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[Greenfields]

When I last saw my Dr I mentioned I was still experiencing anxiety in the morning.  She prescribed some betablockers - 40mg propanol.  I took beta blockers in my twenties (don't know the dose or medication then) for a very short time as I was experiencing panic attacks.  I stopped taking them then because while they treated the physical symptoms (heart racing) I still had panicky thoughts - so I decided to work on that through getting into yoga.

The reason I mention this is because the anxiety I get in the morning now is more of an anxious stomach and nausea - not so much heart racing.  And just a sense of a lot of fear.

I've been wondering whether the beta blockers would work with these symptoms?  I googled about beta blockers and anxiety and nausea and saw that in some cases they can actually increase one's sense of anxiety.  The medication leaflet also said the same thing.

So I'm kind of scared to take them ... but I think if they worked on my symptoms, they would actually help me function better.

Does anyone have any experience with betablockers?  And if so, do you just use them for a racing heart or do you use them for fear and nausea and anxiety generally?  Any information appreciated.

Also, do you take them regularly?  The Dr told me I should take them as needed.  The leaflet says take them twice a day ... so I'm not sure.

Also, it says take them before meals so what do you do if you feel anxious after eating?

And can you take them and then exercise? That's one reason I didn't take them early this morning as I want to go to an exercise class (in about 30 minutes).

I've also read that they affect sleep?  I don't sleep that well as it is - has anyone had sleep disturbances from using them?

Thanks for any information. I've yet to open the packet and try one as I'm so scared of the side effects.

[honeybun]

I use Propanolol for anxiety but only a tiny amount 10mg as the forty knocked me for six. It made my heart far too slow. I take one after breakfast. It does calm things down a bit and I certainly notice the difference if I forget.
I can't take them at night as they keep me awake. I really would suggest cutting one in half and giving it a try. You can build up if they suit you.
I know others take far more than me but I'm very sensitive to medication and could not tolerate AD'S at all, so hence the small dose of beta blocker.


Honeyb
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[babyjane]

I am like HB and very sensitive to meds.  My endocrinologist gave me PP back in January, 10mg three times a day. That was far too much for me and made me feel funny and I now take half (5mg) morning and evening and it keeps me steady.

[CLKD]

Yep.  My GP prescribed them in 2002 - initially 80mg Propranolol at night and after 3 months dropped to 40mg which I take, supposedly to stop that early morning surge of anxiety.  It's my gut that is my weak point so if the panic takes over I have another emergency tablet to use which stems it thank someone's God  .  Otherwise ……

No sleep disturbances that I can attribute to BBs.  Have you tried Rescue Remedy, there are mouth sprays and pastilles which can ease symptoms.  I have used BBs and RR with good effect.

[SallyG]

Hi Greenfields,
just wanted to say I recently met an old friend who has been taking that for a long while and swears by it but takes it as and when. Big hug and thanks for you lovely responses to me and my crises.

Sallyx

[Greenfields]

Thanks for these lovely replies - I really appreciate them.  I went to my exercise class and did it despite feeling nauseous and anxious during it.  Then I went home and ate lunch and then .... I felt a lot better!  So I haven't taken any yet.

I think what I might do is take one on a day that I'm feeling anxious but where I'm not scheduled to do much - so if they leave me feeling less than good, I can rest until they've worked their way through my system - and then I'll go back to the Dr and see whether there's something else I should take.

Thanks for the tip about the 40mg Honeybun - when I looked at the dose, I did think it was rather a lot but I can't remember what I took when I was younger and I don't think I took them for very long either.

[dazned]

Check to see if it's a slow release dose,some of them are as in you take it at bedtime in case it causes drowsiness then it releases a measured dose over 24hours,if it isn't this type you could ask for it that way.

[Greenfields]

Just checked ... it's not!

I guess I will have to 'test' them out sometime to figure out what impact they have ... still a bit nervous though  I asked for them as a bit of a safety net in case I needed them but without knowing how they are going to affect me it's a bit of an unknown quantity.  I've just been looking up Air Canada flights for July and August and if I don't book a ticket soon, it's going to cost me a lot more money than I would like to pay ... I mention this because the beta blockers were going to be one of my go to's if I started to panic a bit during the trip (if I'm able to make it) ... so it's a bit unnerving.

Does anyone out there who is sensitive to meds have any suggestions for medications which can help with panic, anxiety, fear etc in terms of both the type of medication and the dose (i.e. low doses)?  Wouldn't normally think of taking a medicine cabinet with me but ... after what I've been through the last few months, I'm a bit loath to just trust that HRT, breathing, meditation, exercise and a bit of yoga will do the trick if I start to feel like I'm going to have a complete melt down!

[honeybun]

Personally I would ask for diazepam. The GP will probably be ok in giving you a few for emergency use. The usual dose is 2mg. As I said I am really sensitive to meds but I'm fine with these. The only side effect I have is a bit of a headache about four hours after I have taken one.

They would certainly help you cope if you got uptight about your flight.


Honeyb
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[CLKD]

How do you mean 'sensitive'?  I had bad reactions to some of the ADs prescribed in that I felt very very sick within 48 hours and was unable to tolerate it.

I take my 40mg BB at night and if necessary another in the morning …….. that is rare though.  You could ask a Pharmacist what else is available for use in anxiety surges then have a chat with your GP.  Often the anticipation is worse than the event but that don't help me one iota when anxiety strikes 

How's 2-day been otherwise?

[Greenfields]

Sensitive means I have really strong reactions to medications because I so rarely take them - Sertraline made me very ill after taking it for 2 days and it took me a week and a half to get over all the reactions from taking that.

The last 2 days (today and yesterday) I've started meditating again without a guided CD track ... it means I practice just being with whatever emotions are present in my body - so have been sitting with fear.  It's really hard but I think that doing this will perhaps help me when I start doing more stressful things ... if I can just sit with the difficult emotion and not push it away.  It's progress in a way because I couldn't face doing this up until this week - I was just using guided CD tracks as a support because sitting by myself with my emotions was too much.

Yesterday went okayish - but I feel constantly stuck in my body in survival mode at the moment which is very wearing.  Would love to just be able to relax and know that I have secure accommodation and some employment that makes ends meet ... and the longer my recovery drags on, the harder it is to hold hope even though I can see that I am better than I was in March.

[CLKD]

I have a 1-5 tick list - 0 is no anxiety = enjoying myself, 5 is having to take emergency med., tick on the calendar as necessary makes me see that I did survive 

Very rarely can I 'ride' an anxiety surge out ………

[Hurdity]

Aren't beta-blockers medication for people with heart problems ie racing heart as part of a heart condition? Personally, as such I wouldn't want to take them for anxiety - I would not want to artificially slow my heart unless a medical condition had been diagnosed.

However I understand your dilemma and given your reaction to medication and your impending flight, if you are really worried that you might get a panic attack mid flight (I've never been on a long-haul flight and would be extremely nervous!!) then I would try them out before you go just so that you know whether they are going to have side effects.

Well done by the way for coping with your stress and anxiety through "mindful" methods. Also do you have a good breakfast especially before your exercise class? I do a couple of morning ones and try to finish breakfast at least an hour beforehand to avoid that light-headed feeling.

Hurdity x

[Greenfields]

Aren't beta-blockers medication for people with heart problems ie racing heart as part of a heart condition? Personally, as such I wouldn't want to take them for anxiety - I would not want to artificially slow my heart unless a medical condition had been diagnosed.

However I understand your dilemma and given your reaction to medication and your impending flight, if you are really worried that you might get a panic attack mid flight (I've never been on a long-haul flight and would be extremely nervous!!) then I would try them out before you go just so that you know whether they are going to have side effects.

Well done by the way for coping with your stress and anxiety through "mindful" methods. Also do you have a good breakfast especially before your exercise class? I do a couple of morning ones and try to finish breakfast at least an hour beforehand to avoid that light-headed feeling.

Hurdity x

Yep beta blockers are for heart issues but are prescribed off label by Dr's for anxiety. I still haven't tried them yet though.

Haven't booked a flight yet - will need to soon if I'm going to go in July.

Yes I do have breakfast prior to exercise class ... even though I often feel sick while eating it.  But I find that if I eat breakfast, then do an exercise class, then I usually feel better afterwards most times (not always).  However, haven't figured out what I'm going to do when I start work again and can't fit in a morning exercise class ... or when I come back from the exercise class and I'm so tired I need to nap ... but that's a problem for another day.

[honeybun]

Beta blocker medications for anxiety

Beta blockers are a type of medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems. However, beta blockers are also prescribed off-label for anxiety. Beta blockers work by blocking the effects of norepinephrine, a stress hormone involved in the fight-or-flight response. This helps control the physical symptoms of anxiety such as rapid heart rate, a trembling voice, sweating, dizziness, and shaky hands.

Because beta blockers don't affect the emotional symptoms of anxiety such as worry, they're most helpful for phobias, particularly social phobia and performance anxiety. If you're anticipating a specific anxiety-producing situation (such as giving a speech), taking a beta blocker in advance can help reduce your “nerves.”


They are very commonly and safely prescribed and so very helpful for many.


Honeybun
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