Beta blockers – through an off-label mode – are widely used for treating anxieties. These meds inhibit a few brain chemicals –associated with stressful conditions, and help reduce symptoms like sweating, quicker pulse rates, erratic heart beats, palpitations – to name a few. Propranolol is one of the popular drugs under the genre of beta blockers. Knowing how to use propranolol for anxiety can be quite helpful.
What is propranolol?
Propranolol is a beta-blocker medication, used to lessen anxiety symptoms like shaking and perspiration. It treats physical symptoms of anxiety. Your brain produces chemicals like noradrenaline and adrenaline when you are nervous. Propranolol prevents these chemicals’ effects. These chemicals cause sweating, shaking, and a faster heartbeat rate.
Propranolol
Propranolol lowers your heart rate and helps with better circulation of blood throughout your body. It is used to prevent migraines and treat a few anxiety symptoms.
How does Propranolol work for anxiety?
Your brain makes chemical messengers namely noradrenaline and adrenaline when you are nervous. These cause sweating and shaking; they also raise your heart rate. Propranolol helps in preventing these effects. As a result of this, physical symptoms of anxiety are reduced.
You are advised to use Propranolol as per your caregiving team’s advice. However, those who are using it for long need to monitor blood pressure levels regularly.
What is the maximum dose of propranolol for anxiety?
Propranolol’s maximum dosage is determined by the condition you are treated for, your age and other ailments – if any. If 10 mg is not enough to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, Your physician may increase the dose gradually. Propranolol is available as a tablet, capsule, or liquid; dosage strengths range from 10 mg to 160 mg.
Propranolol dose for anxiety
To treat anxiety, each person may need a different dosage strength of Propranolol. A daily dosage of 40 mg may offer short-term relief from anxieties. In certain situations, this dosage can be raised to 40 mg thrice per day.
For anxiety-triggered faster heartbeat, it is recommended to take 3 to 4 doses of 10 mg to 40 mg each day. For a short period, it is however best to use the lowest dosage strength to treat anxiety. Your physician will review the outcomes once every six months.
How quickly does Propranolol work for anxiety?
Propranolol is known for offering relief in a rapid manner. Within a timeframe of 30 minutes, and often as low as 20 minutes’ time, it may help relieve peripheral symptoms including sweating, tension as well as tachycardia. In most cases – within an hour’s time, propranolol may begin relieving anxiety-related symptoms.
This med has a half-life period of ~ 4-hours; Propranolol’s side effects will probably go away in 4 hours’ time after a dose. Caveat: propranolol is used for relieving the physical symptoms associated with anxieties. This med is not an over-the-counter offering. It is taken under the guidance and supervision of a qualified doctor. Your caregiver determines the right time of dosing and dosage strength(s) of Propranolol to treat anxiety-related symptoms.
Beware of a few side effects propranolol triggers; these include giddiness, migraines, turning tired and fatigued, mood shifts – including depression, discharge of loose stools and / or vomiting. You are advised to take medical support if you are experiencing slower heartbeats, retention of fluids – marked by swelling of arms and legs.
Propranolol For Migraines, Propranolol is a beta-blocker often used to prevent migraines. It works by reducing blood pressure and calming overactive blood vessels in the brain. Taken daily, it can lower the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. It’s not used to stop a migraine once it starts. Always follow your doctor’s dosage and usage instructions carefully.
Those with respiratory conditions like bronchial asthma or bronchitis, abnormal blood sugars – especially, hypoglycemia, people with a systolic / diastolic level of less than 120 / 88 mm Hg, and those with prior spells of tachycardia must stay away from taking this med.
You are advised to stay aware propranolol only offers a short-term relief from mental conditions like anxieties. In other words, this med is unlikely to treat the underlying cause of stress. Caregivers prescribe it for managing physical signs of anxieties. In order to know more about using propranolol for anxiety, consult with your caregiver.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Bachelor’s in Journalism with a minor in Nutrition from Northwestern University. Experience: 15 years as a health journalist, writing for major publications like The New York Times and TIME, with a focus on diet, exercise, and chronic disease management.
