Propranolol and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Ser...
• March 1, 2021

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Propranolol for migraine, 2 x 10 mg daily. This was in 2019. I was feeling a bit strange and became very anxious. My GP told me to up the dose to 40 mg and put me on antidepressants. I was feeling worse and worse, then developed tinnitus. I still didn't realize it was the Propranolol and asked my doctor to change the antidepressants, as I assumed it was that that was making me ill. I felt lethargic, depressed, dizzy. When I finally realized at that point it was Propranolol, I was taking 80 mg slow release. Didn't have any interest in anything and lay on the couch all day. I told my doctor I wanted to come off of it. She told me to drop 50 mg. I was so ill. Stayed in bed for 2 weeks. Couldn't keep my legs still, panic attacks, anxiety, which I had never experienced before. I was so very ill. To cut a long story short, I finally got weaned off it. I have been off it for a month but still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It comes in waves. Will never touch it again."

• Mea...
• October 11, 2020

For Anxiety "I was prescribed propranolol for anxiety, 10 mg twice a day. It helped, but I was very tired and dizzy all the time. Now my doctor is weaning me down to one pill once a day. I just experienced a bad side effect: very tight chest, thought I was going to fall down. I can't stand this medicine. I never had any heart or blood pressure issues. I hope I don't get any now."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2019

For Anxiety "I’ve only gotten the chance to use Inderal (10 mg, one tablet) a couple times for anxiety and feelings of starting panic attacks, but it successfully calms my anxiety and my heart. I’ve only used it during the evening, so I cannot say if it causes lowering of my blood pressure to the point of dizziness. I feel fine walking around at home, also doesn’t cause tiredness. My biggest concern was that it might cause problems with my asthma as well, but that hasn’t been affected either."

• Anonymous
• June 23, 2010

For Performance Anxiety "It has changed my life. Absolutely can't live without it. I started taking 20 mg 2 x daily, and I had some side effects for the first 4 months, like being tired, and it slowed my sex drive down. Now I really don't have any side effects, they have disappeared. The doctor told me to just give it some time. I have been put on all kinds of antidepressants, and they made me worse. Thanks to my wonderful doctor, I can live a normal life now."

• dri...
• July 14, 2019

For Anxiety "Propranolol helped with sweaty hands and tremors. The doctor told me 10 mg, maybe 20 mg, at those doses, I didn't feel any different. Then I tried higher doses at 40 mg in the morning, 40 mg in the afternoon, then 20 mg at night. Finally got the benefit at higher doses. It works like benzos without the tired or loopy side effect."

• Cot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2022

For Anxiety "My husband died under traumatic conditions, leaving me with anxiety and PTSD. Despite counseling and taking a mild dose of Diazepam for over 18 months, I was wracked with anxiety on waking every morning. I would have heart palpitations, a churning stomach, and jelly-like legs. Sometimes these awful symptoms dissipated as the day wore on, sometimes they didn’t and would increase in certain social situations. My GP decided to prescribe Propranolol 10mg, taken as soon as I wake. I still take 3mg of Diazepam a day, which I’ll be weaned off. After taking the first Propranolol, my anxiety abated after 30 minutes. I have been taking them for a week now, my anxiety on waking has gone, I’m calmer and feel, since my husband’s death in 2020, that I have started to move forward as the awful physical symptoms are now under control. The side effect of tiredness will, I hope, abate as time goes on."

• gho...
• June 14, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking Propranolol once a day at bedtime to help control my migraines. It has been exactly a month that I’ve been on it. It has helped me immensely with keeping these awful migraines at bay, with the exception of only having one migraine the entire month. About two weeks ago, I started having signs of depression. I have no appetite, no energy, and I’m always fatigued. I feel really terrible about myself, and I haven’t a clue why. I lost eight pounds, and on my small body frame, that is a lot. I have absolutely no urge or desire to eat whatsoever, things I used to enjoy, I no longer care about. I’m at a very low point from this medication. I have had no other changes in my life that would be causing these side effects, therefore, I know it’s from the Propranolol."

• Bmw...
• June 21, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Took this for the first time today - 10 mg daily is my dosage (once in the am and once in the pm). I took 10 mg this morning at 8:00 am on my way to work. This is used to treat both my anxiety and high blood pressure, apparently. After about an hour, I started feeling very dizzy, then the nausea came. My eyes were heavy, and I was exhausted. It was all I could do to stay awake at my desk. Flash forward to 12:00 pm, I’m leaving work. I want to go home and nap, but I can’t sleep and have a headache. Truly just waiting for this to wear off and never take it again. The half-life is 10 hours, so only 2.5 more to go, I guess."

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I've been on 40 mg propranolol twice a day for 2 days. It's eased off my anxiety so I can walk around and my legs aren't like jelly and also slowed my racing heart. Obviously, this medicine does nothing for the mental effects of anxiety. It's definitely brought a calm over me. I feel a bit woozy after taking the meds. It made me very tired but also given me insomnia. I can deal with all this just to get a sense of calm and be able to function normally. If your doctor offers you this for anxiety, please try it before you go down the benzo route. (By the way, this is really important: DON'T take it if you are asthmatic, it can cause airways to constrict.)"

• Ann...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 16, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking propranolol for arrhythmia for years with no problems and actually was on a very low dose. After trying several drugs for high blood pressure (HBP), resulting in horrible side effects, we increased the propranolol a little. It is doing a wonderful job at controlling the (HBP). I am a bit more tired, but it's not knocking me out, and I'm quite satisfied with this medication and how it's working."

• Pat...
• September 10, 2021

For Arrhythmia "3 days in on a tiny 10 mg x2 (20 mg total) for arrhythmia, I started feeling strange, lethargic, depressed, and waking in the middle of the REM cycle with heart pounding. I did some research, this medication crosses the blood-brain barrier (other beta blockers do not), where it has a direct effect on the central nervous system. I figured better safe than sorry, so even only being on for 3 days, I'm doing a quick taper off, 30 to 20 on the first day, then waited a few days to drop to 15, and dropping by 2.5 every 4 days since. I am down to just 7.5 mg per day, I still feel all the side effects that started on day 3. But I think a somewhat careful taper is smart. More proof you need to do your research and don't trust your doctor knows what medicines actually do. This is a very old drug, there are many better beta blockers that have been developed since. I was told this was a heart medication designed to stop irregular heartbeat, wasn't even told of any potential side effects or withdrawals."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2016

For Panic Disorder "This medicine has been a Godsend, especially with the Upsher-Smith version of propranolol. I no longer feel like I have panic attacks anymore, my anxiety is gone, and my performance has done a great job, especially at work. When I took the Actavis Elizabeth version, I had all kinds of side effects. I was very lethargic, I couldn't take a shower, I couldn't cook, I couldn't clean my house. It was awful. Then I went to another pharmacy and got the Upsher-Smith version. I was very leery about it, and I did my extensive research and found out that this is one of the best generics of propranolol. I'll be sticking with this version, but don't try the Actavis Elizabeth version because it will mess you up. Try the Upsher-Smith, and you can go on with your life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking the 80 mg propranolol slow release for migraines for about 4 months now. While it has stopped my migraines, it's made me incredibly tired and in a constant low mood. I still get headaches, quite a lot of tension headaches, maybe because I'm so tired all the time. I've always been consistent with going to the gym, but I've put quite a lot of weight on recently - partly because it's a side effect, but also because I've had no motivation or energy to get to the gym. I'm also cold ALL the time, especially my hands. People in my office have the air-con on, and I'm sitting here in a big jumper, shivering. I really don't like this drug, but I'm not sure there are any drugs that would stop my migraines and not make me exhausted. :/"

• All...
• September 22, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I started this drug last night. I had a very sore chest, a bit of trouble breathing, and trouble sleeping. Today, I am very tired and have no energy. I only took 10 mg. Has anyone else had this problem?"

• All...
• September 22, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I started this drug last night. I had a very sore chest, a bit of trouble breathing, and trouble sleeping. Today, I am very tired and have no energy. I only took 10 mg. Has anyone else had this problem?"

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2011

Propranolol for Migraine Prevention "Inderal has definitely helped with my migraine prevention. I started getting migraines when I was 13. Now, in my late 20s, I am finally migraine-free besides the odd one I get due to hormones or when really stressed out! I reduced to taking 40 mg in the morning rather than 40 mg morning and night and have found the migraines still stay away. The only side effects I've had were nightmares initially, that soon went away after a couple of months. I get very cold hands and feet, sometimes in warm weather, my feet are still cold! I also feel slightly more tired/sleepy, but it's worth it compared to the regular migraines I was experiencing beforehand."

• wiz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2024

For Panic Disorder "I started Propranolol 10 mg tablets not long ago and can tell you it's a game changer. My panic attacks would cause racing heart, which would lead to chest pain and shortness of breath. My average resting heart rate sat in the 80s-90s before this medication. Now it sits around 60-70. It's a difference I can actually feel. The slower heart rate takes some 'getting used to,' but stick with it. It takes effect rather quickly also, about 40 minutes on average, which helps to take it ahead of time if you are going to do something that may cause anxiety. The most common side effects I've noticed are tiredness, cold extremities, and sleep disturbances. I was told this would subside the longer I'm on it. I have medication anxiety and usually give up on stuff that causes unpleasant side effects, but this one has a lot of potential to turn my life around!"

• Sha...
• October 8, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I have to say this medication changed my life! I kept having these chronic migraines with symptoms of a stroke. No feeling in my limbs, can't see, can't hear, throwing up, passing out, and they were relentless and left me in the ER 24/7. I passed out on someone on a bus and woke up unable to speak my name in an ambulance. I began taking this med, and the original effect was low blood pressure, tired a lot, and it made me quit taking it. I noticed my symptoms return shortly after quitting on it. So I tried taking one whole 20 mg tablet during an attack, and I couldn't believe it, my vision returned and the attack ended early. I have taken it 4-5 times daily ever since, and it saved my life. Haven't had a single attack in years!"

• Dee...
• February 19, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been taking this medication for 7 days now at bedtime, as recommended by my doctor. I have been having severe nightmares, awake half the night, and exhausted in the morning. I am waking to my heart rate beating faster than when I work out. I am not going to take it tonight and see what happens. I haven't read anything about the side effects I am having, has anyone else had these side effects?"

• Dan...
• August 22, 2015

For Performance Anxiety "Very good for day-to-day anxiety. Only downsides can make you feel tired when walking, a bit light-headed sometimes, short-term memory loss, and long-term use will lead to some hair loss. When I reduced the drug over a few months, my hair started to grow back! Good medicine, but go easy at first."

• Kla...
• January 14, 2018

Propranolol for Migraine Prevention "Using Inderal LA 80 mg since Nov. 7th, 2017. The side effects were quite strong (heart rate low (45-50), fatigue, etc.), so I take now a 60 mg dose (since Nov. 22nd). In 2 months, I had only 5 mild migraines. More interestingly, since Dec. 16th, no migraine at all. I used to have 8 to 10 migraines per month on average! The only problem is the side effects that are still there, though less. When I do exercise, even light ones like walking, I feel tired and weak. I feel like my heart cannot fully give me the power to cope with its need. Before that, I tried 2 types of antidepressants, to no avail. I cannot take hormones for other medical reasons. Inderal is working, and I am happy. But..."

• big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Since I had my child 3 years ago, my anxiety manifests as migraines with aura. I have had rosacea most of my life and get laser treatments to keep it under control. I started experiencing migraines every month about 3 days before my cycle, neck cracking, and general discomfort. I decided enough was enough and to actually try taking something. My doctor gave me 80 mg Inderal LA, and the first month was really hard. I was tired 6 hours after I took it for about 2 hours, to the point that I could hardly type or compose a thought at work. Now, after 2 months, I feel great. I don't get upset over little things, I can think without hundreds of thoughts, and this has worked so much better than Buspar, Zoloft, or 5HTP for me. I recommend giving it a try."

• Ano...
• November 27, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Didn't seem to do anything apart from making me tired and depressed. When I finally came off the drug, it was like I was given my life back. It didn't seem to help the migraines either, in fact, it was while I was on the drug that I had the worst migraine of my life."

• Bre...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 25, 2024

For Migraine "I've been taking propranolol for migraines for 30 years. Started with 80 mg LA, then 60 mg LA, but at 50 y.o. titrated down to 10 mg. Higher doses made me tired. It lowers my blood pressure and pulse rate, keeps me calm, good for anxiety. The only thing I noticed around year 15 is it has affected my breathing and lungs. Feel out of breath a lot - otherwise I would give it a 10."

• Jam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2021

For Anxiety "This is the drug for which Sir James Black was awarded a Nobel Prize, and well deserved. Even 50 years later, still, every few years, newer and newer applications are discovered, just recently that it can help overwrite traumatic memories in your brain. For me, 40 mg propranolol completely stops anxiety and panic, I have a heart rate of 60 instead of 130 in the same situations. It is a true miracle drug if you are anxious about your heart or high heart rate, well deserved Nobel Prize. Just one small pill and your high heart rate (due to anxiety) is cured. Side effects on my side that you feel too calm, a little lethargic, and weak. A little slower in mental tasks. Withdrawal, after taking it for a longer time, can be bad for 2-3 days, but still manageable. I truly highly recommend it for anyone taking it in phobic situations or anxiety about heart."