Propranolol and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• 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."

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 6, 2025

For Anxiety "Stopped shaking inside PTSD, but took 3 tabs, 40 mgs. I had all side effects: fake stroke! I am lowering the dose but feel unwell now-tired, weak, headaches. It is effective, but the side effects are horrid. I will taper down as much as possible."

• F C...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "52-year-old female; BP 139 for almost 2 years. Then suddenly I have ringing in my ear, vertigo (Ménière’s disease), vision problems, and severe back pain all came at once. Tested in the doctor’s office and systolic was 150; immediately put on Inderal (10 mg b.i.d.). It instantly cured my above symptoms but started to have chest tightness, very tight, always gasping for air... and a bit of a headache after 3 weeks or so. As well as very unstable and fluctuating heartbeat... sometimes 101 and resting 55 bpm. Very uncomfortable, will discuss with the doc this Sat. and see what he thinks."

• OLI...
• April 9, 2012

Propranolol for Migraine Prevention "This was great for a preventative, I really love this medication, but I'm always so incredibly tired and fatigued. I recently started a morning boot camp at work and am unable to finish a few minutes' worth of exercise without muscles cramping up or my endurance just plummeting, and I'm wiped out for the rest of the day. After some research, I switched over to a cocktail of feverfew, magnesium, and riboflavin, and will see how this works out. I've been off of the Inderal for 5 days and have a bad headache today, but I'm not tired for the first time in months!"

• Jay...
• June 20, 2019

For Performance Anxiety "29-year-old male, 75 kg. Suffer from panic attacks when presenting. Voice wobbling, etc. The drug suppressed the adrenaline associated with anxiety. After taking it, the experience for me was one of fear of presenting but no fast heartbeat, flushed cheeks, sweaty palms, or sheer panic. A controlled, edgy, subtle fear, which turned to excitement and enthusiasm once I started speaking and felt none of the usual symptoms. It is a great option for people like me who have panic attacks. Dosage: I took 10 mg a day before to get used to it and ensure I felt okay. Next day, I took 20 mg an hour before the presentation, and it was great. I was worried I’d taken it too early or maybe not enough and was tempted to take another 10 mg pill. In the end, I just stuck with the 20 mg, and it worked a charm. Side effects: slight headache on both occasions, dry throat a few hours after taking it, very tired for a few hours after taking it, where I have needed to have a nap. Finally, it upset my stomach slightly."

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on Inderal for 2 weeks now and starting off on 20 mg and getting to 80 mg in a few weeks. I have the worst ringing in my ears and feel unsteady on my feet and still pain in my head. I’m hoping this drug is going to work as I've been on antidepressants and Topamax and to no avail, neither drug has worked. So I am going to try and stick with this till 80 mg and see what happens. Something has to work sooner than later...!!!!!"

• soc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I've always had social anxiety to the point that it not only affects me in group meeting settings but even talking on a conference call or sometimes one-on-one at work. Propranolol has saved my life and career. My new job requires me to speak to groups of people, and without it, I would be a walking panic attack. With a 10 mg dose, I can go through my day without the panic setting in. If I need to do a presentation, I will take 20 mg, and it has not failed me. I will say initially, it made me super drowsy and gave me headaches and just drained me. Once I started taking it consistently, after about 2-3 weeks, those side effects were gone. So if you are dealing with those effects, try it consistently and see if they diminish. I'll always deal with anxiety and panic disorder, but this drug keeps the physical symptoms at bay and allows me to proceed with my life. And for that, I am so, so grateful."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on propranolol 20 mg twice a day (another dose as needed) for almost 3 years. I found out I had high blood pressure plus started getting panic attacks and anxiety. This med helped my blood pressure. I would still have anxiety issues, so sometimes I take Xanax 0.25 mg. Sometimes it does help with minor headaches, but not all the time. I like this med since it helps with other issues. But for me, it just helps with my blood pressure and calms my heart palpitations. I used to get them a lot more. Before the med, my BP was in the 150s. Now I’ve been in the 120s, sometimes 130. Some people have said this affects their sex life, but not me. I still have a strong sex drive, and luckily my husband's insurance covered it fully."

• Mad...
• November 18, 2018

For Anxiety "I took it, and it is horrible. I could not sleep at all, even with 2 mg Valium and sleeping pills prescribed by the doctor. It made me worse, and my blood pressure went higher than usual. Now I did not sleep and have to go to work. I told my doctor that 2 mg of Valium was not helping with my anxiety, so she gave me this medication. Omg, I have had her as a doctor for 2 years. I asked her if she could just give me a high dosage of Valium. To control my panic attacks, she said I would get addicted. I'm 46 years old, taking 2 milligrams of diazepam, and it is not working. Propranolol is the worst thing I ever had. It even gave me a headache. I'm up just like it every day. The daytime, horrible."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2012

Propranolol for Migraine Prevention "I'm 15 and have been getting bad migraines for about a year. I have been taking Inderal for a few weeks. I have felt carsick for almost the entire time I've been on this medication, I have been really emotional and have not had an appetite, and I have been very dizzy and am still getting headaches."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Effective for stopping migraines, but headaches and other side effects don't make it an effective remedy: muscle pain, sleep apnea, stomach upsets even though I take omeprazole. I was much happier taking Imigran when I got a migraine rather than taking these tablets, and shall be seeing my doctor to ask about other possible medication that doesn't impose on my well-being as much."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I’ve only been taking propranolol for about 2 weeks. I started with 10 mg at bedtime and began taking another 10 mg in the morning per my doctor’s instructions. Unfortunately, it has been giving me more headaches and migraines. I’ve been getting at least a bad headache nearly every single day. I know it can take anywhere between 4 to 12 weeks for it to really start working, so I’m trying to stick it out, but it is rough right now."

• Ann...
• May 28, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I have just started taking propranolol, have suffered migraines for years, and they seem to be getting worse. Often it seems when the weather is overcast. Don't know if anyone else has found this. I did wonder if pollution was a problem. This is my second day, and I am feeling tired, with a bit of a headache, but I will carry on taking it and hope these symptoms go away after time."

• CLA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2023

For Panic Disorder "Decided to try a beta-blocker as an alternative to antidepressants. I was given a low dose (10 mg daily) due to low blood pressure. It dampened certain symptoms of a panic attack (racing heart) without removing the underlying anxiety or mental distress. I didn't feel like myself and decided to come off them. The only side effects were mild drowsiness and headache. Obviously, this is only my experience - give it a go and see if it works for you."

• jac...
• October 9, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "I took it for 2 weeks, then cut off cold turkey as lack of sleep and extreme irritability. I never had these two issues prior to usage. Even if I were to taper off, my hope was to get it out of my system as quickly as possible. I would rather have tremors and headaches than be so uptight that even my chest shakes."

• adh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "This medication has definitely helped me in many ways! I used to get migraines at least once a week. Sometimes I may get a headache that feels like it could turn into a migraine, but doesn’t, and that’s almost always caused by barometric pressure. I also have anxiety, and my heart will go fast after having any caffeine or my Vyvanse. It helps with that too! I haven’t had an anxiety attack in months! I highly recommend this, as it helps with many things! :) Definitely give it a try!"

• B_P...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "Excellent medicine with some fantastic results. Have suffered previously with almost debilitating bouts of anxiety and intense headaches made worse by stress. Propranolol has been a lifeline to me. Calms me right down, reduces heart palpitations, and has improved my overall quality of life. Non-habit forming as well, making it a clear contender in the battle against migraines and anxiety."

• NCa...
• June 22, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I've had a debilitating fear of public speaking my whole life, and it has affected my career. I resigned from two jobs because I feared having to present. Every time I've had to present, it's been a nightmare and so humiliating to the point where I've had terrible panic attacks. What started as a fear of presenting has evolved into anxiety from conference calls, leaving voicemails, meetings with 2 or 3 people, interviews, etc. I'm female, weighing 51 kg, and was prescribed 40 mg. I took it 1 hour before an interview, and it was too strong for me. I felt like I had been tranquilized (very slow and spaced out). I had to really make an effort to concentrate. It worked though! I was still nervous, but the physical symptoms were gone, which made me feel calm. While this drug is life-changing, it's not without side effects. I've had headaches, dry mouth, lack of concentration, insomnia, and shallow breathing. These side effects aren't enough to keep me from using it though. It really is a miracle drug!"

• abb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 14, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I suffered from migraines terribly, I'm only 15 now, and I got them almost every day. I got put on propranolol, and it was perfect! I only had migraines a couple of times a month, however, a while after using it, it didn't work, so I stopped using it altogether and got put on pizofen (or something like that). I am off medication at the moment, but I get headaches very easily (like waking up with curtains open, so I'm in bright light. It doesn't even have to be sunny). I think I may start taking propranolol again."

• Anonymous
• April 2, 2009

Propranolol for High Blood Pressure "Inderal works well with hardly any side effects. One good side effect is that it stops severe headaches if you happen to have those with your high blood pressure."

• cle...
• November 15, 2008

Propranolol for Migraine Prevention "I've been taking InnoPran XL for almost 2 years now, and I've had one headache in that time frame. Previously, I used to get 2 a week. It has changed my life."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2008

Propranolol for Migraine Prevention "I have been on this medication for the past 2 months and absolutely see a remarkable difference. I've gone from a headache a week to one slight one in 2 months."

• Sus...
• September 8, 2019

For Anxiety "Never again. Made my hair fall out. My blood pressure is high. Put on 8 lbs. Had a headache constantly. Weaned myself off it over 4 weeks, and I still feel dreadful."

• Anonymous
• November 10, 2011

For High Blood Pressure "It was to help me with my headaches. It did at first, then I started with headaches every day again and made my legs ache. So I stopped taking it. Also, made me dizzy."