was on 80mg then went on to 40mg now on 20mg. i want to stop all together...
How long does it take for propranolol to come out your system?
Question posted by thebean89 on 16 Oct 2012
Last updated on 17 September 2021
11 Answers
Binitkk
12 Sep 2021
I am on propranolol 40 mg for 3 years and now down to 10mg. But reducing further makes my heart beat go out of control, my head feels breaking, vomiting, diarrhea and lot more. Was anyone able to come off this drug? I'm very worried about it.
Chele718
17 Sep 2021
Apparently, some of us are just very sensitive to the side effects of withdrawal. Both my dr and pharmacist said to take the full dose every other day for a week and I should be fine. I was not!! So now I’ve been weaning off of 10mg 2x a day. It’s taken me 2 months to get down to around 3mg 2x day. About once a week I start cutting just a bit more off my pill. It’s slow going but I’ve tried twice to reduce it more quickly and my heart rate goes way up. Took the last dose almost 24 hrs ago. We’ll see how it goes. Good luck!
Rebecca2703
22 July 2021
Hi, I’ve been on propranolol for 10 years, 20mg twice a day, for migraines. I’m now on day 10 of no propranolol after weaning off of it. Many health sites I’ve visited have stated that side effects can last up to one week but I’m beyond that now, so glad to see that its not unusual to experience these symptoms past the week mark as I was starting to get a bit worried. I’m still very jittery, have the heart palpitations, high heart rate, a bit of shaky hands, and just generally on high alert. Hopefully things will start to calm down soon though!
SageMarks
28 Feb 2020
I took mines for one week I told doctor I was short of breathe she told me to stop, Now I'm breaking out all over my face and neck I'm going to take a benadryl soon. I'm never taking this medication again, I should've known something was off when the first day I took it my mouth was itchy. I haven't read about anyone else experiencing the hives and the itchiness I must be a rare case. I did slow my heart down which was nice but I'll take a fast heart rate over an allergic reaction anyday. I had to go the ER twice. I was taking this temporary for thyriod if anyone wanted to know it was 10mg every 8 hours. I took it for about 7 days I'm waiting for it to get out my system so I can stop itching!
Mrsliv83
13 Feb 2020
Hi All,
Weaning myself off Propranolol after being on it just 4 weeks,
Usually a very confident woman I had my very first anxiety attack 4 weeks ago actually thought I was having a heart attack! But no it was a anxiety attack brought on by external stresses that have been going on over 18 months, anyway it happened I had the attack, ended up at the Hospital all ECG, Bloods all fine, but main Doc advised Beta Blockers, just temporary to calm me down etc,
My GP put me on Propranolol the next day 40 mg twice a day (when I wake up & bedtime)
So I took them for 3 weeks then this Monday (4th week) moved me down to 10 mg 2 in the morning, 2 at bedtime,
I will admit they did calm me and all my stats have been fine on them, blood pressure, BPM etc,
However I’m totally ready to be rid of them, I do wish I could just stop them but reading all forums obvs it’s not advised,
My plan is carry on with 10mg (2 in the morn & 2 at bedtime) for a week,
Then taper down to 10mg 1 in the morning & 1 at bedtime for a week,
Then just 1 10mg in the morning non at bedtime for a week then stop.
I’ve run this by my gp and the pharmacist and they agreed this is the correct way
I just don’t wanna withdraw
Happyhinson
7 Feb 2020
I was on propranolol for almost 5 yrs for anxiety and racing heart, and started experiencing terrible side effects! I called my GP who was out and a PA just told me to stop it, ended up In emergency room with high heart rate and BP, along with bronchial symptoms and heavy chest, you never never just stop that horrible drug! So they lowered me to metropalol, lower dose had same side effects, back In ER for heart attack symptoms, Dr told me heart was fine, side of effects of coming off propanol and metropalol, so weaned off metropalol, been 1 week since last pill, still having racing heart, BP is normal, still coughing! This is a horrible medication, any beta blockers! I highly recommend not ever starting them!
Elmojo
23 Dec 2018
I have been taking propranolol for just over a week alongside st johns wort for anxiety and low mood and hated how they made me feel. Blurred vision, higher anxiety, palpitations and a cough so my Dr said to stop them so I have... I'm on day 4 and feel like i have bad anxiety all day... Tight chest, cough, bad palpitations and breathless, like the feelings you get with a chest infection... never had any of this ever in my life, even when I smoked.
I am scared but just wondered if anyone else has felt like that coming off them and now long does it last... I'm scared of a heart attack too like Mitch was but think my anxiety is making me think I will have one.
JonJonesy
24 Dec 2018
I have been taking it for a couple of weeks for anxiety. 10mg 2 x's a day. I have been waking up at the same time every night/morning 6:30am with my heart beating out of my chest. It's bad in the morning but continues all day. Did you all experience the palpitations only after you got off of it? It's a scary feeling. I took it for anxiety but regret every second of it. Not sure if it's happening because of my anxiety or because of the pills but either way the pills arent helping.
Elmojo
24 Dec 2018
Hi JonJonsey
My anxiety was crazy through the roof every morning waking up the same time every time morning... Took me ages to come down..I had to get up, make a drink then get back into bed. I stopped it as didn't feel it was helping me... I was on 80mg slow release. I didn't wean off I just stopped as couldn't handle the side effects. Hope that helps.
JonJonesy
24 Dec 2018
Elmojo,
Are you saying the waking up the same time every morning happened before and during the time you took the pills or just when On them ? Sorry, I might be misreading and thank you for the response.
Elmojo
24 Dec 2018
It happened during taking them and still a bit now I've stopped them but slowly getting better. It's been 5 days off them now and the bad chest pains have stopped but not the cough, breathlessness or funny thoughts in my head.
JonJonesy
24 Dec 2018
I really appreciate you letting me know I’m not the only one. My Doc told me he gave them to me to slow my heart rate down not speed it up. Anyway, I’m going to come off then and deal with whatever. Thanks again
Elmojo
24 Dec 2018
No problem.. how's your thinking been on them? And thoughts in your head? Has your anxiety improved at all?
JonJonesy
24 Dec 2018
Anxiety has been a little better I think, except for the fact that I think I now have anxiety because of the palpitations! My thoughts have been eh. Not much improvement but not horrible. I don’t feel depressed and didn’t before except that I just want to feel normal again.
JonJonesy
24 Dec 2018
I’ve been trying my best to avoid actual anxiety medications. I didn’t even want to take this but decided nothing else was working. Maybe it will just be better to give in and take something else at this point. We shall see
Elmojo
24 Dec 2018
I've been taking st johns wort as I refuse to take ADs... I tried them once and hated them, so trying so hard this time by doing online CBT until I can get in to see someone. I don't think I'd take propranalol daily again, only on an as and when needed basis..
JonJonesy
24 Dec 2018
Has the CBT helped at all ? Was thinking that might be the next best step before the AD. So many people on these say they feel great and just normal but I don’t buy it. I could be wrong...
Mitch94
3 Oct 2018
I am one 10mg tablet a day for servere headaches and have been on it for a few months now, my GP said, I can just stop taking it and I'll be fine but every time I try, by day 3 of no tablets my heart is beating out of my chest and I can't slow it down, taking these pills was the worst decision of my life, honestly.
my question is can anyone help and advise on how to stop taking these god awful things?
Bunty1
3 Oct 2018
Hi Mitch, l have been on propranolol for about 3 months, 40mgs, 3x a day at one point. Reduced to 20mgs and then stopped. I'm now on day 13. Have felt dreadful! The palpitations started on day 6 and finally settled down yesterday... day 12. Still feel rubbish, chest feels strange and extremely lethargic. I'm just gritting my teeth and taking a day at a time. Pharmacist said l should start feeling better after 2wks! Good luck.
Mitch94
4 Oct 2018
@Bunty1 Thank you for your input, my heart has calmed down a lot but it just feels really tight now, day 4 tomorrow though, hopefully it gets better by the day for me seeing as I was on a single 10mg tablet a day, I did go a few days before but this is by far the longest I've gone without, my one fear is a heart attack but I think that's just my anxiety being crappy on the comedown, I have now had a second opinion from another doctor and he said, I could feel better as near as the end of next week judging by my body mass and other stuff too, I appreciate the good luck though thank you and good luck to yourself, I hope you feel better soon.
Mitch94
22 Oct 2018
Sorry for my late reply, I've gone social media quiet while coming off my propranolol, I'm still alive though and haven't had a heart attack, the symptoms have stopped for the most part, I still get chest pain here and there but I'm just over 3 weeks without today, I feel much better, clear headed and the only thing that's happened is my headaches are back but, I can deal with that, I'm just happy to be free of those nasty things, I am struggling a little to control my anxiety but I feel a lot better knowing that even though I ain't in control, it's my mind working against me and not pills controlling me, I can deal with my anxiety but not those side effects of those pills, anyway I hope you are doing better man and are still of them and going strong.
Jennyren
17 Aug 2017
I was on bereblockers for 3 weeks for anxiety but came off them last night as keep getting shortness of breath which scares me just wondering if anyone else gets this as a side effect and how long do it take to settle down thanks
Katie54321
22 Aug 2017
I just started this yesterday only 10mg/ 2x per day. Last night I tried my first dose and it was awful, but I wanted to give it another try. Tonight is better as I only took half, but the shortness of breath is really bad... I thought at first it was just anxiety, but this feels different, uncomfortable, and scary. I believe this will be my last dose, though I was really hoping this would help.
Katie54321
22 Aug 2017
BTW, I survived the shortness of breath last night on 2x this dose, so I know I'll be okay tonight also... just gonna be a tough few hours.
Seekingnormal
7 May 2015
Were you able to stop the propranolol? I'm needing help with the same issue..
suzanne66
17 Oct 2012
The half life of Propranolol is about 10 hours. This is the time it takes for the drug levels in your plasma to reduce by half.
For a drug to be totally eliminated from your system it takes around 5.5 times the half life.
As an estimate then, after taking a dose of Propranolol it should be out of your system after 55 hours ( just over 2 days).
However other factors to consider include:
1. How much and how often you have taken the drug.
2. Your metabolic rate – a slower metabolism will increase the time a drug remains in your system.
3. Your age and health – older age and poor health will generally increase the time the drug stays in your system.
4. Body mass – generally the bigger you are the longer a drug will remain in your system.
Inactive
17 Oct 2012
Great information and well answered.
thebean89
18 Oct 2012
i went on propranolol 80mg because my chest got tight & had a panic attack. i felt really ill off them so the doctor told me to go onto the 40mg which i have done for 2weeks, this week the doctor told me to cut the tablet in half and take 20mg a day & slowly wean off them as i dont really get the tightness anymore & wanna try calms which i more a herbal tablet, the doctor has told me to stop taking them & can take calms but ive been told different. im starting to get really sick & shakey and im getting very hot & my heart was racing but the doctor told me that was normal. im 23 and very healthy just want advise how to slowly come off them & how long they fully take to come out my system. xx
linniecious
8 Dec 2014
Am a 25 young lady who is taking propranolol and amitriptyline..both this medication are very useful but if am experiencing side effect , do I stop or continue?? My pulpitation doesn't bother me anymore, although it comes but not DAT scary like before and my chest pain n shortage of breath occurs on and off but am really trying to calm myself cz I blv am suffering from panic attack , well the doctor told me I myt be suffering from depressing... what should I do??
kaismama
16 Oct 2012
Why are you on it? Does your doc know you're stopping it? If not why are you stopping it?
Related topics
Further information
- Propranolol uses and safety info
- Propranolol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Propranolol (detailed)
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