Beta blocker for anxiety/panic

[Anonymous]

Has anyone had experience with this? My doctor prescribed me toporol (a beta blocker) for my physical symptoms of anxiety (heart racing). The thing is, I have to take the medicine every day, not just when I'm about to have a panic attack. I suppose it's preventative? Anyone w anxiety/panic prescribed a beta blocker? Did it work? Side effects?

I have slightly elevated BP (likely due to anxiety) so this might also help that. Like 135/80 on average (but I suspect spikes greatly during a panic attack).

[Anonymous]

My doctor prescribed a beta blocker for me. Yes, it lowered my heart rate and so I didn't have to contend with the constellation of panic attack symptoms that were cardio-related (pounding heart, sweating, feeling like I can't breathe) but did not help my nervous stomach. So, a mixed review here. I still had "breakthrough" panic.

I suppose a bb is more effective for preventing a panic attack that might be caused by stage fright or performance anxiety. Read up on bbs and how these are popular with frequent public speakers, actors, musicians...effective to take before a performance, but not solidly reliable for ongoing panic attacks.


I've had better luck with Xanax as needed.

[Anonymous]

I am not too much help because I have decided not to take the beta blocker my doctor suggested. I have chronic anxiety (PTSD) and he said it would reduce the racing heart, tight chest, etc which would help me feel less anxious. I think the idea is that it keeps your heart rate and blood pressure at a more constant rate--anxiety causes spikes of both.

The biggest side effect I've heard of is reduced blood pressure and possibly orthostatic hypotension (feeling dizzy when you go from sitting to standing). I have low bp and experience the orthostatic hypotension a lot as it is, so I decided not to try it (for now--if my anxiety worsens that is my next medication attempt).

[Anonymous]

I did it for several months, and did not feel that it helped at all. My anxiety was more specific in nature, so something I didn't take regularly ended up working a lot better for me (xanax).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not too much help because I have decided not to take the beta blocker my doctor suggested. I have chronic anxiety (PTSD) and he said it would reduce the racing heart, tight chest, etc which would help me feel less anxious. I think the idea is that it keeps your heart rate and blood pressure at a more constant rate--anxiety causes spikes of both.

The biggest side effect I've heard of is reduced blood pressure and possibly orthostatic hypotension (feeling dizzy when you go from sitting to standing). I have low bp and experience the orthostatic hypotension a lot as it is, so I decided not to try it (for now--if my anxiety worsens that is my next medication attempt).

I had this same issue which is why I stopped taking beta blockers. They worked great for my panic attacks and I mostly felt pretty relaxed but my blood pressure and pulsed started to fall to low so my primary care doctor recommended I stopped taking them. I was also getting some pretty serious dizzy spells on a daily basis and several times had to grab onto something because I felt faint. It was kind of scary, so I wouldn't necessarily choose beta blocks for anxiety.

[Anonymous]

For most people, it takes at least a couple of weeks for your body to adapt to the beta blockers and dizzy spills. Give it time to work before asking to be taken off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I suppose a bb is more effective for preventing a panic attack that might be caused by stage fright or performance anxiety. Read up on bbs and how these are popular with frequent public speakers, actors, musicians...effective to take before a performance, but not solidly reliable for ongoing panic attacks.
.

I am involved in a hobby that requires performing, and have many friends who use beta blockers to calm the racing heart and shortness of breath right before going on stage. They say the meds work wonders. I think that'd be wonderful but I have very low blood pressure already and believe it'd be dangerous to try them. But they definitely seem to work for these people who use them just once or twice every few months.