Propranolol and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Rab...
• October 12, 2017

For Performance Anxiety "I'm not one who usually takes the time to write a review, however, this drug is worth it. I'm a 25 y/o female nurse. I've struggled with public speaking since HS. I would dread upcoming presentations for WEEKS. As the day drew closer, the more anxious I became. I would even throw up the morning of my presentation. Sometimes I would do great, other times, my fight or flight response would take over, and I'd be a voice-cracking, red-faced, trembling mess. OH, the embarrassment! Fast forward to present day. I was asked to speak on the radio and was VERY nervous. My doc prescribed Propranolol 40 mg 1 hr before. I still felt anxious, but the moment I spoke, it was magic! Please, if you suffer from public speaking anxiety, talk to your doc!!"

• Amb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I started having anxiety, which maybe started my high BP. I was also having constipation issues, which were putting severe strain on my heart. I was prescribed 60 mg ER, and I really didn't notice a change in my BP much after taking it for 2 months. It made my anxiety worse, and my mood was just blah. So I stopped taking it a week ago today, and I feel better. My BP was 117 over 78, and it was 125 over 88 while I was on it. I don't know, I didn't take it at night. Maybe I would have had a better outcome, but I'm feeling better and more like myself. I have a lot of other symptoms, and it's sometimes hard to distinguish between what's causing what and what to do about it."

• dfm...
• June 20, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I have generally had pretty good success presenting in meetings. However, when it comes to presenting in front of a larger crowd, I have always struggled with stage fright - heart beats fast, shaky voice, talk very fast, and my brain feels clouded. Recently, I had to present in front of a large crowd and had a bad episode. Since then, I have had general anxiety whenever I have had to talk even in smaller meetings, which never happened before. My doctor prescribed me propranolol, 20 mg, 1 hour before the event. I tried it last week when I had to give a speech in front of a large audience. I was nervous throughout the week up until I held the mic and started talking. When I started talking, I did not have any of the symptoms. I was able to deliver my speech well. It worked like magic! For this specific event, I had 20 mg, 2 hours prior to the event and another 20 mg, 1 hour prior. Since then, I have been having only 20 mg, 1 hour prior to any stressful meeting, and it still works."

• dfm...
• June 20, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I have generally had pretty good success presenting in meetings. However, when it comes to presenting in front of a larger crowd, I have always struggled with stage fright - heart beats fast, shaky voice, talk very fast, and my brain feels clouded. Recently, I had to present in front of a large crowd and had a bad episode. Since then, I have had general anxiety whenever I have had to talk even in smaller meetings, which never happened before. My doctor prescribed me propranolol, 20 mg, 1 hour before the event. I tried it last week when I had to give a speech in front of a large audience. I was nervous throughout the week up until I held the mic and started talking. When I started talking, I did not have any of the symptoms. I was able to deliver my speech well. It worked like magic! For this specific event, I had 20 mg, 2 hours prior to the event and another 20 mg, 1 hour prior. Since then, I have been having only 20 mg, 1 hour prior to any stressful meeting, and it still works."

• Can...
• October 9, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "Useful and surprisingly effective to manage the physical manifestations of performance anxiety (in my case, public speaking, which includes any formal time when I'm asked to speak to a group - I'm fine if I am simply participating in a volunteer capacity in a discussion - just that I get irrationally worried when I'm told ahead of time that I need to present, participate, lead a discussion, etc.). In such cases, I'll lose sleep, be stressed, anxious, worried, and debilitated. Well beyond normal jitters. This medication really helps keep the body calm. Have used it about 3 times in the past few months. Only thing I wish is that it would calm the pre-presenting worries, which still persist. Hoping that over time, with enough events without physical manifestations, the pre-speaking jitters and worry will subside."

• Can...
• October 9, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "Useful and surprisingly effective to manage the physical manifestations of performance anxiety (in my case, public speaking, which includes any formal time when I'm asked to speak to a group - I'm fine if I am simply participating in a volunteer capacity in a discussion - just that I get irrationally worried when I'm told ahead of time that I need to present, participate, lead a discussion, etc.). In such cases, I'll lose sleep, be stressed, anxious, worried, and debilitated. Well beyond normal jitters. This medication really helps keep the body calm. Have used it about 3 times in the past few months. Only thing I wish is that it would calm the pre-presenting worries, which still persist. Hoping that over time, with enough events without physical manifestations, the pre-speaking jitters and worry will subside."

• Can...
• October 9, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "Useful and surprisingly effective to manage the physical manifestations of performance anxiety (in my case, public speaking, which includes any formal time when I'm asked to speak to a group - I'm fine if I am simply participating in a volunteer capacity in a discussion - just that I get irrationally worried when I'm told ahead of time that I need to present, participate, lead a discussion, etc.). In such cases, I'll lose sleep, be stressed, anxious, worried, and debilitated. Well beyond normal jitters. This medication really helps keep the body calm. Have used it about 3 times in the past few months. Only thing I wish is that it would calm the pre-presenting worries, which still persist. Hoping that over time, with enough events without physical manifestations, the pre-speaking jitters and worry will subside."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "My panic attacks - pounding heart, breathlessness, inability to speak - came on suddenly. After 15 years of presenting in front of various audiences, the panic attacks just started one day - I didn't even feel stressed. First, they happened only during important presentations, once or twice a year. Now they happen on the phone, in informal meetings, etc. - but only in work-related situations. The only stress I feel is that I am going to have a panic attack. The doctor prescribed 20 mg Inderal 30 min before a presentation. I have found that 40 mg (with Doc's approval, of course) 1 hour before works best for me. If I take a pill, I never have a panic attack. However, I reserve pills for important presentations, and if it happens to me during a meeting, I just blame it on asthma and ask to take a minute to catch my breath. No side effects for the drug other than it seems to make me really thirsty and maybe a little jittery."

• sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I had what can only be described as a mini panic attack during a presentation before 10-12 people, and since that time, I have developed a terrible performance anxiety when giving sales updates to management or giving presentations. I tried hypnosis... didn't work. I decided to take the plunge and try propranolol. I take 60 mg when doing presentations I'm very nervous about. It does NOT stop the feeling of anxiety, but when you start speaking, you don't go bright red, your voice doesn't close up or go shaky, and you feel as if you are just talking to a friend/acquaintance, this helps keep you calm and stop the ultra panic spiral. It's not a miracle cure, but it definitely helps."

• Mac...
• March 24, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I have struggled speaking in front of large crowds over my career in leadership. Specifically with the first couple of minutes from adrenaline, which would noticeably make me talk fast, be short of breath, cracky voice, etc. It hasn’t been horrifying over time. Recently, I had to speak for 30 minutes in front of every leader in my region, which was over 100 people. I came across this site and figured I would try this pill based on the high reviews. This pill is a miracle! I killed the presentation and never suffered from the effect of high adrenaline when I was speaking. Now, this will not fix the anxiety leading the presentation, however, once you build confidence that you are able to communicate effectively when in front of everyone, the anxiety will become less and less. I experimented with different dosages before the presentation and decided to go 20 mg two hours before and 10 mg an hour before. I am 180 pounds, so this might differ based on your tolerance."

• Blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2021

For Anxiety "I've been taking it for a few days now, and my anxiety has worsened. I feel my heart thudding in my chest really hard, and I can't stop crying each time I take it. I took diazepam with it one time, and I still was hyperventilating."

• Lad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2018

For Anxiety "I have severe PTSD and anxiety. My doctor, whom I have now left because they’re dumb, gave me this to help. Says to take 20 mg as needed for my attacks, and it does absolutely nothing. I still sweat and shake and have horrible anxiety. Not worth it."

• Mee...
• August 24, 2021

For Anxiety "Am currently on this drug at a dose of 40 mg. Then I decided to take a break, it was awful. I had chest pain, anxiety, and weakness on the left side of my body. Then I came back, and all the symptoms left. Now I feel like a prisoner with this drug."

• Twi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 27, 2022

For Benign Essential Tremor "I take 20 mg twice a day (40 mg total), one in the morning and one at night. I've been on it for 3 years. I’ve struggled with social anxiety/phobia for 15 years. I’ve always had a tremor, however, anxiety would make my tremor so bad that my whole body would convulse. You could hear the tremor in my voice when I talked, and my head would twitch. It stopped me from speaking to and eating around people. Since taking propranolol, the bad twitching has almost completely stopped. I still get anxiety and the occasional panic attack, but my physical symptoms are much more controlled. I also noticed I rarely get migraines anymore-I used to get them every couple of months. This medicine has changed my life."

• Ecr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2025

For Arrhythmia "20 mg up to 2 times daily. Completely stopped my PACs/PVCs at first, but the tiredness and anxiety made it not worth using in most cases. Effect also seemed to wear off if used too frequently. I might ask the cardiologist for a beta blocker that only works on the heart (e.g., metoprolol) to see if it reduces side effects."

• Anonymous
• March 13, 2012

For Panic Disorder "Have tried other medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants. Propranolol helped the most. Without it, there is an uncomfortable feeling."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 30, 2019

For Anxiety "Worked amazingly the first 2 months, then I started becoming paranoid, depressed, and delusional... Also, it made my hair fall out! This is not a chemical meant for long-term use."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "Was on this medication for 3 weeks, and it was the worst 3 weeks ever. Had diarrhea, night sweats, fatigue, and terrible palpitations and anxiety."