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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 26, 2004, at 8:30:03
what does propanol actually do for you? does it relieve anxiety? i don't quite understand its use.
thanks
Posted by dazed on January 26, 2004, at 10:02:49
In reply to propanol users........i don't understand??, posted by dragonfly25 on January 26, 2004, at 8:30:03
I take it as part of my preventative treatment for migraines. I think it is actually a high blood pressure medicine but not exactly sure. I think it keeps your blood vessels from constricting.
Posted by crazychickuk on January 26, 2004, at 10:40:28
In reply to Re: propanol users........i don't understand??, posted by dazed on January 26, 2004, at 10:02:49
I was given 40mg inderal to take as an as needed basis for anxiety... it slows the hrt rate, lowers ya blood preasure, stops you sweating... the usual anxiety symptoms.. it is a good med for an anxiety sufferer..
Posted by rod on January 26, 2004, at 12:58:47
In reply to Re: propanol users........i don't understand??, posted by crazychickuk on January 26, 2004, at 10:40:28
Its good for the physical symptoms of anxiety. But not very good for depression. If I even take a small amount of it I get depressed as hell. Thats a known fact my doctor told me.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 26, 2004, at 15:46:13
In reply to Re: propanol users........i don't understand??, posted by rod on January 26, 2004, at 12:58:47
so it really helps with anxiety symptoms? do you not experience the rapid heart beat etc. it just goes? that sounds amazing!
i wonder why it isn't used more? do u take it regularly? and is the depression immediate or does it come on slowly? sorry about all the questions, i am so thrilled to hear about this.
one more question.....are there any other side effects besides depression that u have experienced?
thanks
dragonfly
Posted by crazychickuk on January 26, 2004, at 16:39:32
In reply to crazychickuk » rod, posted by dragonfly25 on January 26, 2004, at 15:46:13
Hi, i just take as needed basis, i do get depressed within an hr or so, as it slows me right down, it stops the panick almost immediatly, you be surprised the amount of people that have taken it before, if you suffer with depression i wouldnt recommend it, but if you take an ad maybe it would be ok for you, you may feel a little dizzy depending on the dose as it slows you right down.. Just take small doses as needed, if you take one everyday you will get immune to it and it wont help you if u get panicky. thats what my doc told me..he said to take it when i need it not everyday if i dont need it..
it is excellant for anxiety not as addicting as benzo's thats why this med is well used by many anxiety sufferers. especially people in my area as the docs have stopped given benzo's.
donna
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 26, 2004, at 17:07:28
In reply to Re: crazychickuk, posted by crazychickuk on January 26, 2004, at 16:39:32
thank you,
i do suffer from depression so maybe i should rethink it. the depression bit sounds pretty bad, do u know why it does this? but it sounds like a great drug :( that is too bad.dragonfly
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 26, 2004, at 23:47:05
In reply to Re: crazychickuk » crazychickuk, posted by dragonfly25 on January 26, 2004, at 17:07:28
Sorry to butt in, but since I have considerable firsthand experience with the "depression" caused by beta-blockers such as propranolol, I felt the need to interject.
About a year and a half ago (give or take six months... there's a lot of gin floating around my bloodstream right now--give me a break, lol) I was prescribed Neurontin (2.4 grams daily), Nardil (120mg daily) and Klonopin (5mg daily). My dose of Klonopin just wasn't cutting it, and the other two meds weren't helping me at all. So my doctor put me on propranolol at 10mg twice daily as it is known to increase Klonopin's effects. It didn't help the first couple weeks, so when I went back to him he told me to increase it to 20mg twice daily for one week, and then up to 20mg three times daily. My third day on 60mg daily I felt as if I had descended into the darkest pits of hell. It wasn't exactly a typical mental "depression" per se... it's hard to describe, actually. First, I noticed my hands and feet felt very cold no matter what I did -- this is very common with beta-blockers and can lead to a syndrome known as Reynaud's phenomenon. Quite an uncomfortable feeling. Then two days after noticing this side effect I woke up one morning feeling literally braindead. My physical capacity was all there... but my brain was going at about 2 MPH while the rest of me was trying to go 60 MPH. Typing on the computer was extremely difficult as my hands didn't seem to receive messages from my brain at the proper times. I wound up just resigning myself to lying in bed staring at the ceiling the rest of that day.
The next day I was feeling roughly the same, but was also physically slow and lethargic. I wasn't really "depressed", but I was quite unhappy, if that makes any sense. The only thing I can compare it to is the feeling you have with a *really* bad hangover, minus the headache and stomach upset.
Luckily, my stepfather had considerable experience with antihypertensive medications, and when I mentioned the symptoms he told me that they sounded very similar to those he experienced while taking Corgard (nadolol -- a beta-blocker similar to propanolol). I quit taking the propranolol that day and woke up the next day feeling back to normal... whatever that is. :-)
I believe the beta-blocking drugs must cause this sluggish, uncomfortable state due to a decreased action of noradrenaline at certain sites in the CNS. After all, drugs which increase or accelerate noradrenergic function (i.e. amphetamines, Ritalin, Strattera, Edronax, Wellbutrin) tend to increase energy and motivation.
Anyway, moral of the story -- if you start a beta-blocker for anxiety, be sure to exercise extreme caution in titrating the dose upwards. And at the first hint of malaise, call your doctor!
Posted by missinglynx on January 27, 2004, at 3:48:07
In reply to Re: Inderal depression » dragonfly25, posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 26, 2004, at 23:47:05
Wow that sucks alot Ame Sans Vie! Thanks for the personal firsthand story. Also did you know that Inderal blocks the affect of Thyroxine~! (which is also been used for Treatment Resistant Depression). IT totally obliterates the affect of Thyroxine on the cells!
This is NOT a good thing.
Posted by crazychickuk on January 27, 2004, at 6:28:45
In reply to Re: Inderal depression » Ame Sans Vie, posted by missinglynx on January 27, 2004, at 3:48:07
Whats worse depression or anxiety? ask yourself that? there is no harm in just trying the beta blocka for just one time, see how you get on, just take it as needed, ie... before exam or before a speach etc...
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 27, 2004, at 6:58:57
In reply to Re: Inderal depression » dragonfly25, posted by Ame Sans Vie on January 26, 2004, at 23:47:05
WOW! that sounds really terrible. thanks for sharing that.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 27, 2004, at 7:04:47
In reply to Re: Inderal depression-dragonfly, posted by crazychickuk on January 27, 2004, at 6:28:45
good point, they are both bad but at different times, if you know what i mean. but exams and other stressful times is exactly what i want it for. not daily use. do you suffer from depression? if so, have you ever ended up in a depression after one day of use? I still want to try it.
thanks for your help
Posted by delna on January 27, 2004, at 20:17:22
In reply to Re: Inderal depression-dragonfly » crazychickuk, posted by dragonfly25 on January 27, 2004, at 7:04:47
Hi all
just wanted to add that I am bipolarII and when I
get even slightly agitated on my meds, inderall 20mg helps me alot. My agitation is sometimes predictable ( on a bad day) and taking inderall early on before this escalates really helps
thnx
D
Posted by SandyWeb on January 27, 2004, at 20:23:53
In reply to Re: Inderal, posted by delna on January 27, 2004, at 20:17:22
Hi all,
I take Inderal LA 80mg twice per day. It actually helps with the PHYSICAL symptoms of anxiety, but does nothing for the PSYCHOLOGICAL symptoms. It keeps my blood pressure and heart rate at an even keel. And it also prevents blushing, stammering, dry mouth, fainting, etc. It prevents the adrenaline rush from entering the heart, and everything stays at a "feel safe" level.
But that doesn't help with the FEAR when you have to give a speech. BUT....if you're not stammering or blushing.....that in turn helps you to feel in control.
You may want to ask for the Inderal LA version. It does cross the blood/brain barrier, so it could make you depressed. But if it doesn't make you depressed (like me!), then I would suggest that you ask your doctor to put you on it for maintainence....not just as needed.
Good luck!
Sandy
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 27, 2004, at 20:33:50
In reply to Re: Inderal, posted by SandyWeb on January 27, 2004, at 20:23:53
how long does one dose last...if it was taken on an as needed basis? a couple hours??
thanks
Posted by SandyWeb on January 27, 2004, at 20:43:30
In reply to how long will it last?, posted by dragonfly25 on January 27, 2004, at 20:33:50
The LA version (Long Acting) has a half-life of 12 hours. That's why I take it twice per day. It allows my blood levels to stay constant instead of dipping every time the med wears off.
The regular version just has a half-life of four hours.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 27, 2004, at 22:48:20
In reply to Re: how long will it last?, posted by SandyWeb on January 27, 2004, at 20:43:30
Posted by Emme on January 27, 2004, at 23:45:18
In reply to Re: how long will it last?, posted by SandyWeb on January 27, 2004, at 20:43:30
I've been meaning to try to find out how easily it crosses the blood-brain barrier compared to the other beta blockers. Maybe someone will beat me to it with the info. :) If memory serves, my pdoc mentioned something to the effect that it doesn't cross as easily as some of the others, but I haven't found the actual data.
Posted by dragonfly25 on January 28, 2004, at 7:12:44
In reply to check out atenolol, posted by Emme on January 27, 2004, at 23:45:18
thanks for the info, i just did a search and it looks like it definately doesn't cross a easily as the others, i pasted some of what i read below. So am i understanding correctly...does this mean it will be less likely to cause deperssion?
Lipid soluble drugs such as propanolol penetrate the blood brain barrier.They may cause nightmares and vivid dreams.
Polar drugs such as atenolol less likely to penetrate the blood brain barrier.Polar beta blockers are eliminated almost entirely unchanged by the kidney eg atenolol.
Alternative is to use a drug which is eliminated by the liver eg propanolol or metoprolol
Posted by SandyWeb on January 28, 2004, at 9:19:43
In reply to Re: check out atenolol » Emme, posted by dragonfly25 on January 28, 2004, at 7:12:44
Atenolol:
Distribution: Distributes into most tissues and fluids EXCEPT brain and CSF. About 5-15% protein bound.
Half-life: 6-7 hours
Onset: 1 hour
Peak: 2-4 hours
Chemical effect: Selectively blocks beta-1 adrenergic receptors; decreases cardiac output, peripheral resistance, and cardiac oxygen consumption; and depresses renin secretion.
Therapeutic effect: decreases blood pressure, relieves anginal symptoms, and reduces CV mortality rate and risk of reinfarction after acute MI.
Adverse Reactions:
CV: fatidue, lethargyCV: bradycardia, hypotension
GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Skin: rash
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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