Posted by katekite on November 5, 2005, at 18:11:45
In reply to Cymbalta update… and question (long), posted by Minnie-Haha on November 2, 2005, at 11:59:59
Hi,
I have had experiences with two beta blockers.
I started with atenolol (for blood pressure) which did work for racing heart or for that feeling that the heart is pounding, and jittery or sweaty hands, and helped me breathe more regularly. It did not help at all with feelings of anxiety.
Atenolol chemically does not cross the blood brain barrier so it can't help with brain things.
Switched to propranolol (which is able to go into the brain), that has been just excellent for the brain anxiety component. It can help me get to sleep if every little noise makes me alert and wake up. Times when I would be going around half holding my breath feeling jittery, or feeling irritable with a short fuse, take a pill of propranolol and 15 minutes later without feeling a drugged feeling start with giant sighs and feel so much more relaxed.
There are times when its not enough, times for example when I am specifically anxious about something, those are times for me that benzodiazepines like Ativan or Valium are more helpful. But for general whole body anxious/jitter/amped/agitated feeling then beta blockers have been really helpful for me.
Don't start with too much. 10 mg of propranolol maybe, different people need really different amounts. If nothing happens in a hour then you can take more.
If you take too much beta blocker you will notice a heavy feeling or get light headed, as your blood pressure drops a bit low. Also it can be associated with "the beta blocker blues" a dull feeling like depression for some people (though not for me).
Kate
poster:katekite
thread:574523
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051031/msgs/575714.html