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Propranolol - from devestating anxiety to calm in 1 day

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b1001
b1001

Hi, I am a 36 year old professional male and for the past 3 months I've been suffering with anxiety attacks. I thought the anxiety feelings of panic was actually brought on by low blood sugar but my blood tests came back fine and at that point I realised my issues were linked to anxiety. I am usually a confident person and only ever experienced anxiety when presenting to large groups at work, basically I could feel my heart racing and had an urgent need to leave the room (flight response), I could hold my ground and get through it but it was the worst feeling in the world. Other than presentations I would usually be 100% confident, I go on dates or even interviews with no anxiety but recently I can get the same anxious feelings by just meeting a friend for dinner or taking a phone call. I have had some issues in my personal life which I think have brought these on and also my work has been very quiet lately so I have been pretty isolated - a "big deal" used to be a work presentation and now its just a meeting or even seeing a friend.

My anxiety could range from feeling uncomfortable and uneasy through to a medium panic attack. During a panic attack I can sit there and function but I feel dreadful and its so difficult to articulate myself, I just feel like running out the room. I could spend the weekend with family and my girlfriend and be fine, then head for dinner the same day, with the same people and feel anxious in the restaurant.

My GP prescribed Propranolol, 40mg to take before anxious situations or twice a day, whichever I felt comfortable with. I had been feeling dreadful that week, had a couple of anxiety attacks and had been extreemly restless and unhappy, my sleep was heavily disturbed too and I couldn't eat. I had lost a stone over the past few months, mainly from loss of appetite and from not drinking (due to this making everything worse the following day).

I took a 40mg tab that evening, 2 hours before going out. Within an hour I felt so relaxed, I literally felt like my worries and anxiety was releasing from my body. That evening I had planned to go to the cinema, the building was packed and there was stress getting a ticket. I had felt anxious about this earlier that day (before taking my first Propranolol) but when I arrived I felt in control. I was chatty to the people behind, we got our tickets and I really enjoyed the film - previously I have felt trapped by being in the cinema around lots of people.

I didn't sleep very well that night but the following day I felt fine, I took a tablet with breakfast and headed to work. Certain situations which would cause my anxiety to rise just didn't phase me all day long, I was proactive to try to provoke situations that could cause me to be anxious and nothing happened. I ended up heading to the shops after work and then to visit family at 7pm, by the evening I could feel that the Propranolol was wearing off and I did feel slightly anxious and it was more difficult to talk to family members.

I still need to test the Propranolol during more stressful situations but so far I have been amazed with how effective this drug is. I still feel a little down but my worrying thoughts do not spiral out of control as they used to. When confronted with a tense situation by body just holds its ground like it used to and I seem to be able to get through anything now. I get a little tingling feeling, as if my body is trying to make me feel anxious, but it just gets no momentum and this then gives me confidence to continue. Propranolol is such an amazing drug.

Side effects wise I have had disturbed sleep and a slight aching round by my kidneys. No sweating, sexual disfunction, irritability etc - everything feels fine. I actually didn't take a tablet last night and slept really well but I did feel anxious for an hour this morning until the tablet kicked in. I think I am going to take it twice daily to have some regularity and make sure I take this early enough for it to kick in before my first meeting each day.

I realise that Propranolol isn't fixing the root issue and I plan to have counciling in the next few weeks (GP is sorting that out). I do think that Propranolol has enabled me to get my life back on track, I can go to work, see friends and lead a normal life whereas just a week ago I was thinking I'd have to give up work and possibly move back in with my parents for them to look after me, that seems crazy now looking back.

I would strongly recommend Propranolol to anyone suffering with anxiety, panic attacks or possibly even to help get through tough presentations or interviews.

That's me story, I will come back and add updates - anyone else had similar experiences?

46 likes, 203 replies

203 Replies

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  • kermitluvsme
    kermitluvsme b1001

    Posted

    I am a married 28 year-old female, College Student and I was just put on Propranol 10mg dose Monday (12/22). I already know there is a huge difference in two days. Definitely don't take the option to just take it before stressful situations though. It is a Beta Blocker, and therefore actually has to build up in your system and stay at consistent level to be the most effective it can be. Don't just stop taking it either. You must wean down to a minimal dose and then stop taking it, but gradually so you don't hurt your brain or give yourself a heart attack.

    Best of luck to the rest of you. I hope you find some peace.

  • susan50606
    susan50606 b1001

    Posted

    Wonder if anyone can help me I lost my severely disabled daughter 2012 then my husband March 2014 from grade 4 brain tumour then my dad oct 2014 he committed suicide. Up until new year was coping really well getting thro each day sleeping well and living on my own no problem. NOW I am a gibbering wreck with pains in my chest and arms breathless and panicky and nervy all day long . So bad by sat my gp had increased my anti depressants but I was bad enough for my daughter to take me back to hers to look after me. Gp insisted I got to brighton hospital a and e to get my heart checked out all ok so he has now put me on propranolol 80mgs in the morning started today really wondering how long it takes for these tabs to start working is it immediately if it is the. I have had no relief or do I need to keep going with them for a few more days. Any advice would be helpful x
  • izzy92616
    izzy92616 b1001

    Posted

    Me, too i've been in exactly the same position and had prozac and then some daft trainee dr gave me 2 diazepam for interviews incase I was nervous, totally missed the point of my generalised anxiety which was constant and out of control. I didnt take the diazepam and went to see a more experienced gp who listened to me and when I said if she didnt help me i didnt think i'd be around in 6mths she went through my options, IAPT, wellbeing gym scheme , proprananol.... I leapt at trying it as I was desperate to get my head free enough to get back to being a functioning human being!

    I just wanted to concur with everything you said above and to say i've found it enables me to think, clear my head and is allowing me to remain calm and make decisions based on reality and thought and not fight or flight..... 

    I felt very calm and full of nothing for a full week, which was amazing, but gradually i've begun to be able to do more and to go out and walk the dog and not feel panicked {i know this is ricidulous!} and now I am hoping that this will act as an enabler to begining to get better... i'd advise anyone to try them at least for a few weeks..... My side effects... i've eaten tons!, my nose is cold, i've had a few bad dreams and waking up but notnhalf as bad as it was. 

    try it if its offered and know that you are not alone and that there are lots us out there 

     

    • Fudgeybear1
      Fudgeybear1 izzy92616

      Posted

      Hi Izzy I know you posted 4 months ago,I was just wondering how you feel now and are you still on proprananol? I started taking it three days ago,I m starting at 5 mg as I m very sensitive to tablets,I have severe anxiety partly due to an inner ear condition.i was amazed that half an hour after taking the first dose I felt almost human,I m eating better and feeling calmer and sleeping well,I keep feeling like I m going to throw up on a morning but I stop myself,I just wondered how long the side effects lasted for? I also want to feel confident enough to take my dog for a walk,my life is non exsistent since anxiety decided to pick on me. I was just wondering if you had gotten your life back a little more now and are propananol had helped you,I ve been on many different tablets and had bad side effects,my doctor thinks I'm intolerant to seratonin hence why she's put me on beta blockers.Thank you for listening to me x
  • izzy92616
    izzy92616 b1001

    Posted

    susan, I just read your input, i'm so sorry for everything you have been through. 

    Please keep on with the proprananol a little longer {see you GP } but i can only agree with terry that it has helped me see the wood for the trees. As my friend says ''its a life through day... go to bed, get up, live through the day in anyway you can and go to bed again and repeat...'' i wish you well and i am thinking of you 

    • susan50606
      susan50606 izzy92616

      Posted

      Thank you izzy I have continued with the propranolol 80mgs getting on with them ok only down side as I find they give me diarrhoea some days. And I am ha ing quite vivid dream. I have started some counselling and also doing mindfulness meditation which is very soothing. I have started on a short course of diazepam 2mgs three times a day but find I only needing to take a 2mgs tablet on waking when my anxiety is at its worse hopefully things will settle soon with all that I am being offered by the gp and the help of the counsellor too x
    • izzy92616
      izzy92616 susan50606

      Posted

      i find the diazepam really helps me when i've had it in the past, i have very vivid dreams too and some very weird dreams wake me. i take 3 propan a day and am considering only taking 2, but i'll see. I think unless you have experienced anxiety you will never understand the devastating impact it can have on you and those around you. its something we all hope we can resolve and we know that its not always explainable and for me, i know that I cant explain it always and its ridiculous... mindfullness is also good i had a counsellor recommend a mindfullness bokk for me thats used by IAPT wellbeing services on anxiety management courses, written by an Oxford Prof I think. I'll hunt the book out and let you have the title . 

      just remember there are lots of us out there and at least we are able to talk about it and admit we have a problem to resolve. I worry {ha} about all those people who dont have support or the energy or confidence to ask for or seek help. 

      best wishes Izzy

  • b1001
    b1001

    Posted

    Hi, thought I'd come back 18 months later and update you all. The propoanalol was good in preventing panic but the deep down anxiety was always still there. Propoanlol only blocks adrenaline so if you are feeling depressed or your anxiety is not making you feel like you're having a heart attack it's unlikely to do much for you. On it I'd feel my body tingling rather than going into full panic. My sleep was still very much disturbed though and I wasn't feeling great in terms of confidence - I went on Sertraline. After being on Sertraline (SSRI/Anti Depressent) the anxiety, panic and sleep issues all went away within 4 days, my life was restored and I would recommend this drug to anyone in the short term. There were some short term effects - I couldn't orgasm easily for the first month or so and after that sex felt less intense but was still good, I also had a craving for alcohol and the pills turned me into a heavy drinker. Id feel better/more confident and sleep better if I'd had a good drink each night - i.e. 10 units! and I did this for a year.

    I did a year on Sertraline, got my life back on track and then slowly reduced the dose - during the year I found that 50mg was the ideal dose - enough to block anxiety but not too much to zone me out or affect my sexual enjoyment. I gradually reduced the Sertraline (very gradually) over a few months, to the point where I was taking 25mg every other day. Eventually I stopped taking them completely - now the last thing I want is any alcohol as this makes me feel hungover (as it should but Sertraline used to block this) and if I have a lot to drink I feel anxious the following day due to the handover. Off the pills my sexual enjoyment is back 100%. I now just need to hold everything together and maintain but everything is good. I guess I always have the drug(s) to fall back on but I really hope I never have to.

    The strangest thing is whilst (before all this anxiety) I used to get really nervous during presentations I now fly through them and feel good - even with no drugs.

    • DannyList
      DannyList b1001

      Posted

      Thank you so much for posting.

      I was reading through your experience and mine is almost identical. It's terrifyingly accurate. I've just started on Propranolol and the first few days were great, but I do feel the tingling and anxiety is still there. I'm due for a checkup so i'm going to ask about Sertraline.

  • anita32004
    anita32004 b1001

    Posted

    Wow, you are giving me hope with your updated post.  Thank you!  I'm at the beginning of the Propranolol treatment, along with 200 mg. of Sertraline.  I can only hope that I do half as well as you have!
  • friv
    friv b1001

    Posted

    Thanks to everybody about follow and repaly to this post.

    Propranolol is very good to calm you down, and i took only 1 quarter of tablet(10mg) and my heart beat is slow down and i feel comfortable.But i wan to to start with some SSRI like 5HTP which is from herb.

    I think we should only need little bit high levels of Serotonin(hormon of luck)and avoid chemical drugs.

    5HTP i think is very good  becasue is made from African herb.. Did anyone know about 5HTP his powers?   Thanks

  • GameChanger
    GameChanger b1001

    Posted

    Yes - very similar. 47 year old woman. I had PTSD and it was somewhat dormant for a long time. It was re-activated a few months ago causing panic attacks/racing heart/hot and cold prickles much worse and much more often than before.

    I was given Propranolol. Within an hour the main prickly part of the anxiety vanished. Gone.

    My only concern is if this medicine is a weight gainer. I lost a lot and don't want to regain it. Since going on this I went from 128 to 154. Not cool.

    Tried to go without it - but just tonight my heart suddenly thumped through the roof - so I grabbed my Propranolol - and here I am - writing here and about to study for exams.

    It was given to my son also who is 14. We'll see how it goes.

    Thanks for writing,

    GameChanger

  • Kalicat
    Kalicat b1001

    Posted

    This has been a very helpful thread! I just started 40mg prop yesterday for anxiety. I've had a life long generalized anxiety disorder, and have been on Effexor for many years. My anxiety has effected all of my jobs in the past, so I haven't worked in many years, just focussed on raising my kids. But now that I'm divorced, I need to find a job, and have found that the anxiety surrounding that idea is overwhelming. So I started the Prop to see if it'll help the anticipatory worry over interviews, etc. So far it seems to be helping - I took 30mg this morning and 40mg yesterday. Mornings are generally the worst for me as I lay in bed worrying about the future. Hope I don't get any of the side effects of this drug that some people have mentioned. Lately I've just been extremely anti-social and wanting to hide in my house, so I need to push myself to get out there. Hoping the prop will help with that too. 

    Good luck all you fellow anxiety sufferers - it really is a bugger, isn't it?!

    Now I must go outside and shovel, because although it's March, we got about a foot of snow last night (sigh...Canadian winter never ends : )

  • GameChanger
    GameChanger b1001

    Posted

    40 mg of it is alot tome. I can't handle it - it feels like my breathing is repressed and it keeps me up and uncomfortableat night. I am very relieved by only 20 mg. I wonder if you are allowed to space it out?

    -MC

  • GameChanger
    GameChanger b1001

    Posted

    My strong advice is that if 20 mg 2 or 3 times a day - spaced out - works for you - do it. If you double up it may have seriously yuckky effects. Propranolol works by basically killing the epinephrine - the adrenaline - that is in us - too much and it can be scary. Not in a good way. If you feel the prickles and heart rate of anxiety pop up it is a miracle - and 20 mg will usually do super. The only time to take more is when it is prescribed for heart condition - that's a different ball of wax from anxiety.
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