HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Any luck with Beta Blockers for anxiety?

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 6/1/2018 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Propranolol to be exact. Anyone used this for situational anxiety? I ask because I am getting a bit concerned about using klonopin as a bridge medication while waiting for zoloft to kick in (if it will that is). I am going on 3 months now with zoloft and saw some benefit at the 12.5 dose, but not so at the 25 mg dose I am on now. I know beta blockers are much safer that a benzo which is why I am asking. Would that be a possible substitute for klonopin for those instances where the anxiety breaks through? Klonopin works for me (doesn't eliminate the anxiety, but cuts it down by 2/3) but getting a bit concerned about the dependency after a certain point. My regular doc says that at 1mg a day of K I should be able to stay on that dose for up to a year and taper effectively. I rarely take that much a day (have had to the past 2 days though due to some break through anxiety) usually .75 or .5 will do.

Comments?
Posted 6/1/2018 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Oops, I meant to say going on 2 months of Zoloft with taking the klonopin almost daily for that duration as well.
Posted 6/1/2018 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
M.,

Some people have good results with beta blockers...and they work for some as a PRN med...

...another benzo alternative to consider is hydroxyzine. This antihistamine prescribed 'off label' for anxiety is actually closer in performance to the Klonopin...and therefore likely a better replacement Rx.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns and alternatives...I am sure you'll find a good plan.

S.C.
Posted 6/3/2018 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
buspar worked for me but only for mild anxiety. while I was waiting for my ssri tp work I experimented with various herbal suppliments. I had success with kava although there is concern about liver damage from long term use. it worked execellent but safety concerns led me to try something else. I did extencive internet research and found some one who had great success with camolile capsules . the stuff that's in tea. really worked . also some success with lthyene . esp when taken with the chamomile caps. you are correct to be concerned about long term klonopin use. I became dependant after only 3 momths use of only .5 per day. and then not even daily use. vistiril does work but is EXTREMLY sedating and I could only take it before bed. this might help you from using klonopin for sleep. a huge no no . I don't want to see anyone else go tru what I did with klonopin dependency. its truly awefull. you cant imagine how bad it is the withdrawls. if you cant sleep -ask for Lunesta-ambiean or something -
Posted 6/4/2018 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
I may bring that up tomorrow at my psy appointment.....almost 4 weeks at 25 mg of zoloft and still seeing more anxiety and now some depression. I seemed to be dong better at 12.5 mg as I mentioned in a previous post. Maybe suggest trying at that level again to see what happens. Status quo can't continue much longer.
Posted 6/5/2018 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
good luck. it took 4 tries to find a ssri I could tolerate. I hope things go better for you. just keep telling yourself the anxiety is only temp -tho it dosnt seem like it.
Posted 6/5/2018 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Trial and error is the mantra with all this. Curious which SSRI's you cycled through before you found one that hit. I have tried Effexor and of course Zoloft right now. I know CBT will be important as I continue through this as my own thoughts contribute to this.
Posted 6/5/2018 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Wishing you luck. Part of why this is so hard is that everyone seems to react differently to different meds.

I too have tried a lot of different meds., most of which just made me feel zombied. For me the only one that did much is Trintellix. It's not 100% but not too far away.

Anyway, keep trying, it's worth it.
Posted 6/5/2018 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking atenolol 25 mg for 2 weeks for anxiety, I do not feel any difference with the anxiety but my heart rate is lower and blood pressure is lower (maybe too low).
I also take klonopin (0.5 mg) when needed and that one helps a lot more. I have been taking it for years and still helps me.
I tried buspar and makes my anxiety worse. And zoloft and Lexapro make me gain too much weight.
Good luck!
Posted 6/5/2018 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
here is the list of ssri drugs I have tried. Zoloft-worked well for 6years -pooped out. Prozac-3 months. worked and relieved anxiety and deperession but was WAY to0 strong. I also developed a rash at higher dose. dr refused to let me stay on starter dose. no meds for 4 years. tried Zoloft again -my body couldn't handle it second time . Lexapro-WAY to strong went tru hell. viiybrd 10 days in ended up in er with bad body tremmors . finally dr let me pick med. after extencive research I chose the weakest mildest ssri at the lowest dose -cipralex 10 mg its a far weaker form of Lexapro and it worked! anxiety is gone and side effects are very low at this dose anyway. I had good luck with buspar but when my anxiety went nuts-it wasn't enough anymore. as for supplements kava was the atom bomb for anxiety . too bad its not safe for your liver . by the way cipralex took 6 weeks to work at that low dose .
Posted 6/5/2018 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Great input here. I had my appointment this morning, and she agreed to cut back my dose of zoloft to 12.5 and see what that does. That and of course CBT weekly. Try that dosage for 2 weeks and evaluate. She did bring up atenolol and propranolol given my anxiety seems to be heightened by certain events....meetings, traveling somewhere, etc. I am really working on replacing the automatic negative thoughts with positive ones to break the habit I have formed now. Again, I think I just need something to help me along but know that I have responsibility to do things as well to overcome this. Beta blockers sure seem to work for situational anxiety from what I have read. Anyway, it is great to get input from all of you out there. Just want you to know how much I appreciate it.
Posted 6/5/2018 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
M,

Sounds like a productive appointment that resulted in a good plan. Well done!

Wishing you the best with this adjustment...and with your CBT!

Keep us updated, okay?😁

S.C.
Posted 6/5/2018 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
yes good luck. and about the negative thoughts-with me they are gone now that I have a working ssri. things can get better and return to normal. you will see for yourself hopefully-soon
Posted 6/11/2018 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
I am so proud of you for trying to get this worked. I hadn't really thought to replace a neg with a pos. I am going to try and remember how to do this.

I was on a beta blocker for quite awhile for Blood pressure. Then it got worse so doubled the dose, didn't work so triple the first dose. The problem was I was basically in a daze, which caused me more anxiety which.....

I also take trintellix, wellbutrin and Hydroxine. I take both wellbutrin and hydroxine in the AM and the PM. Actually, most of my meds are split AM and PM. I was told by a neuro. that my body "eats" medicines meaning the 1/2 life that is normal hits me before it should. My PCP seems to have agreed as he does the same time. Obviously, I only do that when the Dr. tells me.

But, boy or boy I sure wish my body would "eat" fat cells quickly as well. LOL
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply