Propranolol and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• ms ...
• February 19, 2014

For Arrhythmia "Tried other meds for arrhythmia, but all had side effects I couldn't deal with. This one was most tolerable, although it causes some fatigue and dizziness at times, which are issues I already deal with-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I try to take it at night or at a time when I can rest after taking it if I need to."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "41-year-old male, taking Propranolol for high blood pressure. I took 80 mg once per day for 8 days. It made me feel weird and didn’t help with my blood pressure, so I stopped. It has now been almost a month since I stopped. About a week after I stopped, I started having the following symptoms: - Dizziness when changing the orientation of my head. It lasts for about 5-10 seconds. - Nausea in the morning. - Insomnia. Every single night about 5 hours after I go to sleep."

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2016

For Anxiety "Propranolol is effective in relieving anxiety (caused by family and/or social stress). I use it myself, once daily as a 40 mg tablet. Except that, in the first hour, it may make you feel dizzy. It calms you down through regulating your blood pressure and heartbeat (which are almost always present with anxiety/mania). If you feel dizziness or cold extremities too often, you might want to consult your physician or pharmacist to lower the dose of Inderal to 10 mg twice daily."

• Siz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2015

For Performance Anxiety "I used to have no problem giving presentations or speaking in high-level meetings, but one bad experience, and I developed classic anxiety symptoms. It was debilitating, and I briefly considered having to quit a job which I love. The doctor suggested propranolol - I took 40 mg the next day and felt dreadful. Dizzy, mouth went dry, and my anxiety levels actually went up. However, I continued to take 40 mg once a day, and after about 48 hrs, the side effects stopped. The benefits massively kicked in too. While I still felt nervous just before speaking, when I opened my mouth, I was calm and my voice was clear. Still works great, but I massively advise not to take it for the first time right before an important occasion. Test it out first!"

• Tay...
• August 26, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Have had bad migraines for as long as I can remember. Always would wake up with bad migraines, would last for weeks on end. Tried everything, then I found propranolol a year or two ago. Lifesaver, I tell you!!! Never get a migraine, and if I do, it's because I forgot to take my meds. If I go a while without taking it, I get very, very lightheaded and dizzy and can't think straight. Also hallucinate (could be from my Cymbalta). Another thing is very vivid dreams, but that's okay, I never could remember my dreams before propranolol anyways."

• JDB...
• June 24, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "Went to the doctor for arrhythmia and vertigo. By the end of the week, I was slurring my words, and they thought I may have had a stroke. All tests came back negative. I never had a migraine headache, but after the age of 40, I had what my doctor called silent migraines. There is a family history of migraines. The neurologist put me on propranolol to help with the dizziness and vertigo about a week ago. Starting today, I am on 160 mg. It seems to be helping at times. The problem is I have always had BP of 110/70, it dropped this week to 93/60. They said not to be concerned."

• Lon...
• May 10, 2016

For Performance Anxiety "I gave speeches and presentations for years with mild anxiety, but did pretty well. All of a sudden, at a meeting, I had to get up and present some information, and my heart rate shot up. I couldn't catch my breath. It was the most embarrassing experience of my life. I literally had to sit down. Thankfully, I moved to a new town and was offered a position that required speaking often in front of groups. Out of desperation, I went to my doctor, and he prescribed propranolol. 20 mg one hour before speaking, and I'm a little dizzy, but the symptoms were gone. It does not relieve pre-speech anxiety, but miraculously keeps the symptoms at bay. Bottom line: it works."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2019

For Anxiety "Sorry to say this, but I find this drug a menace. Yes, it helps anxiety should you not mind being up all night through wanting to go to the toilet every hour, dry, itchy skin on hands and face, a bit wobbly and bad balance should you take it regularly. But trying to come off from it is twice as bad as the anxiety I had from a cancer operation in my nose. The doctors must know something better. I would leave it well alone given the choice. No, no, no!"

• all...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Absolutely NOT. This medication nearly killed me. I was prescribed this for migraine prevention, and I don’t even have high blood pressure, which is what it’s mainly used for. All this did was make me feel dizzy every day, constantly faint, and feel like I was gonna either vomit or pass out 24/7. This medication almost put me in the dang hospital twice. I stopped it cold turkey (bad decision), but it made me so agitated and such a nasty person. Did not help with migraines whatsoever."

• jeb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 1, 2015

For Benign Essential Tremor "I started off on 10 mg twice daily, almost 2 years ago, went to neuro for dizziness and migraines and tremors worse. I slowly upped the dosage to 80 mg, and the tremors were even worse. Dropped back down to old dosage, tremors still bad. Dizziness and migraines still bad, tried 4 different meds for migraines, allergic to all 4. Now, along with all that, I have started stumbling, toe will catch on floor. I always try to walk near something to catch myself or hold onto so I don't fall. I am only 43 but feel 80."

• Bij...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I was suffering from migraines for over a year before I sought treatment. By then, I was having one every other day. The day I didn't have one, I was washed out and drained. Within a week of starting propranolol, my migraines were gone. I haven't had a single headache of any type in two months. I also haven't had any side effects. Well, until today. Not really a side effect though. I missed three pills and started getting dizzy, nauseous, and headachy. So it's actually a side effect of NOT taking my medicine."

• Sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 14, 2018

For Benign Essential Tremor "My tremors started in 2013 when I lost my fiancé. The doctors here in Nigeria kept insisting it was shock and it would go in 3 months. Fast forward to a year later, my hands are still shaking, so I did online research and started propranolol, 40 mg. That worked well for a while, then I upped to 80 mg, now, it doesn't work anymore. All I experience now is dizzy spells, migraines, and more hand tremors. I lost my job recently because of the tremors. I am a cake artist, obviously can't work because this tremor is making my life awful. Suggestions please."

• Sec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2019

For Performance Anxiety "I sing in a choir, and when we have concerts (or at my brother’s wedding), I used to have terrible stage fright to the point that I thought I would pass out and would be carted out in disgrace. And, of course, given the volley of terrible signals my body was sending me, my mind would not function well enough to avoid mistakes. Symptoms were: tunnel vision, heart beating incredibly fast, feeling faint and unsteady on my feet, lack of clarity in thinking. Last night, I had a concert where I took 40 mg 20 minutes before my show, and boy, what a difference! While I think I will take a little more and start 30 minutes earlier for tonight’s show, I already know I will be all right. If you are experiencing the terror I did, know that this will help you beat it into submission. It works. Take it, you might even enjoy your performance, eh?"

• Jaw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2016

For Benign Essential Tremor "So I started off taking this medication for 3 weeks. And I thought it would be great. I have essential tremors, hypertension, and my cardiologist was waiting for a few test results before confirming tachycardia. While blood pressure and heart rate are significantly improved. Went from 133 bpm to 84 and 155/95 to 134/75, the tremors haven't stopped. Not to mention the side effects for me: increased depression, insomnia, dizziness, and nightmares."

• xfr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2022

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Propranolol for anxiety, and it did absolutely nothing to stop the anxiety. I was feeling lightheaded and dizzy and panicking more because it wasn't stopping the panic or anxiety. I started having trouble breathing at night and having coughing fits."

• New...
• July 25, 2017

For Performance Anxiety "A year ago, I was asked to read at my friend's wedding, and since the day she asked me, I have been terrified, as I usually experience an extremely intense heartbeat, like it's going to jump out of my chest. I can't regulate my breathing, so I find it hard to even get a word out, and I also experience dizziness, like I'm about to pass out. I took 20 mg the night before to test how I would react to it, 10 mg about 1.5 hours before, and another 10 mg 45 minutes before. I've never known anything like this. I read my speech with clarity, I could even look up and make eye contact with the bride and groom. My fiancé was gobsmacked. Usually, he has to try and calm my nerves. All night, he kept saying how amazing I did. I have a newfound confidence now."

• Nud...
• February 24, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on 40 mg Deralin (propranolol) for 3 years. I still get daily headaches and the occasional migraine. I find I have dizziness and vertigo, lethargy and tension whilst on it. I also have trouble exercising - because I get puffed within 2-3 minutes of cardio - like almost vomiting, kind of puffed! Deralin has helped with my headaches a little, eliminated my tremor, but the biggest improvement is with anxiety. It's almost zero. I have attempted to reduce my intake because I'd like to get fit. But was met with overwhelming dizziness, vertigo, and panic attacks within 5 days of decreasing my dose to 20 mg. So it's great for some things, but hard to get off. I'd love to hear of something similar that has less side effects."

• Nud...
• February 24, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on 40 mg Deralin (propranolol) for 3 years. I still get daily headaches and the occasional migraine. I find I have dizziness and vertigo, lethargy and tension whilst on it. I also have trouble exercising - because I get puffed within 2-3 minutes of cardio - like almost vomiting, kind of puffed! Deralin has helped with my headaches a little, eliminated my tremor, but the biggest improvement is with anxiety. It's almost zero. I have attempted to reduce my intake because I'd like to get fit. But was met with overwhelming dizziness, vertigo, and panic attacks within 5 days of decreasing my dose to 20 mg. So it's great for some things, but hard to get off. I'd love to hear of something similar that has less side effects."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2022

For Anxiety "I was given a low dose of propranolol for my anxiety and to help with my increased heart rate from my Adderall. It definitely helps lower your HR. I did not notice any help with the anxiety. After being on it for a few weeks, I got a lot of side effects, where I'd feel 'high' - fuzzy, confused, full body tingling. I got extreme vertigo and headache, and my pulse went down from 101 to 80, but then after a few weeks, I'd get random pulse drops and go down to as low as 55 for like 3 minutes at a time. Then I felt so sick and weak, and my brain was mush. So for me, this was a definite 'no' med."

• ZZA...
• November 17, 2016

For Benign Essential Tremor "For a year, I had been taking one (40 mg) once a day, and it definitely helped my tremors. However, it did cause a lack of energy, weight gain, as well as too large a drop in blood pressure levels, causing dizziness. Now, I only take one if I'm having a bad day of tremors. It helps but takes a long time to kick in."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2017

For Benign Essential Tremor "Having essential tremors for 30 years, I was used to having them. Then they changed, I was also getting the head and voice tremor along with my hands, so I decided to get treatment for them. Doctor and neurologist's answer was propranolol. Basically, I spent 3 months in hell. I had almost every side effect: cold hands and feet, I was tired all the time, I had no energy, I was dizzy and lightheaded. My blood pressure got too low, and I didn't want any 'alone' time with my boyfriend. And that was all from 5 mg at night. It did help my head and voice tremors, but not my hand ones at all. The doctor took me off of it, and still weeks later, I'm left with the side effects."

• Beb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Recently, I had a hemorrhagic stroke, and afterwards, I was having the worst headaches along with some anxiety. My doctor prescribed propranolol 20 mg per day. I started taking this medication last week, and yesterday I began to feel as though my speech was more clear and my mind wasn't as jumbled. I have been experiencing dizziness, but checking my blood pressure on a regular basis. At this time, it's just nice that other people are able to understand me when I talk. Unfortunately, my headaches are still occurring, but not as intense. My anxiety has seemed to decrease. Since this is only my second week taking this medication, time will tell."

• drs...
• January 18, 2018

For Benign Essential Tremor "I am 27. I have had hand tremors earlier in life, but it escalated with my job profile as a bank teller. I consulted a neuro physician and started taking 40 mg, and it improved, but it came with the side effect of dizziness at the end of the day. I have stopped taking it after a few weeks. Also, more importantly, I have stopped taking any tea or coffee. It helped a lot. I take propranolol as the SOS and also on some occasional days, like when I am required to do tasks that are not part of regular days. It normally kicks in 10-15 minutes."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking propranolol 60 mg ER prescribed for high blood pressure (HBP) for a week now, and the only thing about it is I get a little dizzy and very tired. I never in the past had high blood pressure before, it was always low, but I've been extremely stressed. I took my first dose at 11:00 in the morning because my blood pressure was so high. I'm trying to get it to where I take it at night so I won't be so tired during the day. That's when you're supposed to take the extended release. I'm hoping my energy will come back, because I don't have any right now, but at least I'm not wound up clenching my fist anymore. I'm much calmer."

• EMT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2018

For Anxiety "Was prescribed 10 mg propranolol after sudden onset intermittent supraventricular tachycardia, borderline ventricular tachycardia, due to PTSD. Have taken many SSRIs and SNRIs with horrible side effects or received no results. My doctor thought this would be a good next step. Well... not so much. Took my first dose and within 45 minutes started feeling dizzy, lightheaded, and nauseous. Nausea progressed to the point of vomiting and dry heaving for 4 hours until I could keep Zofran down. Also, it made my blood pressure bottom out to 86/58 [clinically hypotensive], normal BP 110/70. Due to IBS, I'm more prone to GI side effects but never experienced anything so severe. Doctor told me to immediately discontinue and prescribed atenolol to replace it. We shall see how that goes."