Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Angel1964 on December 20, 2018, 09:02:08 AM
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Hi is anyone taking Propranolol? I can't take the anxiety anymore. I'm post Meno 3+ years. Always waking at 3 or 4am dripping in sweat, anxiety kicks in badly to the point that I think there is something badly wrong with me. Shaking internally, fast heart, skipped beats, nausea sometimes vomiting, headaches. Can't function at home or work. Not interested in anything as anxiety is ruling my life again. Are there side effects? Does it work? I have a massive phobia of tablets due to having anaphylactic shock years ago, so I'm so frightened to take one. I am on Femseven Conti BD have been for 7 weeks now.
Take Vit D and use magnesium oil spray. Please help.
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Propranolol is a beta blocker that can help moderate the adrenal surges that cause flushing and all the rest of the nasty business that comes with this hell....it's usually very well tolerated by most people.
I know you're anxious, but why not just try it and see - take it at bedtime as it can be quite sedating. If I develop high blood pressure, this is the one I'll be asking for xx
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Thank you NorthArm. If I hadn't of had anaphylactic shock I would put anything down my throat to get rid of all this xx
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I take 20 mg, I really didn't want to starting taking anything but my anxiety got so bad that I couldn't carry on feeling the way I was. After suffering on and off for two years I finally saw my doctor, I say saw my doctor because I cried so much in my appointment. The doctor recommended 10 mg but after a couple of weeks I asked him to increase my dose because I couldn't feel any improvement which he did.
I've now been taking 20 mg for a couple of years with no side effects, (although I do wake up sometimes really hot) but at the start I took the tablet just before bed after reading that was the best time to avoid any problems. It's not a miracle cure, it took a few weeks to work, but I've found that I'm a lot less stressed and able to cope with life so much better now.
I am considering lowering my dose back to 10 mg in the spring when my current prescription runs out, I'll wait until nearer the time to finally decide.
I've just remembered a side effect! It's a bit odd but it started after taking the tablets, I dream almost every night, I put it down to the medication and not my age ::)
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Thank you Twohoots. I'm panicking myself more at the thought of starting it that's due to me having anaphylactic shock years ago through tablets
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Spoke to doctor who has told me use the Propanolol in emergencies but I have to go on Citalopram. I'm even more scared now as to side effects, as they seem to have alot more. She also said that my anxiety will increase when I take it!!
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40mg really isn't a large dose. I've never had a problem with it and take it feeling a little panicky. Takes those horrid palpitations down a notch ... Xx
The citalopram is an ssri, many people cant tolerate these. I take 20mg of amitriptine at night, its a non ssri and works or me with little to no side effects. It really helps speed and reduces my panics in the night if I do wake.
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Spoke to doctor who has told me use the Propanolol in emergencies but I have to go on Citalopram. I'm even more scared now as to side effects, as they seem to have alot more. She also said that my anxiety will increase when I take it!!
I should have said it's citalopram I take daily not propranolol, sorry :)
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I had 80mg initially and after 3 months it was dropped to 40mg twice a day then at night. In recent years [3] due to background headaches I dropped it to 20mg at night which suits me. It was prescribed to ease anxiety surges in the mornings and has worked well for me.
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Spoke to doctor who has told me use the Propanolol in emergencies but I have to go on Citalopram. I'm even more scared now as to side effects, as they seem to have alot more. She also said that my anxiety will increase when I take it!!
I should have said it's citalopram I take daily not propranolol, sorry :)
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Ah that's what doctor wants me to take. So it's ok to take at bedtime? xx
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What are you taking it for? I had awful early morning panic attacks so the GP gave me the drug over-night. I also take ADs morning and night.
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What are you taking it for? I had awful early morning panic attacks so the GP gave me the drug over-night. I also take ADs morning and night.
Anxiety. Wake up with it, not everyday though, but has been last 3 weeks I'd say. I've just put another post about Femseven Conti side effects as I'm on 8th patch and wondering if this is causing my symptoms. Xx
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Sadly I don't think there are any drugs that don't come with potential side effects - a very very lucky few suffer only a minor one or two, but others suffer quite severely. With this one as all others, there's no way of knowing which category you'll fall into until you try it, so all you can do is give it a go and be vigilant if you start feeling wierd things you wouldn't normally be feeling. Remember, you know your body best, so you'll know if some outside agent is causing you problems.Then you have to decide if the side effects are worth putting up with for the benefits. So much of medicine is actually trial and error....
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Yes at the start I took it before going to bed, I didn't have any problems.
I have to admit that they've really helped me, I was struggling to cope, dreading getting up in the morning, I couldn't eat, couldn't concentrate and very weepy now I'm back to looking forward to holidays and I'm not even stressing about Christmas :)
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Tnx Two hoots! Glad there's been progress.
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Yes at the start I took it before going to bed, I didn't have any problems.
I have to admit that they've really helped me, I was struggling to cope, dreading getting up in the morning, I couldn't eat, couldn't concentrate and very weepy now I'm back to looking forward to holidays and I'm not even stressing about Christmas :)
Wow, lucky you - if only it were that simple for everyone x
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Angel
I'm a anaphylactic sufferer (too many to count now) so I do understand your worry BUT you could go through life not taking meds that could help you
Do you have epipens? My advice would be to start taking them at a time where you are alert to monitor allergic reactions and ideally you have someone with you. My last 3 anaphylaxis were to ; movicol , an antibiotic and the last one we just don't know what to, so I completely understand . You just can't stop life because of it. I was on an antibiotic last week due to bronchitis and have intolerances to lots of them, so had to go back for anti nausea meds so I could keep the pills Down.
Take the plunge, be aware and have someone with you but the chances are you'll be fine xx
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Angel
I'm a anaphylactic sufferer (too many to count now) so I do understand your worry BUT you could go through life not taking meds that could help you
Do you have epipens? My advice would be to start taking them at a time where you are alert to monitor allergic reactions and ideally you have someone with you. My last 3 anaphylaxis were to ; movicol , an antibiotic and the last one we just don't know what to, so I completely understand . You just can't stop life because of it. I was on an antibiotic last week due to bronchitis and have intolerances to lots of them, so had to go back for anti nausea meds so I could keep the pills Down.
Take the plunge, be aware and have someone with you but the chances are you'll be fine xx
Hi Annie my anaphylactic was with penicillin and maxolon (anti-sickness). I do have epi-pens. Wish I could forget that time of life and just take stuff. Xx
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Yes I can't take penicillin either plus erthmycin (sp?) both cause anaphylaxis plus others I have intolerances too (like the doxycilin last week, by day 4 I was throwing the pill up.
I'm also category 5 allergic to latex and all cross allergens so this really is a daily thing for me that I could be in hospital but I won't/ can't let it rule me.
I do understand the seriousness of us with anaphylaxis, the lack of breath and awful symptoms are truly terrifying but please put each episode behind and don't it let stop you trying new things x
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I think it's in Cambridge that there is a dedicated allergy clinic for people with dangerous problems. Under supervision, I think it's nut allergies that are being controlled by giving sufferers tiny amounts .........
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I like you was very reluctant to take any meds for anxiety. I have had bad health anxiety due to Peri for about 5 years now which comes and goes. After a period of bad insomnia and family problems last year I was prescribed propranol (20mg twice a day). It isn't an anxiety/brain med it just slightly slows your heart rate. I found the effects quite low key, they don't impact your mood as such, but if your anxiety is more of the panic/fast heart rate type I would really recommend giving them a go. I took them for about 3 months but then was told by another GP that they are more a ' take as and when you need them' rather than ' every day' med and I should switch to an SSRI. Maybe just take half a tablet. I now have some 10mg in case I need them but I wonder at that level if it is just a placebo. I didn't find them ' addictive' in any way.
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I think it's in Cambridge that there is a dedicated allergy clinic for people with dangerous problems. Under supervision, I think it's nut allergies that are being controlled by giving sufferers tiny amounts .........
That's where I was referred, at Addenbrookes x
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That's it, Addenbrookes - there was a news article a couple of weeks ago.
I was told that proprnaolol should be taken regularly. ::)
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I can completely relate to what you’re going through because I had very similar issues. The anxiety, the racing heart, waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat—it was overwhelming. My doctor prescribed Propranolol, and honestly, it made such a difference for me.
The main thing I noticed was how it helped calm down my physical symptoms—especially the fast heart rate, skipped beats, and internal shaking. It felt like it brought my body back under control, and that helped ease the mental anxiety as well. For me, the relief was gradual but noticeable. After a few days of taking it, I felt like I could function again, both at home and at work. As for side effects, I was worried too, but I didn’t experience anything major. Just some slight fatigue at first, but that went away after a few days. I completely understand your fear of medications, especially after what you’ve been through, but Propranolol really worked for me.
The key is making sure you’re using high-quality Propranolol (https://topsup24.com/buy-inderal-usa.html) from a trusted source. That way, you know you’re getting something safe and effective.
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I am sure that my GP prescribed the appropriate Brand, which certainly worked for me, easing the early morning anxiety surges. I stopped taking it at lockdown because eventually I got low grade headaches on waking and didn't know whether it was the drug or ::)
Browse round Emmax.