always been an issue?

 

[T. Calderone]

Fermonos, is this your GP that you're seeing or a psych doctor? Tell him that you're struggling. I know this may be difficult for you but your quality of life is suffering. There may be other drugs he's willing to have you try and therapy is good, too.

 

[fermonos]

GP I believe. He did recommend me counselling but I told him with my current situation of being extremely uncomfortable leaving the house I don't think I could attend the appointments.

I have another check up with him in 3 weeks and I'm going to try and tell him straight and be honest. I thought this stuff he gave me would help but it hasn't much. It's stopped the psychical effects but that's about it.

Do you think writing a letter about my problems and giving him it at the appointment to read would be a good idea or would he think I'm just trying to get prescriptions to abuse? I'd feel a lot more comfortable doing this but I don't know if it'd affect me getting help because whatever I've written has been thought about.

 

[d1nach]

I actually committed suicide and I know you prob hear this bullshit all the time but it does get better. I got a really good doctor who got me stabilized on lithium and a antidepressant and I haven't had suicidal thoughts or actions in years.

I think you need to tell your doctor just how bad it is. That you feel a depression so severe that you honestly find just living a struggle.

 

[CFC]

As a centrally-acting B-B, one of its main indications is for anxiety, so I'm not sure why this surprises anyone.

If you want to stop using it, you need to taper off slowly (because it affects beta-receptor density). This doesn't make it any more dangerous than any other drug you need to taper off.

 

[T. Calderone]

Do you think writing a letter about my problems and giving him it at the appointment to read would be a good idea or would he think I'm just trying to get prescriptions to abuse? I'd feel a lot more comfortable doing this but I don't know if it'd affect me getting help because whatever I've written has been thought about.

Yes, it's a good idea to write a letter to your doctor or even a short note highlighting your concerns. Seems doctors are rushed nowadays so they can see more patients. I feel this way many times where I'm not sure the best way to say something. Be honest and see what he says. Like I said, you should give counseling a chance, even if you end up going once or twice. At least you're trying, just don't give up!

 

[Novocaine]

Propranolol is commonly prescribed in the U.K as a first-line medication for anxiety. It's better than going straight to Benzodiazepines, which can cause dependence and addiction - not to mention the withdrawal period and having to be slowly weened off.

Propranolol is a beta-blocker, correct. It's normally used for those who have hypertension (high blood pressure), lower the force of which the heart beats, and also helps prevent a second myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Propranolol blocks noradrenaline and adrenaline. Adrenaline is responsible for causing many of the "fight or flight" symptoms. So when you take propranolol it blocks adrenaline from being released therefore reducing the physical effects of anxiety (high blood pressure, fast heart rate, sweating, shaking, ect). Without these distressing symptoms anxiety isn't as overwhelming and therefore slightly easier to deal with.

It doesn't cause addiction or dependence and I think it why doctors genuinely perfer prescribing it than Benzodiazepines and only use them when every other option has been considered/used.

For anxiety it is normally prescribed 120mg daily to be taken as need (40mg three times daily). For high blood pressure it's normally around 260mg daily. I've been on it for 5 years now. Propranolol can be used for as long as you need. There isn't any restriction with the length of how long you use it for unlike Benzodiazepines.

It's unlikely the dizziness is from the LOW blood pressure if you are taking the medication properly and making sure you stay hydrated.

So if you have high blood pressure and you take propranolol/another beta-blocker then you can end up with a blood pressure within the normal range.

If you already have normal blood pressure and take propranolol/another beta-blocker you can end up with low blood pressure, but if you're highly anxious or having a panic attack, you would normally have borderline HIGH blood pressure therefore reducing it to within the normal range with the beta-blocker, and NOT lowering it.

If your blood pressure does drop down to what is classed as 'low blood pressure' then its nothing to worry about unless you are experiencing symptoms (e.g., fainting). If this happens or you have severe dizziness then see your doctor again. The lowest dose of propranolol is 10mg, the next dosage is 40mg.

 

[Aeon Psyche]

Interesting. Its been so long i used this but from what i remember it was def ok. Maybe i should ask for some again next time..

 

[Agoraphobiaphile]

Wait propranolol works to lower noradrenaline levels? Hmm. I never thought of it like that. I'm of the belief that noradrenaline is a key factor in opiate withdrawal. Wonder if propranolol would be helpful at all with opiate withdrawal besides normalizing blood pressure..