Beta Blocker (Propranolol)

[Jelag]

Hi,

I take 5 mg Bystolic (generic I believe is Nebivolol) and not to sound corny but this medication has changed my life. About 2 years ago I developed horrible anxiety mainly focused around health (due to bone marrow transplant and reliving the psychological effects of the transplant due to the big C diagnosis). Granted the transplant was many years ago. The anxiety was so bad I literally could not function at my job or in life. Tried 10 mg Paxil and Ativan. Helped some but I thought I'd never be back to my normal self again. Coming from a person who used to think anxiety was all made up! Ha! Wrong, wrong, wrong! The Bystolic worked immediately. It has been a Godsend and for the last year I've felt like my old self. Side effects at first was just some drowsiness but that subsided after a couple weeks.

Just wanted to put my two cents in. Beta blockers has given me back normalcy.

Thank you for sharing

Do you know why it worked for you? How did you feel it changed you?

 

[Trinka]

Hi Jelag,

About 2 years ago my anxiety went into overdrive after what to me was a horrific experience with my first time taking an SSRI. 20 mg of Lexapro set me into what I believe was serotonin syndrome and a visit to the ER. The worst part of that experience was the depersonalization and sheer terror I had experienced. Imagine the initial terror you feel if you were walking in your neighborhood and you saw a huge stray dog running at you baring its teeth on the verge of attack. That initial terror you'd feel is the type of terror i felt for 6 hours and the worst part was at the time I couldn't understand what caused this. After that, I never felt normal. The fear of that happening again along with terrible anxiety about cancer or some other life threatening illness would set me into waves of panic causing preoccupation with researching for hours whatever condition I thought I had. Logic was still there but had no baring on helping calm me. When I started Bystolic, that vicious cycle of panic was broken. I might have the thought about cancer but it was a passing thought rather than a thought stemming into a panicked obsession because there was little or no adrenal response to the thought. I take one 5mg pill per day and that's perfect. My experience with Bystolic was very similar to your post on 2/17 where you shared your experience.

My heart goes out to everyone going through debilitating anxiety and anxiety beyond what we feel in normal life. Keep searching because there are wonderful meds and other treatment options that can give you back normalcy.

Lana

 

[Jelag]

Hi Jelag,

About 2 years ago my anxiety went into overdrive after what to me was a horrific experience with my first time taking an SSRI. 20 mg of Lexapro set me into what I believe was serotonin syndrome and a visit to the ER. The worst part of that experience was the depersonalization and sheer terror I had experienced. Imagine the initial terror you feel if you were walking in your neighborhood and you saw a huge stray dog running at you baring its teeth on the verge of attack. That initial terror you'd feel is the type of terror i felt for 6 hours and the worst part was at the time I couldn't understand what caused this. After that, I never felt normal. The fear of that happening again along with terrible anxiety about cancer or some other life threatening illness would set me into waves of panic causing preoccupation with researching for hours whatever condition I thought I had. Logic was still there but had no baring on helping calm me. When I started Bystolic, that vicious cycle of panic was broken. I might have the thought about cancer but it was a passing thought rather than a thought stemming into a panicked obsession because there was little or no adrenal response to the thought. I take one 5mg pill per day and that's perfect. My experience with Bystolic was very similar to your post on 2/17 where you shared your experience.

My heart goes out to everyone going through debilitating anxiety and anxiety beyond what we feel in normal life. Keep searching because there are wonderful meds and other treatment options that can give you back normalcy.

Lana

Did they ever diagnose you with what happened? Have you had anxiety problems befor this happened?

Im just curious and want to learn as much as I can about anxiety.

 

[Trinka]

Hi,

No, they never diagnosed me with what happened.  At the ER they just said it was a panic attack.  It sounds strange and doctors I've talked to say it's unlikely but this happened about 1-1/2 days after I took the lexapro.  Upon taking the lexapro I just felt very agitated and moody (after I'd been joking and laughing with my mom 30 min earlier).  I hated the way it made me feel.  Decided not to take another.  Then about one and a half days after the Lexapro pill (took Lexapro Thursday evening and the ER visit happened Saturday early afternoon), what I'd described happened.  Prior to this I'd never had a panic attack in my life and the anxiety I did have was I'd say more than the average person but I can't recall really having anxiety attacks.  Ultimately after that, the anxiety went through the roof and I had to see a psychiatrist for the first time in my life.  He diagnosed me with GAD and prescribed Paxil.  I was so freaked out about taking another SSRI that I would take the 20 mg Paxil and cut it into 8 pieces and I swear I felt worsened anxiety after taking it.  Not sure if it was real or because of the fear of that happening again.  I've gradually gone up to 10 mg Paxil and have no side effects from it.

How about you, how are you doing with the Propranolol?

 

[Jelag]

Hi,

No, they never diagnosed me with what happened.  At the ER they just said it was a panic attack.  It sounds strange and doctors I've talked to say it's unlikely but this happened about 1-1/2 days after I took the lexapro.  Upon taking the lexapro I just felt very agitated and moody (after I'd been joking and laughing with my mom 30 min earlier).  I hated the way it made me feel.  Decided not to take another.  Then about one and a half days after the Lexapro pill (took Lexapro Thursday evening and the ER visit happened Saturday early afternoon), what I'd described happened.  Prior to this I'd never had a panic attack in my life and the anxiety I did have was I'd say more than the average person but I can't recall really having anxiety attacks.  Ultimately after that, the anxiety went through the roof and I had to see a psychiatrist for the first time in my life.  He diagnosed me with GAD and prescribed Paxil.  I was so freaked out about taking another SSRI that I would take the 20 mg Paxil and cut it into 8 pieces and I swear I felt worsened anxiety after taking it.  Not sure if it was real or because of the fear of that happening again.  I've gradually gone up to 10 mg Paxil and have no side effects from it.

How about you, how are you doing with the Propranolol?

So this happened after one day using lexapro? Have you considered it might have been a psychosis? Some people are more vulnerable for psychosis, and anti depressants can cause that too. But im sure you have talked abouit all that with your psychiatrist.

Im having really bad sleep issues and emotional unsettling dreams. So I might actually just use it occasionally.

 

[Jelag]

Update about the chest pains. I forgot to write in here in case annyone else reads this.

My doctor said he would be more conserned if I had these pains on anny other beta blockers (Type 1 and type 2) I think it was. It was not a concern when using propranolol.

 

[Trinka]

Yes, after just one Lexapro. Maybe it was an SSRI induced psychosis and there is no doubt I am super sensitive to SSRI's. Should have never started on 20 mg. My psychiatrist won't speculate about it. My visits with him just went from once every 3 months to every six and are usually 10 minutes long.

Have you tried taking Ativan at bedtime? I actually remember having strange dreams when starting Paxil but they subsided.

 

[Trinka]

For piece of mind about the chest pains, have you had a stress test or an echocardiogram?

 

[Jelag]

Ive heard of that before people getting psychotic like symptons after taking antipsychotic medications, and anti depressants. Some people freak out on them. And I think doctors dont like to admit it.

Yea medication for sleep helps but I dont want to take meds for sleep because I have a good sleep patern naturally now.

Im not worried as the doctor took some test on me and said it was not necessary but thanks for the advice

 

[Trinka]

Best of luck to you

 

[Ballistics]

It will not help with nervousness or anxiety at all, but it will stop your heart from beating so fast that you think you will have a heart attack.

 

[Me not U]

I am very interested in beta blockers now. I have GAD and everything tney have given tome makes me sleepy. Thank you for posting this people

 

[Ballistics]

My PCP switched me to atenolol actually. It's supposed to make you less tired.

 

[Jelag]

Update

It keeps my heart rate down no matter the situasion, and that keeps away 70% of my head twicthing and head shaking wich are my primary anxiety triggers. I feel bodily super calm, and that also reduses the anxiety by over 50%. I cant recomend this enough to any with a hyper sensitive body. The drug is also slightly sedative in a strange way, but I dont know if thats just because it calmes my nerves so much that I just feel calmer. But I can think more clearly when on it, who knows. And I feel better when not using it too because my bodys not stressed out 24/7 I just feel less exhausted..

 

[headbanger]

Man you guys discussed a lot of medical issues so I'll keep mine short.

I suffer from lifelong anxiety and depression issues. I take 100 mg of Zoloft daily. I also have hypertension which is under control with medication.

I'm 57 y/o and had a full cardiac evaluation at the end of 2013. All of my results were normal.

I've been out of work for a while which has caused my anxiety levels to go way up. My heart would race particularly in the morning making it difficult to get ready for the day. My doc thought that the anxiety was affecting the adrenaline levels in my body thus the rapid heart beat. He suggested a low dose of Lopressor(beta blocker) which would help with the Blood Pressure and slow my heart rate down too(which it is supposed to do).

Well it works really well, I take the smallest dose but I'm a bit concerned that is does slow my heart rate down which it is supposed to do. Just a bit. Sometimes I fell a little tired but it's not that bad cause of my dosage. I check my BP everyday just to give me piece of mind. As soon as I get back to work fulltime I will switch back to my other BP medication which is not a beta blocker. The doc did mention that it may take a little extra effort while I exercise to get my heart rate up. I really have not noticed that I need to do this.

This type of med can also be used for people with stage fright.

Sorry I said I would keep this short. My health in general is good except for the mental issues. I see a shrink from time to time just to stay on track.

There you go, the truth is out. The Headbanger is a Headcase! Don't worry, listening to the music actually helps.

 

[Jelag]

Man you guys discussed a lot of medical issues so I'll keep mine short.

I suffer from lifelong anxiety and depression issues. I take 100 mg of Zoloft daily. I also have hypertension which is under control with medication.

I'm 57 y/o and had a full cardiac evaluation at the end of 2013. All of my results were normal.

I've been out of work for a while which has caused my anxiety levels to go way up. My heart would race particularly in the morning making it difficult to get ready for the day. My doc thought that the anxiety was affecting the adrenaline levels in my body thus the rapid heart beat. He suggested a low dose of Lopressor(beta blocker) which would help with the Blood Pressure and slow my heart rate down too(which it is supposed to do).

Well it works really well, I take the smallest dose but I'm a bit concerned that is does slow my heart rate down which it is supposed to do. Just a bit. Sometimes I fell a little tired but it's not that bad cause of my dosage. I check my BP everyday just to give me piece of mind. As soon as I get back to work fulltime I will switch back to my other BP medication which is not a beta blocker. The doc did mention that it may take a little extra effort while I exercise to get my heart rate up. I really have not noticed that I need to do this.

This type of med can also be used for people with stage fright.

Sorry I said I would keep this short. My health in general is good except for the mental issues. I see a shrink from time to time just to stay on track.

There you go, the truth is out. The Headbanger is a Headcase! Don't worry, listening to the music actually helps.

Thanks for sharing!

I have the same issue, the anxiety in the morning when I wake up is horrendous. Im out of work to, have been for some years. And that has deffently made the anxiety worse.

Do you feel the zoloft has made it better for you? 

 

[Xavior]

Thought I'd share my thoughts on these as well, I take 60mg SR each weekday for work. I have minor tremors and am diagnosed with anxiety/social anxiety, I'm also extremely sensitive (to emotions and chemicals).

Propanolol really helps a lot, I don't take anything else for the anxiety nowadays - though I do take Xan occasionally in the evening to relax or when traveling. As others mentioned, the Propanolol really helps with the physical symptoms of social anxiety; heightened heart rate, twitching, sweating, etc. All of these are reduced or eliminated for me when taking the Prop. Combined with positive mental attitude I'm at some of the lowest felt anxiety in my life.

Referencing the heart rate and exercising... I also had this concern years ago I was prescribed 80mg instant release I think. When I would go to the gym it freaked me out because I would notice my heart rate stayed so low. I got off of Prop after that but regret it now. Happily, 60mg SR works quite well for me and the doc said to take two if I ever felt I needed it. I did so when I first started and didn't really notice a difference actually in my day to day.

 

[headbanger]

Thanks for sharing!

I have the same issue, the anxiety in the morning when I wake up is horrendous. Im out of work to, have been for some years. And that has deffently made the anxiety worse.

Do you feel the zoloft has made it better for you? 

Jelag, sorry for the late response. Zoloft takes the edge off for me just so I can function daily. I still get anxiety and depression but it's not as intense and does not last too long.

I've also have been working with therapist and using cognitive therapy to augment the Zoloft.

ps recent events have caused me to increase my dosage to 125 mg daily per my shrink. That slight increase seem to make a bit of difference.

 

[Survived03]

I have experience with beta blockers and I must say that at the beginning it was really rough. I was on Coreg. Very tired, heart pound, but slow pulse. I eventually switched to 1x day ER. That helped a lot. Regarding the control of anxiety it does help. Mostly keeps me from blowing my top, so to speak. Plus others close to me saw a difference. So if available get the ER. One interesting observation though was when I tapered from two a day to ER I actually felt great and full of energy during the crossover. i wish I had that feeling back but prolongation of life is a criteria for me too

 

[yellowbelly]

I've got some Propranolol that I bought a few months back for hypertension. I have yet to check it out, until I am out of Metoporol, but will report my experience as I check it out for the first time in a couple days...

-YB