Posted by yxibow on November 28, 2006, at 16:38:46
In reply to Racing thoughts, fear of bullying, etc. what meds?, posted by Wolf Dreamer on November 28, 2006, at 15:17:59
> I saw on 60 Minutes about a drug called propranolol, which blocks adrenlian and other chemicals that cause racing thoughts, and whatnot apparently. It also is used to help angina, which I may have since I get no exercise, and my heart does feel sore at times.
Well -- I would say, get some exercise, but I don't know if you actually have a medical diagnosis of angina or whether you are obsessing about the possibility. Regardless, walking around the block for 30-60 minutes a day is gentle, recommended exercise for any age and can easily be done.
Propranolol is a non-cardioselective beta blocker and is the most popularly prescribed one. There is also atenolol and nadolol, but I don't know their effectiveness vis a vis propranolol.You want a non-cardioselective (older generation) beta blocker because it doesnt "select" for your heart -- it is an "unclean" drug because the earlier drugs were not tuned like currently prescribed metoprolol, etc., and crosses the blood brain barrier quite effectively and blocks peripheral parts of your nervous system. This includes all the types of anxiety you are describing and then some; it is also an anti-tremor drug, as it blocks that part of the periphery too (your hands).
And by the way it is also used in angina.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsDrugs/Propranololcd.html
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> Its a beta-blocker, one of many.
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> Are there any beta blockers that do not cause memory problems, and do not have a list of scary and potentially fatal side effects?Inderal (Propranolol) has been prescribed in the hundreds of millions of doses by now. It is frequently prescribed for stage fright.
There are no real scary and fatal side effects unless you like to read the PDR for every medication. Beta blockers only become an issue for several reasons:
1) Your pulse is already below 50-60 and you take a significant dose -- you'll probably start feeling cold because your blood pressure and pulse have hit too bit a low point. You might faint if you're not ready to accept the temporary drop in blood pressure. Its not going to kill you unless you take a significant dose at this juncture, but I wouldn't get up or sit down fast, especially on concrete.
2) You are taking it for a long term for the symptoms of anxiety -- remember, it does not get "at the root cause," which I use loosely (i.e. benzodiazepines) and you stop taking it suddenly. If you stop taking a daily prescribed beta blocker, your heart rhythm will alter. This is not a fatal issue if you have a reasonably good heart and can be corrected by resuming the beta blocker and slowly tapering off.Normally propranolol is a PRN drug (as necessary) -- but some do take it long term because their doctor a) decides its appropriate or b) decides its appropriate because they are benzophobic
> I'm terrorfied about being caught out in a situation where I'm helpless, unable to stop someone from speaking to me, pressuring me for something, staring me down, touching me, or standing close to me for the purpose of intimidation.This sounds like a form of OCD/Social Phobia, and propranolol, benzodiazepines, and SSRIs such as Luvox would be medications I would think would be indicated.
> What medications could I take, that will work? Has anyone else had anxiety like mine, worrying about things racing through their head every day, constantly, unable to stop it? What works and hasn't worked for you.Again, this sounds like racing OCD thoughts and more convinces me that a more sedating SSRI like Luvox could be quite effective. But that is up to your doctor's opinion. Paxil as well, is the second most sedating. You probably would not want something like Prozac which is the least sedating and would initially exacerbate your anxiety more than sedating SSRIs in their initial period.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself -- its a hard thing to come to grips with. Autonomic nervous system and somatoform conditions seem like they are looming large, but when one learns to get them under control, they don't own you.Medication is not the only solution -- in fact it is only part of the solution. Here, CBT (behavioural therapy) comes hand in hand with medication and is something that teaches you how to cope with these situations. In fact you don't have to take any medication, you can do CBT alone, but the sheer racing thoughts that it sounds like it has been long enough in your mind that it would probably dictate Luvox/something else + a benzodiazepine and/or propranolol to get it under enough control that you can slowly ditch the medication and it will get better. Again, just a guess -- you need a psychopharmacologist/psychiatrist to help you with this. This is not an uncommon set of symptoms and they are manageable.
Best wishes
-- tidingsJay
poster:yxibow
thread:708227
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061123/msgs/708248.html