Posted by Cam W. on May 25, 2000, at 23:23:53
In reply to CAM!!! What's Propranolol, posted by Tina1 on May 24, 2000, at 22:16:30
> Hey bud: What can you tell me about propranolol as an anxiety cure? Just read something about it and got totally confused, I thought it was a blood pressure med. Thanks--Tina
Tina - The fence builders cut our phone line yesterday and it was just restored about 1/2 hour ago. Sorry that I could not answer sooner.
Low dose propranolol seems to have good mood stabilizing effect in many people. I have also seen it work wonders in people with migraines and have been tempted to try it for stage fright before a presentation (haven't yet).
Doses used for the above indications are much lower than are used for hypertension (it is a ß-blocker).
One thing to watch for when starting it is orthostatic (postural) hypotension. That is when you get up from a sitting or lying down position too fast and feel dizzy or faint. This usually only happens at the start of therapy. To avoid it you should get up slowly (eg when in bed, sit up slowwly and sit on the side of the bed for a minute or two before standing up slowly. This gives the veins in your legs a chance to close (ß-blockers slow the reaction time of your veins contracting). Basically what is happening in the when you get up fast your blood pools in your legs and leaves your head, causing fainting and dizziness (this is due to gravity). Your body will adjust to this side effect after a week or so.
I have been surprized how well propranolol has work for preventing migraines and as an augmenting agent (or sometimes by itself) to stabilize mood.
Doses for mood stabilization are generally 60mg to 80mg daily. This can be taken 3 or 4 times daily (20mg at a time) with the inexpensive short-acting version or once daily as 60mg (80mg) long-acting version.
Hope this helps. - Cam
P.S. Our nurses and support staff have initiated a job action (strike), so I will be too busy to post for the next little while, as I have to take care of all medication problems, refill requests and help follow those clients who were released early from the hospital because of the strike. Fun times! There are about 7 of us doing the work of 70. - C.
poster:Cam W.
thread:34548
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000517/msgs/34688.html