** Propanalol - betablocker **

Do you know if Propanalol helps at all with ainxiety?  

Have you tied it, has it helped you?

I was once told to try it as its a betablocker and would slow the heart and is meant to also help with anxiety....

Just because it slows the heart, does that mean that you cannot get panic attacks?

I have also had valium suggested to me, to try and calm me down, but I dont know which of the two to try.

ANY HELP APPRECIATED.... xx

Vikky,

I take beta blockers and I have panic disorder. I have had every test possible done on my heart and the doctors say there is nothing wrong with it. So yes, Beta blockers are used for Anxiety disorders. I have panic disorder and according to my doctor thats all that is wrong with me. I take Atenolol which is like the med you are asking about.

The question for u Vikky is, does your heart seem to beat faster than normal when when u are not having an attack? Example, does your heart start pounding sometimes if you just simply walk from one place to another?

Your doctor will not give u the beta blocker simply to take for panic attacks, but if you have heart palputaions and higher than normal heartrate (a rested heartrate over 70) then he will give it to you.

Again, I have Panic disorder and rapid heartrate and higher than normal rested heartrate that comes with having an anxiety disorder. So the beta blockers work wonders for me.  could not live without them.

Vikky,

Symptoms of anxiety include high heartrate and heart palputations. I have both of them. Like I said, the doctor told me there is nothing wrong with my heart (he is a cardiologist) So yes, Beta blockers do help anxiety disorders (mainly the high heartrate and palputations though, thats it) If u don;t have those symptoms beta blockers will not help u much. If your doctor did recommend them to you for a hole in your heart it could not hurt.

Does the hole in your heart have any symptoms? Do u notice its there? What I would do if I were u is ask yourself this, how bad is my anxiety? If it's bad I would say take the beta blocker, if u are getting by fine then there is no need.

I know for sure that the beta blockers are what keeps me going everyday. Without them I would be a mess! It keeps my heartrate at a safe level, 60-70 when rested. My anxiety is what causes my heartrate to be high in the first place.

""How long did it take for you to feel the effetc of the betablocker?  How long til it help with your anxiety? xx ""

That was 8 years ago. I don't really remember. I know it could not have been long though. I know that I suffered for weeks though...because back then I took nothing. I guess to be safe I would say it took a week to get better with the Atenolol(beta) I also started Xanax and Imempramine. The beta slowed down my heartrate overnight though. Only becuase of the Beta blockers I can go on from day to day, thats for sure.

Another thing Vikky, you say the anxiety is so much to take right now...that must mean that your heartrate is always up....right?

I say take the beta blocker...especially since you have a hole in your heart that causes irregular heartbeat. Think about it, the hole in your heart causing the irregular heartbeat is probably what is REALLY causing your anxiety. The irregular heartbeat makes you think you are going to die of a heart attack right? That makes you scared, so it gives you constant anxiety.

The same thing goes for me, I am scared to death of having a heart attack because of my palputations. I then have a panic attack thinking about it.

i am on a beta blocker toprol xl, its for hypertension but ,it also slows your heart rate,dr. said it would help me.

.....Well peeps I honestly did not know thanks for the info .............take care and God Bless .........Lyn

Hi. My name is Peter. I'm 53 and suffer with B.E.T. (Benign Essential Tremor). This causes my whole body & all my functions to shake. Shaving is like playing Russian Roulette, and even simple tasks such as signing my name or brushing my teeth is difficult. I have had this illness all my life. It gets worse by the year. I have had so many "tranquilisers" including Valium. I started on 5mg of Valium a day & within a month or two I was taking 100mg a day. I lived in a daze. In 1994, I was prescribed Propanalol at 5mg. I am now on 80mg. I can never feel my feet with pins & needles & I don't feel it is helping. When I try to stop I feel awful. The only thing that does stop the shaking is alcohol & that can not be the answer! If you say to people Parkinson's Disease, they know what you are talking about. However, few seem to have heard of BET although it is much more common. Most people just think I have a drinking problem! It would be great to hear from anyone else who has this disorder. I HAVE NO MEDICAL TRAINING, but I would not advise anyone to go on Valium unless there is no alternative.

Hallo Peter and welcome to HW (always nice to welcome a fellow Brit - I'm just over the water from you in Essex!). I think it would be best for you to start a new thread headed Benign Essential Tremor. Your post is a bit hidden away here and you may get more responses that way. I was sorry to read about your illness - sounds like you have a lot to cope with.

Welcome to HW and glad you are going to start a thread it would not hurt for us to be eduated on this as well ........Take care and so glad you have a positive outlook on life .......

forgot to mention yes it helps with panic attacts,it is when your heart races that can bring them on,i couldnt go out for a year,stick to propanalol much better diazapan wont help panic

this site looks rearly good,i have suffered with anxiety for several years,but since i have been on propanalol ,touch would i havnt had the attacks or the svt,but i dont have much motivation,i used to love going out dancing and everything,i stopped all this when i had 2 svt attacks one after the other,so now i dont have drink or go out at night,i have always been the life and sole of the party very out going,im 58 i do not look it people say,but i do feel as though life is passing me by,i have 4 grown up kids that never bother to come round but i have always had a lot of friends and get on with everyone,i know i need a push but i am in my safe zone,i dont feel as though im on my own now i have found this site

thank you for the welcome

hi kit we are alike,i know my tabs help me,but i just wont face my fear,i no it`s stupid but i have now got in a rut,and cant be bothered to get ready i would rather stay in and watch tv,i havnt had a drink for 4 years because all the doctors tell you different things,one says you cant drink on propanalol and cant drink with svt so were do i go from from here,i am rearly glad i found this site im sure there are a lot of understanding people that understand,if i dont get cured i will have friends

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