Propranolol and Sweating: What Users Say (Page 3)

• And...
• February 28, 2019

For Performance Anxiety "A few months ago, I had to make a best man's speech at my brother's wedding. Public speaking gives me the worst anxiety, hands shake, voice starts to tremble, and the sweat starts to pour. When I woke up in the morning, I took 40 mg, about 2-3 hours later, I took another 40 mg, and then another 40 mg 2 hours later, which was 30 minutes before my speech. Once my first words came out standing in front of 200 people, I realized my anxiety suddenly disappeared, almost to the point where I was excited to be up in front of everyone. After my speech was done, multiple people have told me that it was the best best man speech that they have ever witnessed. This came as a total surprise because I'm normally so nervous that I forget everything I am supposed to say. For the people that really want to know how this works, it's simple. It also gives you the ability to think about what you're saying before you say it rather than just rambling on. This drug took out my 'Ughhhhs' and replaced them with short pauses."

• Ami...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2020

For Benign Essential Tremor "Used propranolol only when public speaking. Once I finished college, I didn't need it. Was diagnosed with familial essential tremors, my head specifically at night as I was trying to sleep. The neurologist started me on 10 mg; eventually, I was using 60 mg ER during the day and 10 mg at night. Alleviated my tremors; however, I began to experience extreme fatigue, breathlessness, profuse sweating with exertion, and inability to get out of bed. In addition to gaining 38 lbs, excess belly fat and hip fat. Saw oncologist to rule out anemia, reoccurrence of thyroid cancer. All bloodwork was fine, so I stopped the propranolol. It took a month to get it out of my system, but the adverse side effects ceased. Atenolol was prescribed, and I've refused it."

• Use...
• February 7, 2017

For Anxiety "Golly, I am disappointed. I tried this for my anxiety because it was getting out of control. I could not extend conversations beyond a minute or so without getting all flustered. Could not think, started to sweat, heartbeat faster, tightness in my chest, hands tingle, could not breathe. None of those are fun things! Even basic day-to-day stuff, like getting a haircut, would freak me out enough to avoid. My hair looks terrible now! So my psychologist and MD recommended this drug. He, the MD, told me he took it himself for public speaking. 'Take one 10 mg tablet, and a feeling of calm washes over me.' Unfortunately, I have been taking it three days now, two 10 mg pills three times a day, and I feel absolutely nothing."

• rel...
• November 8, 2016

For Performance Anxiety "I have always been scared of public speaking. I usually experience sweaty hands, flushed face, and worst of all, a shaky voice. I'm in my first year of college and had a presentation assigned. I was nervous for months before the day I had to present. A week before the presentation, I talked to my doctor and was prescribed 20 mg. I took one an hour before my presentation. I still felt nervous leading up to the presentation and even when I was up front. But once I started speaking, I realized my voice wasn't shaking despite how nervous I felt! I couldn't believe it, I could speak normally through the whole thing. I still experienced sweaty hands, but that doesn't really bother me anyway."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 14, 2016

For Performance Anxiety "This drug turned my career around. When asked to present, I would experience terrible voice tremors and shaking. I tried reading books on public speaking, attending classes, and meditating, which all helped, but even if I was doing my best to keep it together during a presentation, I'd always be on the edge, feeling like I could lose control at any second. Heart pounding, sweating, as if I was in terrible danger. I talked to my doctor, mentioned my problem, and got a prescription. This is a miracle drug. I take 30 mg-40 mg 1 hour before a presentation, and I feel like I'm in total control! You still feel a bit nervous in your head, but it curbs all the physical symptoms. It's given me a huge confidence boost."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2016

For Performance Anxiety "Public speaking has been a huge issue for me for years. Even introducing myself was an experience that I would dread for weeks if I knew I had to do it. I've always thought that one day I would adjust and get over it, but I never did. I would lose my breath, forget what I needed to say, sweat, heart rate would skyrocket, etc. My doctor prescribed me this yesterday. I had to speak today, so I tried it for the first time. I still felt somewhat nervous when I was just about to get up, but when I did, I found I was able to get a sentence out because my breath was taken from me. I was able to recall the information I needed. I feel like I'm going to be able to be as successful as I should be now that I've defeated what has become my worst enemy."

• SJ7...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 20, 2019

For Performance Anxiety "This drug certainly does work for those who suffer from performance anxiety. The dread beforehand, during a presentation, standing in front of a group of people, shaky hands, dry mouth, stuttered voice, racing words. But it is not the be-all and end-all. It reduces the physical symptoms of anxiety. It will stop you from shaking somewhat. It will stop you from sweating somewhat, and help you get 'the edge' to make that presentation or performance. Your voice will not be as shaky. You must also try to improve your performance techniques. This drug will help calm, to a little extent, some of the things that unsettle you during a presentation. If you do not know presentation skills, if you do not know your subject you are presenting, then this drug will do little to aid it. A pharmaceutical fix to you being unprepared will NOT WORK. For me, someone who takes this drug to help me through presentations - the type where I am on a podium in front of an audience of hundreds - it works to steady the nerves."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "I have to do presentations for university every year, and they are always horrific, no matter how well prepared I am. My heart is always pounding, and I physically shake - I now know that this is the body’s response to an overproduction of adrenaline when it goes into fight or flight mode. Propranolol completely stops the pounding heart and shaking. For my last presentation, I took 40 mg in the morning and another 40 mg about 45 minutes before, and it worked so well - got an A!!!!! Life-changing!!!! Highly recommend this drug, however, it doesn’t take away the pre-presentation nerves, just the physical signs like shaking, voice tremors, and sweating."

• Sun...
• July 23, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "Definitely recommend trying this. I’m a small female and took 20 mg. I found that taking it more than 2 hours before my presentation was ideal, that way, it helped me stay calmer during the wait for my turn to go up on stage. It’s true that this doesn’t affect the feeling of dread before your event, but when you get on stage, can look at 75 of your colleagues and your heart isn’t about to explode, you’ll be amazed! You’ll hold that mic with no tremors, your muscles won’t tense up. As far as side effects, I’m pretty sure this pill makes me sweat more/feel hot, which is so weird (felt this way even when testing in a non-stressful environment). It also took a few tests to get comfortable with the small amount of drowsiness/sluggishness. Chances are you won’t feel drowsy or sluggish during your presentation because you’ll be amped up!"

• Stu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2018

For Performance Anxiety "This pill is nothing short of a miracle drug. I was hesitant at first, but after reading all of these comments, I figured why not give it a shot. I had a bad presentation about a year ago, and ever since then, I’ve been petrified of standing in front of a large group of people and giving a few-minute presentation. I just did a 30-minute presentation, and by golly, did the pill work. I took 40 mg around 2 hours before, then another 20 mg 45 minutes before the presentation. It completely got rid of the physical symptoms, including red face, quivering voice, and sweating. That presentation was a breeze... it should be a legit crime that people don’t know about this drug. Doctors don’t have a problem prescribing it because it’s an old medicine and makes it nearly impossible to take too much."

• 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."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 8, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed 60 mg ER propranolol for migraine prevention. It doesn’t really help with my migraines, and I still get in spells where I have one every day for a couple of weeks a month. I have been taking it for a year now. I did find out, though, that it helps tremendously with stage fright. I sing at church and would get lip quivering, sweaty, hands uncontrollably shaking, nauseous, and my voice would shake so bad, I could hardly perform. This helps me stay calm enough to sing in front of people, and I honestly take it more for that purpose now."

• Loo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2019

For Anxiety "My doc put me on propranolol at a small dose of 2.5 mg for situational anxiety. The main plus with this med is it is the only one that is not addictive. It does, however, play up with your heart rhythm, slows you right down, and makes you sweat a lot. It makes you incredibly dizzy too. I would not recommend taking propranolol in hot weather because it will raise your heart rate and sweating. The only thing that made me cease this medication quickly was that I am asthmatic. I would not recommend propranolol if you are an asthmatic. It is contraindicated in asthma, so you should not be prescribed propranolol as it will make your asthma worse! It would feel like a hand was grabbing at my throat every night, and it took 3 weeks to withdraw from this med after 6 days of use. Not for everyone, but it is the safest anti-anxiety med. Better than Valium."

• 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!!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Mar...
• February 17, 2021

For Anxiety "I use 10 mg when I have severe social anxiety. It normalizes heart rate, but did nothing to sweating and cold hands."