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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Number42 on June 6, 2009, at 16:48:35
Thinking of asking my Pdoc for a script.
#42
Posted by floatingbridge on June 6, 2009, at 18:29:31
In reply to Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxiety?, posted by Number42 on June 6, 2009, at 16:48:35
Hi 42,
I Have social anxiety. Don't know the med you mentioned. Am curious. Good luck.
Candace
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
Posted by Number42 on June 6, 2009, at 20:51:42
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi » floatingbridge, posted by yxibow on June 6, 2009, at 20:32:10
> > Hi 42,
> >
> > I Have social anxiety. Don't know the med you mentioned. Am curious. Good luck.
> >
> > Candace
>
> Its 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
>Thanks Jay, you sure do know your meds!
#42
Posted by linkadge on June 6, 2009, at 21:26:13
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi » yxibow, posted by Number42 on June 6, 2009, at 20:51:42
Propanolol also has some effects on serotonin receptors which may be responsible for its anti-agressive effects. It has some presynaptic 5-ht1a receptor antagonism and may be a post synaptic 5-ht1b receptor agonist. It may also be a weak MAO-A inhibtor.
Linkadge
Posted by rollingthunder on June 6, 2009, at 22:35:06
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi » floatingbridge, posted by yxibow on June 6, 2009, at 20:32:10
I read somewhere years ago that this med was used a lot by public speakers, musicians, etc., before live performances.
It apparently does not work on the brain, only the effects of anxiety, such as shakiness or heart palpitations, as was said.
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2009, at 23:33:45
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi, posted by rollingthunder on June 6, 2009, at 22:35:06
Beta blocker same kind of as lopressor at 25mg was for me as before my first ad my pdoc gave it to me. Made me very tired and couldn't get pulse up during excercise. Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on June 7, 2009, at 3:58:03
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi, posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2009, at 23:33:45
> Beta blocker same kind of as lopressor at 25mg was for me as before my first ad my pdoc gave it to me. Made me very tired and couldn't get pulse up during excercise. Phillipa
That's quite likely at first -- it takes getting used to. You may also have had too large a dose, or your pulse is already naturally low.
Metoprolol (lopressor) is definitely cardioselective and lipophilic.I don't see its use in psychiatry. There are even more selective ones, such as nebivolol.
These are modern medications for heart patients. I know my father takes metoprolol.-- Jay
Posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 12:04:36
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on June 7, 2009, at 3:58:03
I read an article somewhere that suggested the initial cardioselective / noncardioselective claims for beta blockers was not all that accurate. I will try and find this article.
Linkadge
Posted by yoga4me on June 7, 2009, at 15:47:52
In reply to Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxiety?, posted by Number42 on June 6, 2009, at 16:48:35
> Thinking of asking my Pdoc for a script.
>
> #42I was given Propranolol 10 mg to be taken 3 x daily. I have found that "if taken regularly",it helps immensely with the anxiety. I had so much tension that I had trouble breathing. It also helps me with anxiety. I do not feel panic symptoms or have thoughts racing in my head.
I am tapering off of a Benzo and working and don't want to have to quit my job to complete the taper process. It becomes more difficult with time.
Propanolol...This med also helps me get sleep. I have moderately low blood pressure, but the amount that I take, 30 mg a day, is a tiny dose compared to what the docs give people who have blood pressure problems. Hope this helps someone. Yogagirl
Posted by surfergirl on June 7, 2009, at 19:06:25
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxiety? » Number42, posted by yoga4me on June 7, 2009, at 15:47:52
Hi,
I took this back in the early 80's for migraine prevention for a year. It really slowed & calmed me down, for me too much...eventually, I felt like I was underwater all the time. It can drop your blood pressure. If your blood pressure is already low use care when arising. It is a pretty mellow.I actually did think of asking for some for stage fright/tremor but since on Adderal for ADD I am not so anxious. Go figure!
good luck,
surfergirl
Posted by yxibow on June 7, 2009, at 19:22:24
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi, posted by linkadge on June 7, 2009, at 12:04:36
> I read an article somewhere that suggested the initial cardioselective / noncardioselective claims for beta blockers was not all that accurate. I will try and find this article.
>
> LinkadgeThere are some non-acccesible journal articles I believe, but this chart from wikipedia shows the gist:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisoprolol
-- Jay
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2009, at 20:25:33
In reply to Re: Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxi » linkadge, posted by yxibow on June 7, 2009, at 19:22:24
Jay took lopressor about l5 years ago. Seems the cardiac meds change weekly did when nursing. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on June 7, 2009, at 21:48:58
In reply to Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxiety?, posted by Number42 on June 6, 2009, at 16:48:35
Hi --
Just wanted to note I was just being thorough on propranolol -- I am known for going on quite a long journey in posting and writing up things :)
It is a drug that should be considered and monitored but I didn't want to scare people away from it.
It is widely used and when used as directed it is a perfectly fine agent for its purpose
-- Jay
Posted by ParnateStarted2008 on June 8, 2009, at 18:30:07
In reply to Anyone have luck w/Propranolol for social anxiety?, posted by Number42 on June 6, 2009, at 16:48:35
> Thinking of asking my Pdoc for a script.
>
> #42ive always kept a bottle on hand for as needed since I first started meds for Social Phobia.
20mg with a little food 1 hour before doing something socially that could provoke a panic attack/anxiety attack works really good. At least on physical symptoms. My last speach in college 3 years ago I just stood there and read off the screen. No shaking, blushing, exploding heart, cold sweat, or blushing. It really works. for the mind I was on xanax and Paxil. It still was one of the scariest moments in my life but I owe that one very successful moment to propanolol.
This is the end of the thread.
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