Posted by JayDee on October 7, 2004, at 3:20:48
In reply to Re: Xanax-XR and Inderal-LA working for my anxiety!, posted by utopizen on October 6, 2004, at 16:14:33
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> > Really? I thought beta blockers were not supposed to affect cognitive functioning at all...Infact I have an article at actually classifies it as a 'nootropic'... was your experience different?
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> the "nootropic" statement I've read in "smart drugs ii" the book clearly says it reduced anxiety that reduces IQ, thus netting an increase in IQ if your anxiety is markedly decreasing your IQ and the beta blocker is less of a decrease in your IQ than the anxiety you would otherwise have that decreases your IQ.
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> In other words, your anxiety has to be so bad you're retarded from it.Well, I guess I'm retarded then, because that's exactly what happens to me in social situations. even public in general. ;-(
anyways, that's completely different then the article i'm talking about.
heres a cut and paste(sorry, lost the author and source):Propranolol Hydrochloride (Inderal)
Propranolol hydrochloride was for many years the most prescribed drug in the U.S. It is usually prescribed for the control of high blood pressure. However, it has one effect that in some situations can be thought of as intelligence-increasing.
Propranolol blocks the receptor site for adrenaline in the muscles. Adrenaline is often referred to as the flight or fight neurotransmitter. This means that fear (such as stage fright) can cause the body to release enormous amounts of adrenaline into the blood steam. This was a very effective bio-chemical strategy when most feat-producing situations called for fighting or fleeing. Unfortunately, fighting and fleeing are of little help when one is giving a presentation to the board of directors, taking an important exam, going out on a blind date, or attending a social gathering with important and intimidating strangers.Fear causes the body to spiral into an ever-increasing loop more adrenaline causes more fear, which causes more adrenaline, etc. Propranolol can help. Blocking adrenaline interrupts the fear spiral. So propranolol is an intelligence-increasing drug when used in situations where fear prevents one from thinking normally.
Propranolol has one more very interesting side effects if it is used on three or four different occasions in a situation that normally causes fear, you may no longer need to use it in that situation. For example, you may have a new job that requires you to give weekly speeches. If the speeches are in the same room and the same people are there each time, you will probably not need propranolol after a month or so. If the fear situation involves new places and people, the effects of propranolol may not generalize this quickly, if at all.
Precautions Propranolol lowers blood pressure. People with hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) should not use propranolol. Always take propranolol with food or it may cause nausea, especially if taken with just coffee. do not use propranolol in situations where you may need extra adrenaline, such as athletic events or other activities requiring great physicalk exertion. Propranolol should not be used by people with asthma or arterial spasms. Propranolol should not be used by people within two weeks of having taken an MAO inhibitor or certain other drugs for psychiatric problems (check with your doctor) or during the pollen season, if you suffer from pollen allergies. Use with caution if you have chronic bronchitis or emphysema. If you are diabetic, you should be watched carefully by your doctor. Use cautiously if you have kidney or liver problems. The safe use of propranolol during pregnancy has not been established.
Dosage 10 to 30 mg one and a half hours before the event that usually causes a fear response. Propranolol can cause nausea if taken on an empty stomach, especially if it is taken with coffee and no food.
poster:JayDee
thread:399449
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041002/msgs/399886.html