Propranolol and Increased Heart Rate: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Ner...
• August 3, 2016

For Performance Anxiety "I was prescribed this by my doctor to take to calm me down for a job interview. I tested it today for a mock interview at university, and it is amazingly effective. I usually suffer from an increased heart rate, clammy hands, shaky voice and body, and a nervous red rash that spreads across my face and chest. I was so calm after taking 20 mg an hour before the mock interview and one 10 mg fifteen minutes before. My body remained completely calm like it would if I was just watching television at home. Still some nervous thoughts, but because my body was relaxed, I was able to stay in control and interview well. Still a bit of a nervous flush, but nowhere near as bad as unmedicated. Can't wait to see how this holds up for the actual interview."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2021

For Anxiety "I am prescribed 160 mg slow release for severe anxiety. Absolutely life-saving, all the physical symptoms of anxiety have disappeared completely. I've been on all sorts, from benzos to pregabalin. By far, propranolol is the most effective medication I have taken. I would very much recommend it. The only downside is it took a few weeks to adjust to it, but other than that, all fine. There was one period where, due to specific reasons, I was unable to have my medication (over a few days), and the withdrawal was very unpleasant. My heart was racing at absurd speeds, etc. However, thankfully, I managed to obtain my medication again, and things returned to normal."

• Anx...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2019

For Performance Anxiety "I would get physically sick (high heart rate and could barely speak) with stage fright before I got this script. After I got prescribed propranolol, my physical symptoms went away. The reason for the 9/10 instead of 10/10, the correct dosage is very hard to get correct, along with it doesn't help the mental symptoms at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I'm a 53 kg female, so quite small. I'm in a leadership role and have struggled with presenting most of my career, despite having to do this frequently. I have struggled through major fight or flight symptoms, with voice shaking, heart racing so fast it's like running a marathon, fast high voice, and cognitively clouded, not being able to think properly. Propranolol has been a game changer for me. I take 10 mg 90 minutes before, and it completely removes the fight or flight response. I am yet to try 20 mg but plan to try before the next big presentation to see if this makes a difference."

• Dee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2021

For Performance Anxiety "When taking propranolol, I have been able to speak in front of hundreds of people without shaking, sweating, or having a racing heart. I can maintain the ability to think clearly and speak precisely while engaging with large crowds. The medicine strictly deals with the physical aspects of stage fright and allows the brain to remain focused."

• ano...
• January 10, 2019

For Performance Anxiety "I talked to my doctor about my stage fright, and she prescribed me 20 mg of propranolol. I've used it one night last week at a performance, and I did not experience any of the physical symptoms of stage fright that I usually have. I usually get dry mouth, sweating, a throat tightening sensation, racing heart, and shakiness. I was nervous, but it was literally only in my mind. My body was able to function normally, and I was able to sing freely, confidently, and I felt AMAZING. I took 60 mg that day, one at around 2/3 pm and 2 more at 8/9 pm, 30 mins before my performance. I won't be using propranolol for every performance because my goal is to naturally be able to control my stage fright symptoms. If you're suffering from performance anxiety, definitely give propranolol a try to help manage your nerves!!"

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 4, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "OMG! I've always been nervous presenting because of all the symptoms described and did have a panic attack on stage in front of colleagues and execs several years ago - a horrendous experience, which has compounded the issue. After discovering the reviews on this site, I just tried propranolol for a presentation in front of 100 colleagues on stage - what a difference. No dry mouth, no racing heartbeat - just easy control of the situation. Obviously, preparation for the content is key too, but none of the usual symptoms. I wish I'd discovered this decades ago - my career started in the late '80s, and I've always steered away from presentations when I could. Always been fine when sat around a table, but always feared presenting when I stand in front of a crowd. I took 10 mg 2 hours before and 20 mg 1 hour before."

• Nic...
• November 6, 2017

For Performance Anxiety "I recommend this drug to anyone who gets choked up, shakes, or has a racing heart while presenting or in general anxious situations. I developed terrible performance anxiety surrounding presentations from the age of about fifteen, and it has persisted throughout college. This was a big problem as I am in a business course, we have to present. Before trying propranolol, it got to the point where I physically could not take part in public speaking. I would choke up to the point of not being able to speak, and it was humiliating. I was prescribed propranolol by my GP. I take between 10 and 30 mg for presentations and interviews (I am 5'8” and a girl), and it completely eliminates the physical symptoms of anxiety. Go to your GP and get a prescription!!"

• blo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2019

For Anxiety "Propranolol is a horrendous drug I was given for anxiety. I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack. Within hours of taking the first tablet, I had to go to A&E as out of the blue I would go red hot, my face and neck looked like it was on fire, then I would instantly go freezing! My heart felt like it was beating out of control. I was kept in the hospital overnight for monitoring and told to stop taking the tablets straightaway."

• Cer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "This drug just works. Looks like a real life saver, like everyone said on here. I used it for presenting in front of 1,000 people. I have always experienced performance anxiety, but I was handling it after a few minutes of shaky voice, dry mouth, and high heart rate. This time it was a big event, and I was in a very bad mood for even one week before the performance due to the large audience. I took 40 mg 1 hour before the performance, and it was amazing. I tried 20 mg 1 day before the event to observe the effects on my body. I need to make sure that it's not causing any unmanageable side effects. There were none. (This is only for me; don't jump to any conclusions here. Ask your doctor and try it by yourself.) Like everyone says, this doesn't have any effect on nerves, but your body won't let you down. Make no mistake; you still need to work really hard in your performance. I did at least 5 practices before the presentation. I was fully prepared and ready!"

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I play in a community orchestra and have had anxiety playing in a public concert: dry mouth, pounding heart, sweaty hands (difficult for playing the violin), and loss of concentration. Tried one 20 mg tablet of propranolol one hour prior to the concert. I was free of the physical symptoms, and though I was still a little nervous, I was able to concentrate and enjoy the experience."

• UK ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2017

For Performance Anxiety "I never write reviews, but I promised myself I would add a comment if propranolol lived up to the other reviews on this site - and I'm so pleased to say it did! My whole working career, I have struggled with controlling nerves when presenting. Most of the time, I struggle through, but I have had a couple of bad experiences where I choked up, including one where I just finished super early and walked off because my throat started to close up. Recently, I had to present to senior management and all of my peers, and I have been dreading it since finding out. I took 40 mg an hour before my presentation, and it worked exactly how everyone else described. I felt calm and in control - mainly because my heart wasn't racing and my voice was in control."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 19, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I have historically had mild stage fright, which gets better or worse depending on context. It is worse mostly when I have to improvise, including introducing myself. It used to be a little less bad when I rehearsed my act into an unnatural puppet act. But the whole thing worsened at age 48 after a couple of bad experiences and when I actually invented excuses to leave rooms - the “flight” in practice. My therapist recommended propranolol, and it was fantastic! Firstly, just reading all the reviews on this board, that fear of fear days before the event reduced sharply. Then on the day of my presentation, heart rate and shakiness increased as usual hours before, so I took 20 mg 3 hrs before, 10 mg 90 mins before, and 5 mg 30 mins before. I was not nervous. Gave me control before I walked on the stage. Different from others on this board, I felt it working before the speech, and it gave me a total confidence boost. Such a pity I did not find out about this sooner."

• Ann...
• July 21, 2019

For Performance Anxiety "I suffer from stage fright, shaky voice, fast heartbeat, my hands get shaky when I'm nervous. I'm in South Africa, I want to try it, but I might need to get a prescription from the doctor. It is called Inderal here in South Africa."