Posted by yxibow on June 6, 2009, at 20:32:10
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi, posted by floatingbridge on June 6, 2009, at 18:29:31
> Hi 42,
>
> I Have social anxiety. Don't know the med you mentioned. Am curious. Good luck.
>
> CandaceIts a beta blocker used for a variety of purposes.
Because its non-cardioselective (most older ones are), it doesn't affect the heart as much, and also affects the peripherals, arms, etc, shakiness, symptoms of some types of anxiety disorders.
It is not like a benzodiazepine because it does not target one of the key receptors in anxiety, GABA.
Instead it targets symptoms.So it is used by doctors who don't want to prescribe benzodiazepines, but also for EPS from antipsychotics (pseudoparkinsonism/shakiness, etc), and for anxiety disorders.
Its typically used PRN, as in as necessary.
If you take it consistently, you have to discontinue it consistently, not because of habituation particularly, but because it affects the heart, pulse, blood pressure.
If you naturally have low pulse/low blood pressure it is probably not the best idea for an agent, or the lowest dose should be used.
Fainting is a possibility though not a huge one, but one to monitor -- in the first days or weeks you should monitor your blood pressure/pulse if you can with fairly cheap and reliable OTC cuff meters from pharmacies.
It can make one feel colder, and it has been known to worsen depression, though I haven't particularly felt this, but it does sometimes alter other symptoms.
It is most known for using for "stage fright", just before a performance. There, the beta blocker naive, must remember that they are taking a heart agent.
This all being said, yes, it is used in GAD and other conditions.Other agents that are similar are nadolol and timolol but propranolol is by far the most useful and most prescribed I would say.
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:899700
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090531/msgs/899737.html