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POSITIVE stories about Sertraline and/or Propranolol for anxiety. I panic about taking medication.

Posted , 4 users are following.

laurajwx
laurajwx

Hello everyone, 

I've been reading through stories and thought I would add my own.

Im 25 and have struggled with anxiety for a few years now but last August it became increasingly worse to the point where I am now house bound, I will only go to my mum or grandmas house and I have to drive myself so I can still feel in control.

I had just come out of hospital from my third lot of Kidney Stones in the space of 2 years and I don't know if this has anything to do with it as now any ache or twinge or pain I get in my back makes me think I need to go to hospital again but once I left hospital in August and was back on my feet I went out shopping and was on my own, I suddenly went dizzy, hot, sweaty, felt sick, heart was racing, and I tried to walk out of the shop but found my self clinging on to the shelves as I couldn't stand up and I ended up on the floor crawling to get out of the shop, once I got in the car I drove home and I haven't really left the house since then and its gradually just got worse and worse from there and I spend pretty much every day in bed as I just don't want to get up or do anything.

Thats my story really and I've seen a psychiatrist and had hypnotherapy, I've tried loads of different apps and meditation and self help books and absolutely nothing seems to work, so I am down to my last hope, MEDICATION. I have been prescribed 50mg Sertraline and 100mg Propranolol but I just can't bring myself to take either of them, I panic and freak out and having a panic attack just at the thought of taking them, it sounds extreme but in my head I think if I take tablets that something really bad will happen to me.

I'm sorry for the long story but I just wanted to get all my information out there.

Im looking for people who have been in my situation to share their positive stories from taking these medications or any other medications that have worked for you or anything at all that has helped you.

As I'm already panicking about taking them I would really appreciate it if people only shared positive stories please. 

2 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Allybrabra
    Allybrabra laurajwx

    Posted

    Hello,

    I have literally just signed up. I searched anxiety and it lead me to this! I thought I would say “hi.” even though I cannot offer loads of advice. 

    I have taken propranolol for a long time now- probably a decade. I started thyroxine and it made my pulse fast and irregular and rather than sorting out my thyroxine levels the GP decided to add to the cocktail and prescribed propranolol! I only take 10mg a day and I am STILL ANXIOUS so I think, having read your doseage,  I will increase it starting tomorrow (my prescription says one tablet three times a day however,like you, I was cautious) When I was first prescribed propranolol they gave me 80mg slow release tablets- so you take just one tablet for the whole day. I felt a bit odd on this amount & immediately returned to the GP and asked for a lower dose so I am now given packets containing 10mg tablets. What format is your medicine in? If it is in 10s you could perhaps start on a lower dose and build up (Ask the Dr about this though)

    I wonder why you were not just out on propranolol to start because if that works then you might not need the other drug. 

    Propranolol even at 10mg reduced the feelings of anxiety within 10-20 minutes. It slows your heart down a bit which makes you feel more relaxed. Try not to worry about taking it, once you have had it you will more than likely feel a lot better. It is 01:26 so I should attempt to sleep now but I will check on your post again.

    • laurajwx
      laurajwx Allybrabra

      Posted

      Hello Allybrabra,

      Thank you for replying.

      I have been back to the GP and she has now given me 10mg tablets but still wants me to take 80mg throughout the day so I now have to take 2 tablets 4 times a day but I think I'm just going to start on 1 tablet 4 times a day and see how I go because I'm so anxious about taking them. 

      I was initially on slow release capsules but now have just 10mg tablets.

      They are giving me Propranolol and Sertraline because Propranolol helps with the physical side of things and the Sertraline helps with the mental side, well thats what they said anyway.

      I am about to take the first propranolol right now actually so I will let you know how I go, I think I'm going to wait a few days before maybe taking the Sertraline just so I don't overwhelm myself or get too stressed out and so I can see if the propranolol works rather than taking the 2 at the same time if that makes sense.

      Thank you very much for your reply.

      Are you feeling better on the propranolol? does it help you in being able to do day to day things? I currently only leave the house to go to the doctors or my mums and thats it.

      x

  • Hollyxanarchy
    Hollyxanarchy laurajwx

    Posted

    Hey smile 

    I have so much anxiety about taking medications. What exactly scares you?

    I would start off with the lowest doses for about a week or so then gradually increase from there. I started on 25 mg of Zoloft first. There may be minimal side effects but know they go away after a bit. 

    I as well have been living in a bubble. I'm 16 btw. I stay in my bed all day. If I leave I get scared.

    Exposure therapy is something I would recommend. Even if it's sitting outside for about 10 minutes each day. Gradually increase the time/ distance as well. ??

    • laurajwx
      laurajwx Hollyxanarchy

      Posted

      Hello Hollyxanarchy,

      Thank you for replying.

      Its sounds very extreme I know but I get scared that if I take tablets I'm going to pass out or have a heart attack or even die, I know it sounds crazy and it sounds crazy to myself but at the time of trying to take anything thats all that goes through my head.

      What is Zoloft? is it the same as propranolol or Sertraline? 

      I am exactly the same, I just never want to get out of bed, I only feel safe in bed at home, even sitting at the dining table or in the living room can make me anxious some times.

      I hope you get sorted hun, 16 is such a young age and you have your whole life ahead of you, I'm only 25 myself and people keep telling me I have my whole life ahead of me and to stay positive and its really hard but 16 is so young and I really hope you figure out what works for you because you really do have your whole life to live hun. 

      I do try to sit in the garden but the weather doesn't help, (I'm in the UK) so its normally cold or raining or even recently its been snowing lol so that really doesn't help me out but I do try.

      My GP has referred me for CBT, probably the only thing I haven't tried yet so I'm hoping that will help but I don't even have an appointment yet and I'm already panicking about it as I know it means I will have to leave the house to go to the place.

      Does Zoloft help you at all?

      Thank you again for replying x

  • laurajwx
    laurajwx

    Posted

    *** UPDATE *** 

    I have just taken my first Propranolol tablet at 4:12 and literally within minutes feel dizzy!!

    Does this happen every time you take one or does your body get used to it? and how long does it last?

    • Hollyxanarchy
      Hollyxanarchy laurajwx

      Posted

      Take deep breathes and tell yourself it's the medicine. Massage the back of our neck too 

    • laurajwx
      laurajwx Hollyxanarchy

      Posted

      Thank you, it seemed to have passed, the dizziness lasted about 30 minutes ish and same with the coldness but I still keep feeling like I'm trying to catch my breath, I hope that doesn't last the whole time.

      Im going to keep going with them just to give them a chance to work just hope they do and that the side effects disappear x

    • Hollyxanarchy
      Hollyxanarchy laurajwx

      Posted

      I just started propronal for my heart rate. (I'm in the hospital with serotonin syndrome) I noticed the catching my breathe feeling tol

    • laurajwx
      laurajwx Hollyxanarchy

      Posted

      Ohh no I hope you're better soon and out the hospital.

      Did you mention to the hospital about the catching your breath feeling? Is it normal? 

      x

    • Hollyxanarchy
      Hollyxanarchy laurajwx

      Posted

      They said since I was anxious to just take deep breathes and it will go away
    • laurajwx
      laurajwx Hollyxanarchy

      Posted

      Hello,

      Thank you, I just didn't know if it was normal, I called the Drs and they told me stop taking it until I see them again which is the 23rd of Feb but I haven't had it in my system for a few days now and I still feel like I'm trying to catch my breath and sort of like heart palpitations and I never had this before so I don't know whats going on.

      x 

  • kerry83144
    kerry83144 laurajwx

    Posted

    I have tried propanolol and it made me feel really weird, I hated it. I now take Sertraline, only early days for me. I started o 25mg for 2 and s half weeks and been on 50mg for 8 days, I think I do feel a bit brighter now. Just ask yourself what you have to loose, you have tried everything, you may feel worse to start with and it is hard for some people but starting in a lower dose would reduce the side effects for you.

    • laurajwx
      laurajwx kerry83144

      Posted

      Hi Kerry83144 

      Ive just taken the first one and instantly felt dizzy and cold and out of breath so I think I'm just going to see how I go on them and see if the side effects happen every time.

      I dont feel any different anxiety wisest I guess its the first time I've taken them and that it will take time.

      I think the feeling out of breath is making me panic a bit so I'm just trying to not think about it really.

      I have been given Sertraline 50mg so I'm going to see how I go with the propranolol for a few days before I start taking them. Its just all the side effects that worry me but I'm fed up of being stuck in the house and just want my life back so I will push through them.

      Has the Sertraline been helping you then? 

      x

    • kerry83144
      kerry83144 laurajwx

      Posted

      Yeah I think so, although I have 2 young kids so I have to get out to do things with them, the last week was hard with he side effects but hipingvit passes soon. Loads get on well with propanolol and I wish I did but it made me really dizzy too, I remember waking up in the night thinking that I had had a stroke because my limbs were really weak, (anxiety for you)
    • laurajwx
      laurajwx kerry83144

      Posted

      Aww I hope everything gets better for you! 

      It must be really hard with children as well.

      Do you get the dizziness every time you take one hun? 

      x

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