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I have extreme anxiety (feels like) constantly. thinking of taking propranlol, Should i?

Posted , 4 users are following.

ndudley19
ndudley19

Hi, I am 20 years old. my anxiety started when i was 17, i didn't realise that it was anxiety at the time. On my 18th birthday i was drinking and after one beverage felt very ill, nausea and diarreah. I have not drank since. When i used to have a drink with friends i was fine. Although when i used to drink i would get a slight tingling in my fingers on my left hand, at the time i thought it was because i needed a wee. Now i realise that maybe i was worrying as i have this sensation now.

I have gotten worse and worse as the years have passed. I get anxiety when eating or going to eat which is awful as i have always been slim and want to gain weight. I stopped leaving my house and did nothing but daydream listening to music in bed all day. My 19th birthday i cried in my mother's arms saying i can't do it anymore. 2 years on almost and i look back and think i'm still going and i'm coping. But, the truth is im not really coping or dealing with it im just managing to hang in there everyday.

I don't work or have any means of income, however i wish to work badly as i have many qualifications and want to travel and make something of my life. I feel my anxiety stops me from doing this. The past two weeks my anxiety has spiralled out of control.

My symptoms include:

Shaking hands.

Tingles and pins and needles sensation in two fingers on my left hand side shooting up my arm.

rapid heart rate (feels like its going to explode)

pulsing in my ears and lower stomach

diarreah and painful stomach cramps

nausea

breathless 

twitching legs and arms

toothache or jaw ache

a wierd feeling in the back of my lower head like an awful feeling (panics me the most) (like im going to faint)

the bottom of my spine and up to my neck turns ice cold. or feels as if it's frozen.

Ice cold hands and feet always

The list is endless and my anxiety is constant. I have been taking kalms to help as my doctor is not avaliable till a few more days. these work so and so. i think it's the placebo effect more than anything.

In december 2014 my doctor prescribed my with prozac i took these for two days and got worse and have been considerably worse ever since. Compared to how i feel now, before taking the tablets i was alright. I don't leave my house at all. I can't answer the phone and worry about texting. I feel "strange" when with family (who i live with) and best friends visiting. I can't leave my house. I'm even doing the doctor consultation over the phone as i don't feel well enough to go 5 minutes down the road to the surgery (even the phone consultation i  have been worrying about and don't know how i'll feel when my phone starts ringing). My head just freaks me out and terrifies me. Ive been putting up with it for weeks or years now but when it comes on really bad i can't seem to function.

Im only 20 years old and want to live my life to the full. My mother is taking propranlol and has been since she was 19 she is now 47. Im scared to take medication as i feel i may never be able to stop like my mother. I am stronger than she is mentally. However, i never take tablets and i hear so many things about side effects from anxiety related medication and after taking prozac i'm very very anxious about taking different meds now. But i have heard you can take propranlol just when you need it or twice a day and they work within an hour. My mother is on the long lasting release. I would prefer to be on the ones you take as and when you need them, therefore i am in control of when i decided i want to take them rather than having to take one a day and no control of stopping quickly. My question is does anybody take this medication and if so what dose and how many tablets, any side affects and more importantly do they work? I know everyone reacts differently to medication but a rough idea would help so i know exactly what to ask my doctor for when speaking to him soon.

I keep positive, do yoga (started a 30 day challenge 11 days ago) and keep breathing calmly. I just need something to help with the symptoms of anxiety so i can learn how to deal with it better.

I know i can do this! i have been for years now.

My favorite saying. It can only get better and if anyone else feels as scared and as awful as i am right now just remeber, it always gets worse before it can get better. your at your worst now so therefore you will only get better!

Thankyou for reading sorry if it dragged on.

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated biggrin

P.S: Oh.. And i will keep you updated for future reference.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • anita32004
    anita32004 ndudley19

    Posted

    I am so sorry to read how devastating life has been for you. Anxiety is horrible to live with. That said, I wanted to try anything to feel better. The last Monday of last November I tried committing suicide. Things were bad and I felt there was no way out. I was on a high does of Effexor. I stopped taking it, went through severe withdrawal, and found a new psychiatrist. This doctor started me on the propranolol, and I felt relief after the first dose. It's scary trying new meds after going through so much, but if it works for you, it's worth taking. I think you should give it a try. Anxiety is a killer, and you should not have to live with it to the extent it is ruining your life. Help yourself and give it a go. I wish you luck in your journey.
    • ndudley19
      ndudley19 anita32004

      Posted

      Thankyou for your reply... I'm sorry to hear that it made you feel so low you thought of giving up your life. Im so glad to hear that you haven't and that you didn't let it win. I respect you for that alone. You are a strong person to be able to get to that point and keep on going. smile

      What type of propranolol do you take, the immediate release or long release ones? how many a day and what dose? if you don't mind saying. And did you experience any lasting side effects? 

      Thanks

    • anita32004
      anita32004 ndudley19

      Posted

      Thank you for your kind words. I struggle every day, every hour, but I feel the drug saved my life, though I'm skeptical due to my history. I hope it holds. I'm taking 20 mg. 3 times a day. If I am feeling especially badly, I will take a fourth pill. I hope you find relief and you will be in my thoughts.
  • beck3076
    beck3076 ndudley19

    Posted

    Hi

    Sorry for what you have been going through. I have been quite an anxious person for a few years now - worry over little things, get wound up easily and so on... but have only started taking propranolol in december. My GP put me on it as I have some ongoing health worries which are currently undiagnosed but have been having various tests for and still waiting for another one. Anyway he said it would relieve the anxiousness as he could tell how worried I was about my health and I had definitely got worse since I started having these problems. I take 2 doses a day and it has helped me cope much better with what I've had to. I havent noticed any real side effects and I find they work quick enough - I feel a lot more relaxed than before. I do not intend to be on it for years as I'm sure I could manage again once my health issues are sorted. I have suffered with symptoms like yours including breathlessness, pulsing, rapid heart rate and weird feeling at bottom of my head that makes me feel funny, so I know what its like.

    Hope this helps

    • ndudley19
      ndudley19 beck3076

      Posted

      I also only want to be on medication short-term not forever. Which is why im so interested in propranolol as this drug doesn't block thought as an anti-depressant would, but instead stops the symptoms which i think will allow me to get my life back one day at a time. Im also thinking of having CBT but have recently been to scared to pick up the phone which sounds daft. I'm hoping with the symtpoms reduced i will feel strong enough to take action on getting back to me again. And i can not wait to get there.

      What mg do you take? i get weary about taking meds so might ask for a low dose to start and see how i go? 

      I hope that your test results come back with good news and that you will be ok. When dealing with health issues, it can be a very stressful time just stay positive and if (a big if) they come back with the results you didn't want then stay strong and know you can get through anything you put your mind to smile

      Best of luck 

    • beck3076
      beck3076 ndudley19

      Posted

      Thank you. I am desperate to get back to my usual self so will try and stay positive.

      I take a 40 mg dose twice a day which would be a good one to start on.

  • david60784
    david60784 ndudley19

    Posted

    Hi

    Yes been there on my own NOT nice. Too afraid to tell my friends. Quick brief left school 15 1/2 into job, by 27 mum died, dad retired ill health looked after him he died when I was 40. Never had a girl friend. LOYAL to parents. At 53   3 way by pass person I was going out with abandoned me looked after myself. The point of this messages. BE STRONG only you matters. I take ramapril 10mg a day to me that is better than propanalol . My GP stopped propanalol ( old ) type of tablet.

    I am always on this forum please do not hesitate to reply. I will be annoyed if you do not. Dave

     

    • ndudley19
      ndudley19 david60784

      Posted

      Sorry to hear you've had it tough to say the least. I am left to fend for myself so to speak, my mother has alcohol issues and i have had a massive role in raising my little sister who is my world. I am gunna ask for propranolol but if this doesnt work for me i will look into ramapril. i don't want to take any kind of meds but feel i need somthing to help so im hoping i can have propranolol 3 times a day to keep the symptoms at bay lol. I live by the saying the only person you can depend on is yourself and this is the truth as i have learnt the hard way. You said the med you take now (you feel) is better than propranolol. did the propranolol not work at all for you? or do you just feel the med your on now works better?

      and thankyou for replying smile

      Natasha

  • john66404
    john66404 ndudley19

    Posted

    You can start with low dose, may be 10mg for few days as it may cause few ide effects like diziness, increased anxiety, GI upset. Drink lot of water after taking pills. Then u can go up to 160mg (80BID), extended release is better. I have had patient upto 320mg for social anxiety.  CBT is best for long run but if anxiety is harming your personal and social life, get started on medication. Life is too short to suffer. Rather take medications and meanwhile try CBT and other things and then you can slowly taper it down 
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