Comparing Propranolol vs Topamax

For Performance Anxiety I've always suffered from severe anxiety and a triggered "fight or flight" response during most stressful situations, for the vast majority of my life. Needless to say, often times it has made life an overbearing and unmanageable life for me. Stressful situations generally bring about severe shaking, very rapid heartbeat, flushed red face, shaky voice, "cottonmouth", and feeling like I'm going to jump out of my skin. Propranolol completely, unequivocally, and 100% prevents that for me!!!! It totally shuts down my response to stress stimulus. I take it anywhere from 30 - 45 minutes before nerve-wracking situations and it feels like I'm made of steel! All of the above symptoms are completely eliminated. It allows me to get through otherwise unbearably high pressure and even confrontational situations for me. All physical symptoms of anxiety are simply not there when I take it. If I could rate it higher than a 10 I would!

For Performance Anxiety WOW! So I have had major depression & anxiety since I was 17. I am a 25 year old female. For the past couple of years I would HATE to go to interviews so much so that the last year & a half I did not work because I had constant negative thoughts like I’m not smart enough etc. Every time I would go to an interview my heart would start to physically hurt before, fast HR, my voice would crack, I would trip over words or my mind would go blank. Anti-anxiety meds never helped. I decided to try 10mg of propanolol 1 hr before an interview that my Dr prescribed months ago. I am AMAZED! I was able to speak clearly, by body was calm which in turn made my mind calm, wasn’t shaky, I was able to follow my train of thought & even came across as confident! I went to 3 interviews this week & it worked for all of them. I didn’t feel sleepy, just calm, cool & collected. This med helped me come across as who I really am & I am so thankful for it :) do not hesitate to try it. I wish I started it sooner

For Migraine Prevention Reduced my migraines by about 1/3, but also reduced my weight. I struggled greatly with the side effects. As someone who already struggles to keep weight on, the weight loss with the Topamax was too much for me. It was somewhat effective. If you are not concerned about keeping weight on then this will probably serve you better than it served me.

For Migraine Prevention I had migraines that lasted up to nine days. My neurologist started me on 25mg Topamax and the frequency dropped off immediately. I actually loved the way I felt on Topamax. I had boundless energy, no appetite, and was always in a good mood. After two years, I decided to stop taking it because my skin was breaking out and I think I felt a little too confident in myself. I drove a little faster, said really odd things to people (no filter) and seemed to be turning into a show off about how skinny I was. Not my best personality! I stopped taking it and didn't gain any weight, but the headaches are back. Once my dermatologist gets my skin cleared up, I might go back on it, but will be very mindful of the side effects.