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2nd visit to the Doctor... - Propranolol?

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Posted 11/17/2014 10:33 AM (GMT 0)
Today didn't quite do as well as my appointment on Friday :(
Came out of the doctors feeling very silly and like I've wasted time! The woman doctor I saw was very young (probably not much older than me) and she didn't seem to understand that I've tried all the physical ways to control my anxiety and it's not working any more...
"It's all in your head, you just need to take control of your own body" ... I know that! Don't need to hear it from anyone else :(

Anyway, she's given me Propranolol to take on an 'as and when' basis when I'm having a panic...
Does anyone take these? Not sure what they'll do for me? I know everyone's different on meds but I'm just after a rough idea if anyone can help?

Thanks
Posted 11/17/2014 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CT

Sorry to hear your doctors appointment did not go to well is there an other doctor you can see? As this one does not seem very sympathetic.

I think Propranolol is a beta-blocker? I have a friend that takes it for anxiety and she says it works wonders so I hope it works well for you.

Hibee
Posted 11/17/2014 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
It is a beta-blocker. Some performers take it for stage fright problems.
janet
Posted 11/17/2014 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hibee, yeah it is a beta-blocker.. Never heard of anyone taking them for anxiety but that's what I've been given. Good to hear it works for someone you know!

I've got a feeling that when I have a panic attack I feel a bit worse than someone with stage fright though? Lol.. Suppose we'll just see how it goes!
Posted 11/17/2014 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Oh.. and yeah I can probably see another doctor, but I specifically asked to see this one because it was a younger woman, the others are all older men so I thought I would be more comfortable with the woman... Not sure I'll be seeing her next time though!
Posted 11/17/2014 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes a younger doc is better, but sometimes not! it all depends! I think I'd skip seeing her again!
janet
Posted 11/17/2014 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CT.,

Sorry that your appointment did not go as well as you'd hoped.:( It is important to feel validated by your health care professional! If you think that you could benefit from someone who will understand both your anxiety and Rx needs...it could be a good decision to consider a referral for a psychiatrist. These doctors are well educated in both.

As far as your Rx...yes, beta-blockers are presctibed 'off label' often for anxiety.

It may help to calm the physical effects of the anxiety for you, while you are learning the skills to manage it with your therapy and self-help efforts.

Wishing you the best with this. Keep us posted, so we can encourage and cheer you on.:)

S.C.
Posted 11/17/2014 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi S.C.

Thank you. I have to give her a ring in 2 weeks to see how everything is going so may ask for a referral to a psychiatrist when I speak to her then :)

I suppose I'll let everyone know if the beta-blockers work for me when I need to take one! Hopefully I don't have to.. But I'm sure I will soon!

Will keep you posted :)
Posted 11/17/2014 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I thought you might find this interesting! :)

http://www.drugs.com/comments/propranolol/for-panic-disorder.html

janet
Posted 11/18/2014 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
I took propanolol for about a year. My doctor also prescribed it recently to help slow my heart rate during a more anxious time. It's not really an anti anxiety drug, but it does something that makes your body and heart less sensitive to the affects of adrenaline. My doctor felt it would help me feel calmer and reduce the number of palpitations I was having. It won't change anything for you mentally, but it can definitely calm the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Good luck! I didn't mind taking propranolol at all, and never had any side effects while taking it. I had a bit of trouble coming off of it, but I took it 2x daily for a year so that's probably why. Hopefully it helps you.
Posted 11/18/2014 9:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the link janetlee! Massive help :)

Cianna - Thanks for the info, the physical effects are my biggest problem so hopefully the propranolol will work for me in that sense! I don't need to take it unless I 'need' it so hopefully won't have trouble coming off it when I need to :)
Posted 11/18/2014 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
That med has been around for ages! And it's been used quite successfully as a prn medication, such as situational anxiety. I certainly think it's worth testing out. It has quite a long track record!! :)




M.
Posted 11/18/2014 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Merrida!! Will definitely give it a try :)
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