Back To Top
Back To Top
Propranolol is a prescription medication that can be used to help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety. Specifically, it is used short-term to help reduce...
Propranolol is a prescription medication that can be used to help manage the physical symptoms of anxiety. Specifically, it is used short-term to help reduce sensations of rapid heartbeat, restlessness, and shakiness in anxiety. Without further ado, let’s get into this Meds for Less article regarding some commonly asked questions about propranolol for anxiety.
Propranolol is a prescription drug that can be used in the treatment of anxiety to help reduce some of the physical symptoms like a racing heart, shaking, or sweating. Propranolol can help to decrease your heart rate which means that your heart does not need to work as hard to pump blood to the rest of the body. So aside from anxiety, what is propranolol used for:
As you can see, there are many propranolol uses. Thus, the dosage and treatment regime will also vary depending on what condition you are using propranolol for. If you are unsure about this medication or you have any concerns, please speak to your healthcare provider for more information.
Before we get into your burning questions like “how long does propranolol take to work?”, it is helpful to get a general understanding of what anxiety is. Anxiety disorders are unfortunately a very common problem in this day and age. However, anxiety is actually a natural response to a stressful event. In this case, ‘fight or flight’ hormones like adrenaline are released as it is important for your heart to beat faster and for you to be acutely alert.
The part that is problematic in anxiety disorder is that the state of anxiety is constant even when they are not faced with a stressor or the stressor does not even exist. This feels awful for the person experiencing anxiety and can greatly affect their daily life.
As anxiety disorder is classed as a mental health disorder, what is often underestimated by people who have never experienced it is how intense and scary the physical symptoms can be. Common physical symptoms of anxiety include chest pain, feeling like your heart is racing, sweating, and shaking. Sometimes the fear of episodes of these symptoms leads to more anxiety and the cycle continues. This is where Propranolol comes in. Propranolol is a beta blocker drug that can help block the effects of ‘fight or flight’ hormones like adrenaline to slow down your heart rate and prevent these physical symptoms of anxiety. This can also help to calm you down and reduce levels of anxiety in situations that may spike your anxiety (e.g driving test, public speaking). So how quickly does propranolol work for anxiety? You will likely start to feel the effects of propranolol on anxiety within around one hour of taking the medication.
Generally, it is best to be on the lowest dose that is effective. Starting on 40mg once daily is the recommended propranolol for anxiety dose. This will be monitored and reviewed regularly to assess your response to the medication. If appropriate, the dosage could be increased to 40mg three times every day.
So what is the maximum dose of propranolol for anxiety? You should only take propranolol according to your doctor’s instructions so the maximum dose would be the dose that your doctor has put you on. Taking too much could cause serious side effects, please seek medical attention in this case:
The dose of propranolol that can bring about these serious side effects is different for everyone so it is important that you stick to the instructions on your prescription.
So how long does propranolol last after taking it? Around 8 – 12 hours. Then to ensure the drug is eliminated from your body it may take 15 – 30 hours. Therefore, it is important to stick to the instructions on your prescription on taking propranolol as stopping the medication suddenly can lead to serious side effects.
Follow your doctor’s instructions on when to take propranolol. Otherwise, for the best results it is generally advised that you take propranolol at a similar time every day with or without food. If you are prescribed multiple doses throughout the day, it may be helpful to set up reminders on your phone or plan a time schedule that works for you and allows for an appropriate time gap between doses.
Using propranolol for anxiety treatment is typically a short-term thing (e.g a few months). Your doctor should be reviewing your response to treatment (e.g symptom relief, side effects) regularly so it is best to speak to them about how you have felt taking propranolol. They can then discuss other treatment options and help weigh up the pros and cons of taking propranolol for months to years.
You must tell your doctor if you are taking any other treatment for anxiety (over the counter, herbal remedies) as there is a chance it may interact with propranolol and cause side effects. For example, some medications for treating heart problems or mental health problems can interact with propranolol. Consult a pharmacist or your healthcare provider if you are unsure or worried about interactions in the medications you are taking.
Much like other medication, taking propranolol for anxiety can bring about side effects. Some more common side effects include:
These are generally mild and should go away with home treatment. However, if they persist, get worse, or start to affect your daily life you should consult your healthcare provider for more information.
There are also some more serious but rare side effects that you should be aware of:
Seek prompt medical attention if this happens.
Not everyone is suited to taking propranolol for anxiety. If you take any regular medication or you have any long-term health conditions, please tell your doctor before you start propranolol so that they can check it is still safe for you. Some cases where propranolol may not be appropriate include:
Fast, Discreet, and Convenient
We're here to support :)
We are available Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. Do not use this service if you need urgent assistance. You should call 111 or 999 in an emergency. See our help section for more information.
Payment Options
