Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Greenfields on July 17, 2015, 03:26:47 PM
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So I've started taking 40mg of propranolol daily - first thing in the morning - since Tuesday. Did this on the advice of the Dr to help with the anxiety and stress I'm under.
It's now Friday.
And I've been really really tired for a lot of this week.
And it's been accompanied by a feeling of overwhelm at times - I don't know whether this is related to the tiredness - in that it's difficult to feel competent when one is weary? I certainly haven't felt myself as much (the self that I'm trying to get back to before the breakdown).
I know I've got a lot going on - so it took me a few days to figure out that something else seemed to be going on as well.
So I started to google stopping propranolol - only to discover that it's not a good thing to stop it suddenly because it can affect the heart.
Everything I've read suggests that the tiredness goes away after a week - so if it's not gone by next Tuesday, I will contact my Dr.
But I just wondered - has anyone stopped taking propranolol?
And if you did, did you have to taper the dose? Or take any precautions when stopping it?
My Dr didn't give me any indication that stopping it can be an issue so I was quite shocked when I started looking at stuff around that issue online.
Perhaps I shouldn't have googled but I wasn't expecting to experience the tiredness I have had.
Any thoughts appreciated.
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Perhaps, give it till next Tuesday then you'll have given it a reasonable chance.
When I took it I was on the 10mg so stopping that wasn't an issue, oh, and I only lasted 2 weeks max on it (if that).
Another thing - I'me not certain, but I think the stopping suddenly thing only really matters when the meds have been used for a long time. Then I think they need to be phased down, e.g. every other day or interspersing smaller (10mg?) doses
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Propranolol reduces the blood flow to the heart and the airflow to the lungs, so slowing the heartbeat and reducing blood pressure. Until the body realises things are going slower it is natural to feel a little drowsy, I did too. I was going to stop it but I am so glad I didn't as when my body realised it was required to go at a more relaxed pace and I adjusted my activity levels accordingly I started to feel much better. I did reduce the dose after 4 months (been on it since January) and now take half (5mg) twice a day and an extra half if required. I see my specialist next week and will see what he says - oh and my blood pressure is where it was 30 years ago :)
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Oh my head feels tired until at least lunch time but compared with the awful depression and anxiety, it's a bonus I can live with ;)
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Propranolol reduces the blood flow to the heart and the airflow to the lungs, so slowing the heartbeat and reducing blood pressure. Until the body realises things are going slower it is natural to feel a little drowsy, I did too. I was going to stop it but I am so glad I didn't as when my body realised it was required to go at a more relaxed pace and I adjusted my activity levels accordingly I started to feel much better. I did reduce the dose after 4 months (been on it since January) and now take half (5mg) twice a day and an extra half if required. I see my specialist next week and will see what he says - oh and my blood pressure is where it was 30 years ago :)
That's good to hear. The Dr said I could continue to exercise but I just wouldn't be able to "work" at it quite as hard in that my heart rate wouldn't rise as much. However I didn't expect to feel so tired and not myself - or the self I've felt lately anyway.
When you reduced your dose do you experience any side effects? Reading about coming off it threw me a little as the Dr gave me the impression it was something that you could just stop when you needed to - or at least that's what I thought. However, online the information seemed to imply that one can't just stop it at will - that stopping it needs careful monitoring? I'm curious because if I do move back to Canada, then the sooner I can stop it the better as it will be one more drug I will have to find the money to pay for if I don't have access to a health benefits plan and i'm not sure how expensive it is to buy (I'll have to find out).
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I think perhaps the advice not to stop suddenly is more aimed at heart patients.
My hubby takes a beta blocker because he had had a heart attack and when he has changed meds it's been a slow change over.
I could not tolerate the amount you are taking. One 40mg had me laid out on the sofa. Even the small amount I take slows me down ....oh and makes me cold too.
If you continue to feel the same you could reduce the dose. Sometimes it's trial and error to find just the right amount that suits you....manages your symptoms without making you feel wiped out. That's one of the reasons I like to start small and build up.
Honeyb
X
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Thanks Honeybun.
If my symptoms continue, I'm calling the Dr on Tuesday ... I feel like I'm losing the will to live at the moment!
I feel very 'flat' and all my get up and go has got up and gone - so emotionally I'm feeling very overwhelmed too.
I don't know how much of the overwhelm is due to getting closer to the date where I have to make a decision about housing - which is incredibly stressful - or how much is due to the medication.
However, this time last week I was trekking to London to do some shopping - I can't even envisage doing that today.
I actually woke up around 6.30am but didn't get up till just gone 9am.
The leaflet does say that mood changes can be a side effect - but I don't know how much is mood change related to tiredness as well.
I wake up and I don't feel like I've rested really - but then I'm also still getting up in the night regularly to pee due to the HRT.
The thing is the Dr said to me that 10mg was little more than a placebo effect and that, in her experience, 40mg was a low dose that was effective for most people.
Having said that, I know you're very sensitive to meds and I'm also very sensitive to meds. Because I didn't experience any noticeable side effects when I took 2 one off doses prior to taking it regularly, I didn't think it would clobber me with side effects like tiredness etc ... but I think it is - I've certainly not been myself since Tuesday when I started taking it regularly.
I could really do without this occurring now as well - with so much else to have to contend with in my life, more drug side effects are not something I wanted to invite in!
Oh well ... I'll see how the next few days go. Mood changes are listed as a rare side effect on the leaflet (they also list psychoses under that as well :o )
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I am also very sensitive to meds. My specialist said 10mg was a homeopathic dose but I know that whatever the 'normal' dose I will require 50% of it or less. He wanted me on 20mg three times a day (he said divided doses are better than one big dose). that was far too much so I dropped it to 10mg three times a day, then twice a day, then I cut them in half and have 5mg twice a day and it does benefit me, placebo or not. Occasionally if I have a good day I forget to take it and don't seem to suffer for it.
My BP is stable and a good level and my adrenaline surges are much calmer. But this is me, you must find what is right for you greenfields. good luck x
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I am also very sensitive to meds. My specialist said 10mg was a homeopathic dose but I know that whatever the 'normal' dose I will require 50% of it or less. He wanted me on 20mg three times a day (he said divided doses are better than one big dose). that was far too much so I dropped it to 10mg three times a day, then twice a day, then I cut them in half and have 5mg twice a day and it does benefit me, placebo or not. Occasionally if I have a good day I forget to take it and don't seem to suffer for it.
My BP is stable and a good level and my adrenaline surges are much calmer. But this is me, you must find what is right for you greenfields. good luck x
Thanks babyjane. I am going to talk to my Dr next week and ask her about splitting the doses if I don't feel better. She suggested 40mg in the morning and then, if that wasn't enough, taking 40mg 6 hours later. If that turned out to be too much she suggested I could take 10mg later - that she would prescribe that dose for me too.
At the moment, 40mg in the morning feels like it's just doing me in - so maybe I need to drop to 20mg in the morning and 20mg later in the day? I don't know. I will definitely have to talk to her about it if things don't improve by Tuesday when I will have been on the medication 1 week (which according to the leaflet is when one should contact the Dr if the side effects persist).
Babyjane how long did you try each option before you found the right dose for you? Did you take it for a week and then lower the dose each time? Just trying to figure out how to sort this out.
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about 2- 3 weeks but what I did may not work for you greenfields. You need to be guided by your doctor as we are all different x
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Ive just caught this thread can I tell you my experience I was on 20mg for migraines for ages, never worked but heyho. Anyway when I hit an anxiety patch my doc said take 30mg in the morning and 30mg at night to calm me down. Well it did, I came to a stop. I lasted 1 week, I lost my appetite, was very very weak and shaky and could not even walk up my drive, I saw a wheelchair coming very soon. I cried in desperation to an old nurse who said 60mg was way too much for me, I was about 8 stone at the time and I have always had a low BP too. She said no way did my heart need that.
I saw the GP and went to 30mg and the symptoms went.
I know of others who found they could no longer walk the dog when they were actually quite fit. My hubby a big chap was given 160mg for migraine and in his 20's coped but as he got older he slowed so much he was like somebody drugged. He now only takes 40mg and that is fine.
This stuff is pretty potent.
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Thanks for these responses - they are very helpful.
I've decided I'm going to call the Dr on Monday and see if I can get a lower dose prescribed - I'm really struggling at the moment. I spent this morning washing veggies and cooking a pasta sauce but I feel so sluggish and flat - and it's making me feel worse in terms of my situation ... I don't feel like I've got the energy to deal with things I would like to sort out - today I wanted to check the inventory paperwork of my belongings if I'm able to move back to Canada in September and I also wanted to start working on a resume for retail work in Canada .... and I just can't face doing either of them - it feels too much to deal with - like I just don't have the energy (emotional or physical). Instead I've been sat listening to radio podcasts because it feels like all I can manage - I have to force myself to move (am going to go out for a short walk in a minute).
I don't even have the energy to do yoga or meditate at the moment which is most unlike me. Here's hoping that, if the dose gets lowered, I will feel a bit better. The anxiety surges I was experiencing in the morning weren't every morning but I do want to support my nervous system with something as I am going to be going through a lot over the next couple of months and it's still very early days in terms of getting over a breakdown ... but the dose of beta blockers I'm on at the moment really doesn't feel right for me.
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Too much at the 'wrong' time of day? I take 40mg at night ………..
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Why not ask for the slow release tablet ! You take it at night then it releases a slow steady amount throughout 24hours .
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I did ask about the slow release but the Dr had already previously prescribed 40mg for one off anxiety - so I went along with the suggestion of using the one's I had. I also don't take them at night because I read that you can get nightmares and sleep disturbance as a side effect and I didn't want to risk that.
Going to get some advice on Monday about cutting the dose and seeing how that goes.
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I wandered upstairs earlier but couldn't remember what for: nothing new there then :D but it was to read if my BBs are slow release or not …….. :kick:
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I also don't take them at night because I read that you can get nightmares and sleep disturbance as a side effect and I didn't want to risk that.
It's not easy to know what to do. Perhaps if you took them at night the feeling sluggish and flat wouldn't matter so much?
You say "you can get nightmares and sleep disturbance as a side effect"
Yes, it's possible but it might not happen.
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Or just take less to see if it makes a difference. I personally think it's a really strong dose that you are taking and the side effects you describe are exactly how I felt. I know what the GP said but they can be wrong.
Honeyb
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It's 8.08pm now and I've just got out of a bath and feel a bit sharper ... I am convinced it's the dose I'm taking.
I am going to call the Dr Monday and see if I can get a smaller dose to take in the morning - it was only in the morning that I tended to experience anxiety on waking and I'm quite happy to take something on waking. Will see if I can get 20mg and see how that goes. I will take the 40mg tomorrow and Monday until I speak to the Dr but I'm convinced that as soon as the dose is dropped I will notice the difference.
I really want to have the energy to do things and feel motivated to do things - the flat effect it's had on my mood as well as my energy levels has been really hard to deal with.
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Let us low how you get on!
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If you get the ok from the doctor just cut your pills in half.
Bramble
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Hi Greenfields
I hake Propananol in 10mg doses...i.e 30 mgs daily but split into three doses.
Works for me for my hand tremor and anxiety, then if you maybe need only 20 you can space it out a little.
Hope it helps
Lyn xx
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Hi Greenfields
I hake Propananol in 10mg doses...i.e 30 mgs daily but split into three doses.
Works for me for my hand tremor and anxiety, then if you maybe need only 20 you can space it out a little.
Hope it helps
Lyn xx
That's useful to know. I will see what the Dr says tomorrow.
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If you get the ok from the doctor just cut your pills in half.
Bramble
That's a good idea. I'll have to get a pill cutter though - do pharmacies sell them?
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Yes but I just use a craft blade :)
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Vets sell them too ;)
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Oh I don't have a craft blade!
I'm actually feeling a little bit better this afternoon - I don't know whether my body is getting used to the higher dose? But I want to try a lower dose as I really don't feel that good in the mornings at the moment.
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Dr has prescribed 10mg and told me to take 10mg from tomorrow. If 10mg doesn't work, then try taking 2 - i.e. 20mg. Then I need to let her know by next week how I am. She said she's happy for me to play around with it.
Just hope this works. I feel awful at the moment - took 40mg again this morning - and really feel unwell. Haven't done any exercise today or the last 2 days either - all my energy has gone. Hope I feel better tomorrow.
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once you get the dose right for you then you will feel a lot better, I did but it wasn't very nice to start with.
I just saw my specialist this afternoon and he is happy for me to now use it on an as need basis and a dose that suits me. Sounds like your dr is helpful too so good luck. Hope you soon feel better.
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well done both!
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once you get the dose right for you then you will feel a lot better, I did but it wasn't very nice to start with.
I just saw my specialist this afternoon and he is happy for me to now use it on an as need basis and a dose that suits me. Sounds like your dr is helpful too so good luck. Hope you soon feel better.
Thanks. I've felt so so low for most of the day - emotionally low and physically low as well. It's my birthday too - so it just sucks.
I hope tomorrow is better.
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Happy Birthday Greenfields!
Things are going to get better.
:hbday: :cake: :wish: :cake:
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Feeling 'off' colour and having a birthday on the same day sucks: did you share with anyone?
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Feeling 'off' colour and having a birthday on the same day sucks: did you share with anyone?
Well I sent an email to someone ... but that was about it. Pretty well the worst day ever.
Feeling marginally better today - woke up 7am with heart jittery and racing. Meditated for half an hour then took 10mg beta blocker. Heart calmed down a bit. Feeling a bit more 'normal' as I write (10.55am). Managed to make it to a pilates class at the sports centre this morning which also helped - very calming, and first exercise I've done in 3 days. Off to see my therapist this afternoon. Hoping I'll start to feel a bit more better as the week goes on. I really wish the Dr hadn't dissuaded me from taking 10mg beta blockers to begin with ... I feel like I've lost a week being so ill - its been horrible.
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Happy Birthday Greenfields!
Things are going to get better.
:hbday: :cake: :wish: :cake:
Thanks Limpy. They've got to get better because I'm running out of the strength to go on ... it's so hard.
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Just to say this is the second day of taking 10mg dose - I took one this morning on waking but felt shaky by lunchtime. So I took another 10mg before lunch. Am hoping this will see me to the end of the day - if I can manage on 20mg a day that would be half the dose I was taking.
The leaflet doesn't actually say how many hours one should space the doses apart but I'm hoping that having taken my first one at 7.30am and my next one at 12.10pm that that will be enough space between the two doses.
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How do you feel now? I usually allow 4 hours between doses of anything that I take .......... take another at bed-time if necessary ;)
Any plans worrying you?
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Feeling okay at the moment ... had some good news today - will post in the private forum when I get a chance.
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:thankyou:
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Just to say I've ended up taking 20mg a day first thing in the morning as 10mg didn't seem enough.
However the last few days I've felt so overwhelmed and not myself. I don't know whether it's just the situation I'm in which I'm finding very stressful or whether it's some kind of effect from the medication (even though it's half the dose I was taking). I find myself not wanting to get out of bed in the morning and have got up late (9/10am) which is not like me. There's a sense that I just want to stay in bed because I feel safe there and i'm so scared of how my life has turned out and what the future holds. Also feel far from positive and very unconfident. I've even skipped exercise for 4 days.
I'm supposed to call the Dr today and let her know how I'm getting on ... which I am going to do. Just wish I could figure out whether it's the medication or the stress of my situation or maybe even the weather ... it's been wet and cold recently.
I do think part of it is the realisation that I'm not well enough to return to Canada and start over and I'm absolutely terrified of how things are going to turn out with me staying in the UK - even though, on the housing front, things are going to be a bit better.
I'm guessing it takes a long time to get one's confidence back from having a breakdown? I'm really scared about being able to do the p/t care job I got. I'm supposed to do the 4 day training course in August ... I'm going to try and do it but I'm also really scared about how to make ends meet as well (although I guess anything coming in pay wise is better than living off my savings). And I'm also not a particularly confident driver and the job involves driving to and from people's houses. Also worried about the petrol costs and whether the pay I will get will cover those and give me some money spare.
Guess I could really use a hug ... :'(
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:bighug:
You are really doing so well. Ok Canada is on the back burner for now....but not forever.
As for the job, I find if I'm occupied I don't have as much time to dwell on how I feel, either physically or mentally. You will be doing a very caring job and as well as helping the elderly you could well be helping you.
At least the housing situation is resolved which must be a great relief. Perhaps you are feeling the way you do now because that great weight has been lifted off your shoulders and your body is sagging with relief.
Keep plodding on and I'm sure there will be a very bright light at the end of this particular tunnel.
Don't forget we are all here to support you along the way.
Honeyb
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:hug: as HB said, Canada is only on hold for now. I would take Canada out of the equation for now, set yourself a date for later in the year (say 1 October) and see where you are at then. I think you are trying to juggle too many things at once, Canada, now home, new job, your breakdown and medication.
You can drive from house to house, taking it slowly, using a satnav, google maps or an A-Z. Plan your routes before you set off and you will be fine. The more you do it the more confident you will become. You will be helping and talking to people which will do you good.
You have had a breakdown and survived. You have done exceptionally well.
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I agree with the above. You are in limbo. You have the job looming ……. I am the same about holidays ::) even if I want to go I have a sense of dread.
Are you able to go into the place you plan to work at for a chat? To put the environment into perspective? I am sure that if the Staff are kind enough they will sit you down with a cuppa and maybe tell you something of how the place is managed and staffed. Could you go in and read to any of the residents until you go on your Course? Find your feet a little before?
You are doing well! It's in your face all the while so you don't get any relief, I am the same with the phobia. Anticipation is the worst part of it all for me :'(
What did you tell your GP?
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If I put Canada on the back burner, it means that I will probably lose the health benefits coverage and spousal support when it comes for review in Feb/March next year (unless I move back before then which, at the moment, seems very unlikely).
That's why it's hard to relax about it - in staying in the UK I'm kind of making a big financial decision too ... and it's very scary. But I'm really not up to returning to Canada at the moment and doing 2 or 3 p/t jobs to make ends meet.
CLKD - I'm going to people's homes - so it's not 1 location.
I'm going to see how I am in August when the training dates come around ... if I'm not fully 100% I might see if I can put off the training till Sept and my move has gone through.
I didn't phone the GP ... just feeling too low. Think I'm going to try and go back to taking 1 10mg beta blocker dose in the morning and then another at lunch time and see whether that makes me feel any better.
Just been really really low the last few days ... scared of the financial implications, of being poor and how my life is going to turn out.
Did speak to an agency worker today and she encouraged me to look on the positive side ... so am trying. Perhaps I will feel a bit better once I've moved into my new place - will see.
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You are in Limbo. Not working so not mixing with people, I found that speaking with people caused an good adrenaline flow which lifted my mood.
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Thought about this - especially as am still struggling to drag myself out of bed sometimes ... so walked into a charity store this morning and asked if I can volunteer. Have just completed their application form and hoping to start soon ... hopefully that will help me a bit.
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Let us know how you get on! Maybe you could do steam cleaning of clothes and sorting if you don't want to interact with the public? You will still have company to chat with ;-)
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Am going to do a 3 hour shift on 7th August - they are going to have me doing the till but it's a quiet store. Hopefully it will do me some good. I also dragged myself to pilates today and just really noticed how difficult it was being around people a bit as I've isolated myself a bit the last week - so it's reminded me that I need to keep going out and doing things otherwise I'll just being taking steps backwards. :-\
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I'm sure you'll enjoy your session in the charity shop Greenfields. I've been doing an afternoon in our local Hospice shop for many years and I really find it enjoyable. I work on the till and do anything else needed, you meet some very interesting people and working with the public is never dull.
Hopefully it will help you get back into things and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping others
I've been following your thread and you have had such a lot to cope with and now you can start to move on.
Hope it all works out for you.
Take care
Thorntrees
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Oh shucks ……….. ;) ……… I couldn't work on a Till anywhere as I'm figure blind :D ……. let us know how you get on! The trick is that if someone pays with a 'note' to keep the note on or beside the Till until the change has been given. That way there are less likely to be arguments over the amount of 'change' given ;) …….. this morning I paid with a £20.00 note and the lady, who I've known for years, gave me change for a fiver but she had the 20 still out of the drawer - I joked that it was only made this morning so I knew it had been a 20 :)
What dose did you take over-night? Yesterday I was BB free, no heavy headed feelings and slept all afternoon: last night cut my 40mg in half, today I feel hung over ::) ………. will take 20mg again at bed time and see how I go.
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I'm sure you'll enjoy your session in the charity shop Greenfields. I've been doing an afternoon in our local Hospice shop for many years and I really find it enjoyable. I work on the till and do anything else needed, you meet some very interesting people and working with the public is never dull.
Hopefully it will help you get back into things and you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping others
I've been following your thread and you have had such a lot to cope with and now you can start to move on.
Hope it all works out for you.
Take care
Thorntrees
Thank you for your kind words xx
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Oh shucks ……….. ;) ……… I couldn't work on a Till anywhere as I'm figure blind :D ……. let us know how you get on! The trick is that if someone pays with a 'note' to keep the note on or beside the Till until the change has been given. That way there are less likely to be arguments over the amount of 'change' given ;) …….. this morning I paid with a £20.00 note and the lady, who I've known for years, gave me change for a fiver but she had the 20 still out of the drawer - I joked that it was only made this morning so I knew it had been a 20 :)
What dose did you take over-night? Yesterday I was BB free, no heavy headed feelings and slept all afternoon: last night cut my 40mg in half, today I feel hung over ::) ………. will take 20mg again at bed time and see how I go.
I'm taking 10mg in the morning at the moment - I'm not sure whether it makes a big difference or not. But some mornings I am noticeably jittery and then I think it calms my heart down.
What was hard was sorting out my feelings recently which I think were due not only to the beta blocker dose (20mg) as to the reality of my situation really sinking in - it's been really hard to come to terms with. It didn't help that the agency worker who saw me earlier this week when I wasn't having a good moment suggested that perhaps I should be signed off from work (i.e. get notes from the Dr). This was the first I'd heard about this practice and I started to panic as I've not done it up till now because I don't have a job anyway and I really wish she'd brought it up sooner - I kind of wish I had registered with another mental health agency for support ... but that's a whole other story. However, when I saw the CAB for advice a while back, I was told I wasn't entitled to any benefits because I hadn't worked enough hours in my last job to qualify for any of them ... so I don't know. It's too late for me to claim anything now as I'm sure Dr's notes can't be back dated. And I really don't feel up to interacting with Job Centre staff ... so I just have to accept my savings going down and down and trust that, in the end, it will all work out.
At least the people who are going to rent the flat to me are nice and they reassured me again this week not to worry about homelessness. It's just so hard to come to terms with my situation. I think I need to be out and about and doing a bit more voluntary work to be honest but it's also not long till the care agency training course either - and I don't know whether I can delay that or whether delaying that is a good thing - I just haven't felt up to doing a lot lately and I let the exercise slide which hasn't helped.
But today I made it to a pilates class and I'm going to try and do another exercise class tomorrow and not back slide as much ... it's just hard because things have gone on for so so long now and I keep wondering when I'm going to feel more better. I find I get overwhelmed really easily. Am seeing the Dr on August 10th so will have a chat with her then.
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You are out and about - little steps. Focus on not being homeless and I am sure that once you are settled into the flat you will be more settled.
Do you eat breakfast?
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You are out and about - little steps. Focus on not being homeless and I am sure that once you are settled into the flat you will be more settled.
Do you eat breakfast?
Yes I eat breakfast every day - porridge with milk, water and coconut oil if I can manage it. When I don't feel like breakfast I still eat - but lighter - usually a boiled egg and/or banana and yogurt.
I hope I'll be more settled when I move into the flat but I'm not sure ... there's no parking for starters and parking around the area is difficult so I will probably have to park on the street 10-15 minutes walk away ... which is stressful. Also it's hard not to think back to the nice rental I had in Canada and also the nice rentals generally there ... so different from the UK. I know I need to let go of the past in order to move forward to the future ... but the future feels so bleak at the moment that it's hard to look/move forward. :'(
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So the walking will be fine - cheaper than the gym! In Winter you will need a torch, hat, gloves, scarf ;)
Of course you will be comparing, I think we do when we are in flux.
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I am also very sensitive to meds. My specialist said 10mg was a homeopathic dose but I know that whatever the 'normal' dose I will require 50% of it or less. He wanted me on 20mg three times a day (he said divided doses are better than one big dose). that was far too much so I dropped it to 10mg three times a day, then twice a day, then I cut them in half and have 5mg twice a day and it does benefit me, placebo or not. Occasionally if I have a good day I forget to take it and don't seem to suffer for it.
My BP is stable and a good level and my adrenaline surges are much calmer. But this is me, you must find what is right for you greenfields. good luck x
Thanks babyjane. I am going to talk to my Dr next week and ask her about splitting the doses if I don't feel better. She suggested 40mg in the morning and then, if that wasn't enough, taking 40mg 6 hours later. If that turned out to be too much she suggested I could take 10mg later - that she would prescribe that dose for me too.
At the moment, 40mg in the morning feels like it's just doing me in - so maybe I need to drop to 20mg in the morning and 20mg later in the day? I don't know. I will definitely have to talk to her about it if things don't improve by Tuesday when I will have been on the medication 1 week (which according to the leaflet is when one should contact the Dr if the side effects persist).
Babyjane how long did you try each option before you found the right dose for you? Did you take it for a week and then lower the dose each time? Just trying to figure out how to sort this out.
I was put on Indirel 40m I found it way too much felt fuzzy and sicky
So I cut it in half used half twice day SORTED I only use them when I get the terribel fear feelings I use them till it eases takes about 2/3 weeks then I ease it off over a week been doing tnhis on and off for over 20 yrs had no more than 6 scripts for Indirel
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My head is heavy this morning, a combination of early mornings over the weekend, very BUSY dreams, taking half the BB ……. and I'm queasy, probably as a result of cutting the tablet.
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Since I started this thread I've been reviewing my mood and the meds ... and I was so much more upbeat in July when I went to London the second time. I'm actually wondering whether the beta blockers are making me worse - I've not been myself since I began this whole thing even though I've cut the dose down from 40 to 20 to 10mg daily. So today, I decided not to take one - I've been taking 10mg daily for a little while now. I was wobbly this morning but just got on and did things. I'll see how the rest of this week goes but I can't cope with the feeling of overwhelm I get in the mornings at the moment - it makes it really hard to get out of bed - and, if it goes, it will show me the beta blockers are impacting my mood. If it doesn't, I'm due to see the Dr next week so will ask for more meds help then.
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Could you take the med at night to stop that surge as you wake? Let us know how you get on!
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Some people are ultra sensitive to beta blockers and need a tiny amount.
We used to have an American lady with us called Trey. She needed a minuscule amount. Less than 5mg to feel better.
I can only tolerate 10 mg in a day otherwise I feel listless and sluggish and very very cold.
Maybe you should try another BB or just a tiny amount.
Honeyb
X
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Are there several types of BB? I take Propranolol ……… 20mg at night now. Head feels thick and slightly achey, am hoping that goes …… due for review next month.
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Well this is my second day without 10mg of beta blockers and although I've felt a bit wobbly at times, I don't feel noticeably that different from when I was taking 10mg in terms of general fragility. My mood hasn't changed that much either ... will see how the rest of this week goes. Propranolol is the only one I've tried so far - didn't know there were others?
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Well, here're some to be going on with......
Names of beta-blockers
Examples of commonly used beta-blockers include:
acebutolol (Sectral)
atenolol (Tenormin)
bisoprolol (Cardicor, Emcor)
carvedilol
metoprolol (Betaloc, Lopresor)
nadolol (Corgard)
nebivolol (Nebilet)
propranolol (Inderal)
Flecainide
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:thankyou:
wonder what "lol" means ;D and why do drugs companies give medication such long names ::)
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4th day without beta blockers - my mind is definitely sharper and I don't wake up feeling overwhelmed or depressed in the way I was. However, am very aware of an internal tremor type sensation (like my body is quivering inside) at certain times of the day. It's manageable but it makes me feel a bit wobbly at times. Am finding I can do things for about half a day - like exercise - and then I need to sit and read or rest. Yesterday and today I fought the rest bit but my head felt funny and so today I realised that I really had to lie down. Did a body scan exercise and ended up napping - so I clearly needed it. It's hard to come to terms with how I am but more and more I am realising I just have to follow my body's cues - I haven't got any choice if I want to get well - which is going to take far longer than I thought.
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Listen to your body :-\ ……… you need to be able to shut off when it requires a rest, when my brain wants to sleep, it sleeps :o ;) ……….
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So true. I am finding I can do more though which is nice. This week I did a volunteer shift at the charity shop, bought and read a newspaper (my first since the breakdown in March) and had the radio on more often ... I think things are getting a bit better even though it's taking a lot of time to get well. I also got a copy of Matt Haig's new book Reasons to Stay Alive which is about his breakdown - and reading that helped. Also read a good library book by Dr Tim Cantopher called Depressive Illness, The curse of the strong - which was so helpful in terms of understanding how long it will take me to recover - wish I'd read it sooner.
So those are all good things. On the not so good side, my arms and shoulders are giving me even more issues with computer use and just general pain since I strained my supraspinatus in one shoulder - things seem even more unstable and painful. I've stopped doing the physio exercises I was given to strengthen my trapezius since the supraspinatus injury was so painful ... but I know I need to get back into these if I'm ever to get better enough to do some professional work again (assuming someone will employ me) ... but keep reminding myself, it's one day at a time ...
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Little steps. Rome wasn't built in a day ;)
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I use mine on an as need basis now. Last night I had to turn on the light and cut one in half to take 5mg at 2am as I woke with a start, trembling and sweating . then I found out this morning I have an infection and a temperature so maybe that was why ::)
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I use mine on an as need basis now. Last night I had to turn on the light and cut one in half to take 5mg at 2am as I woke with a start, trembling and sweating . then I found out this morning I have an infection and a temperature so maybe that was why ::)
Yep I plan to do that too. Am seeing the Dr tomorrow for another check in and I am going to discuss this with her. I think having the beta blockers to fall back on is useful for adrenalin surges but it's not something that suits me to take them all the time - they negatively impact my mood too much to be useful in that regard.
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I find that I get a headache these days in the morning. I didn't take any BB for 2 nights and the dull, full headachy feeling has gone. Medical review coming up so maybe :-\
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Saw my Dr - she's happy for me to use the beta blockers when I need to rather than taking them daily - so that's good.
She said I'm doing well especially considering all the stress I'm under.
She wants to see me in a month's time again.
Also told me I may be able to seek work before the year ends.
I let the care agency know that I needed to defer the training course till Oct/Nov - and they were fine about it which is nice.
Am going to try and increase my voluntary work once I've got my flat move done (which takes place next week). But need to give myself a week or two to adjust again.
Hope your medical review goes okay. xxx
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:thankyou: I was able to book the appt. on line so got the date and time I wanted. Can't remember when though ::) ;D
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That's good! xx
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I did print off the appt. to put on the magnetic post board to remind me and it's on the calendar!