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propranolol and side effects

Posted , 5 users are following.

emnma64259
emnma64259

HI all

Hoping someone can help me, I have had anxiety and panic attacks since I was 12 and I have normally controlled it on my own but I have had alot go on and these past few days have been a nightmare for me..... I woke up from a 20min sleep at 1:20am and felt very weird and then I started to have a panic attack... I eventually calmed down after 1 hour well felt like it but couldnt go back to sleep till 4am and ever since iv felt very numb, cant think straight, consontraight, sick,rasing heart, trembaling but most of all i constantly felt im still in a dream or im not actually here... which is getting me more anxious and panicky. 

I went to the doctor yesterday and they gave mpropranolol 40ml 1x 3 a day...... I am now panicking about taking them as I have read some weird side effects, I dont want to feel dizzy, ligh headed, drowsy, foggy brain or anything that makes you feel weird as I will just panic to much.

What side effects did you get when you first started on propranolol? X

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • rjf33433
    rjf33433 emnma64259

    Posted

    Hi Emma, sorry to hear your are feeling anxious. First of all don't panic about taking Propranolol, in my experience the initial feeling is of relief then once you are used to taking them they make you feel more in control of your anxiety and none of the symptoms you have mentioned happened to me. Did the doctor prescribe 3x40mg tablets a day? That sounds high to me I must say and a quite high to start off with. If you have been suffering from anxiety for many years its likely that you will want to carry on taking propranolol for quite some time in the future as they are great. Why dont you try 40mg in the morning then another 40mg in the evening if you feel that you really need it. There is no magic dose, just take them as you feel needed (obviously not exeeding the 3 tablets a day that the doc prescribed). I take 40mg a day in the mornings but have pulled back to only taking them when I really need them. Another thing, stay away from Coffee, Tea, Red Bull, Strong Alcohol as all of these things are very anxiety inducing. Hope you feel better soon. 
    • emnma64259
      emnma64259 rjf33433

      Posted

      Hi, I thought that was very high aswell but im that scared of taking them all because im scared of the side effects I have even thought about cutting one in half and just have that till I feel they are not going to make me feel weird. I have just readsomeones other comment on another forum and he said it made him feel like he was walking in fog and spaced out now I really couldnt cope with that as having a 3 year old daughter on my own is not something I would like to even think of. Its a bit of a relief hearing someone taking the same meds but iv not tpuched one drop of alcohol since I was 13 and coffee I dont drink but tea I normally do but stopped it since I have felt like this. X
    • rjf33433
      rjf33433 emnma64259

      Posted

      Rest assured that Propranolol don't really affect the brain - they are not anti-depressants so will not give you strange emotional feelings. They just lower your blood pressure and get rid of the tightness in your chest. At worse they will make you feel very chilled at first then just more levelled out. All of this is just my experience but I feel that you will really benefit from them immediately. You might even feel more "connected" if your state of anxiety is making you feel like your are out of your body at the moment. Half a tablet (20mg) will also have an effect but you probably need a 40mg if you are feeling very bad. Look after yourself and dont panic about taking the propranolol as it defeats the purpose of them! x
  • rjf33433
    rjf33433 emnma64259

    Posted

    ... again, dont worry about taking the first tablet. It will be a nice relief for you! x
  • nancy_shady
    nancy_shady emnma64259

    Posted

    Hello emnma64259,

    I also had panic attacks as a child, but nobody recognized them for what they were. They subsided when I hit my 20's only to return in my 40's.

    Propranolol 20mg 2x daily was prescribed to treat migraines I was having, and I began to notice that my panic attacks went away!  I mentioned this to the doctor and was told the medication is also used for panic attacks as well as migraines.  Although my dose is smalller that what you were prescribed, it has completely stopped the attacks.  I recommend continuing with the propranolol - if you experience any adverse affects, let your dr. know and try reducing the dosage.  Please give this medication a good try as it has been miraculous for me.

    Best of luck.

    • emnma64259
      emnma64259 nancy_shady

      Posted

      Hi nancy.... did you have any side effects to it at all? Thats the only thing tgats stopping me from taking my first tablet x
    • nancy_shady
      nancy_shady emnma64259

      Posted

      Hi,

      The only side effect I can remember was feeling a little sleepy during the daytime that first week.  Later, I did have a few weird dreams that I think was related to the medication, but considering the alternative, I can handle the side effects.  I have been taking this medication for about 3 years and my only fear now it that they should ever stop making it!

    • emnma64259
      emnma64259 nancy_shady

      Posted

      Thats so much better to know maybe I am being a lil stupid and paranoid about the side effects...

      How much did you take each day at the start and now? Sorry about guestions smile x

  • margaret50180
    margaret50180 emnma64259

    Posted

    hi i have been on propranolol for 3 months it took 2 weeks to get in system

    i felt sick, hot sweats and did not always feel with it. and i still get odd migraine

    and feel anxious so i do not feel it is helping me.

    i went back to doctors to tell her, she has now given me citrolpram together with propranolol but i am going to start weaning myself off of them as if it is not helping why take it. will go back to doctors next week to tell her.

    if you want to message me i am ok with it

    • emnma64259
      emnma64259 margaret50180

      Posted

      Hi I hve been on them 2 days now and yesterday I had a good hour at about 2pm where I fely not with it and I am mow feeling it again.... its really scaring me. Will it go away? X
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