Beta Blockers

Anyone taking beta blockers for their anxiety?  I'm to start 10mg of Atenolol for my panic attacks.  My blood pressure is really good, usually, except I do have spikes when I panic - but nothing to worry about.  For those who don't know what beta blockers are, they are used for blood pressure, anxiety, heart murmers and Mitral Valve Prolapse, etc.

My only worry (I have a fear of taking meds) is that my blood pressure will fall too low.  The beta blocker is suppose to keep the heart from racing and prevent palitations.  My doctor said with being on such a low dose, it "shouldn't" fall too low.  Shouldn't!!??  So I was just wondering if anyone else knows anything about this and/or takes this for their panic.  I've tried several SSRI's and they have failed (long story).  So my doctor wants to try this route.

Thanks!

I have used Atenolol before and it worked well to slow my heartrate down. I tend to get a rapid irregular heartbeat when I throw up which anxiety causes in me, and when my heart rate gets out of whack I take the Atenolol and it calms it down. Good luck and it is safe. Hugs!

I was on toprol for 2.5 weeks, and it did slow my blood pressure down too much. I was on 25 mg and it brought my pressure down to 88/66 with a heart rate of 60. And that was with me awake sittng in a chair with a blood pressure cuff on my arm.. who knows what it would go down to when I slept. I certainly was worried and was moving extremely slow. They told me to go down to 12.5, half a pill to fix this.

I already had low blood pressure to start with, but the anxiety spikes it during episodes.

No you don't need to get a blood pressure checker. I hope you did well lastnight taking this med. Keep us posted.

I chickened out last night and didn't take it! I'm going to tonight (I think)! No, I'm going to. I just need to keep telling myself everything you all told me and that it should help! I'm so terrified to take meds, because I've just had so many bad experiences. The Lexapro that I took made my heart race like crazy and palpitate SO badly. So they took me off of it. And I had an allergic reaction to a couple things and ended up in the hospital, so I'm just really terrified. And I'm especially nervous about a heart medication!

But I really am grateful for your comments. It's really encouraging. I'm going to start with a really low dose - only like 7mg or so. My doctor said that would be fine if it made me feel better to take a lower dose. I know I'm avoiding it because I know taking it will send me into a panic attack.

Can you take klonopin with it? Klonopin doesn't make me drowsy, but should I take it or just take the darn beta blocker alone?