Propranolol and Beta Blockers - How Long? - Anxiety Message Board

lena_33 · 03-26-2006, 04:02 PM

I'm taking propranolo 10mg 2x per day. I'm thinking of upping my dose (with doctors permission of course) to 3x a day because I find that it wears off after 6-7 hours. Is this normal, or am I imagioning it? I take it at 7:00 am every day and by 1-2:00 it starts to wear off until by 5:00 theres hardly anything left. Let me know if this is usual or I'm just extra anxious in the afternoon

Punkdizzle · 03-26-2006, 04:05 PM

same problem here.. i take 25mg of atenolol once a day at 10am for my heart prob. seems around 7-8pm it wears off and my heart rate goes up again..
i dont know if its normal but its happening to me to..

florie · 03-26-2006, 05:02 PM

Hi,

I too am on propanolol. I've been suffering from anxiety for 3 years now. 6 months ago, I was diagnosed with a hyperthyroid which caused me some crazy palpitations (I thought!) and I started taking propanolol 20 mg twice a day. I am now told that my thyroid is back to normal and should stop taking the propanolol. The only thing is that I still have palpitations. I'm curious, are you taking this medication to treat the anxiety or to diminish palpitations? I'm not expert but I think your dosage is low so perhaps that's why the medication wears off. I have to say though that my anxiety is always at its worst at the end of the day, right before dinner. I'm not too sure why.

Tell me if you feel this sometimes... MY heart rate is normal, then boum my heart starts to pound out of my chest super fast for a few seconds during which I feel like I'm going to pass out. It goes back to normal as quickly as it started. Could this really be caused by anxiety? I know I'm a stress ball, I got all the symptoms but am unsure it could cause this. If anyone reads this and can relate to this sensation, please let me know as I'm getting really worried.

Good luck,

florie

Jennsie · 03-26-2006, 07:51 PM

"MY heart rate is normal, then boum my heart starts to pound out of my chest super fast for a few seconds during which I feel like I'm going to pass out. It goes back to normal as quickly as it started."

Sounds EXACTLY like you have the same problem I have had. I actually went to see an electrophysiologist (studies electrical signals in the heart) about this after I recorded one on an event monitor. Turns out some people have a harmless electrical misfire/miscommunication in their heart sometimes that causes it to suddenly race or flutter for no reason then BAM return back to normal. It won't hurt you, but boy is it scary.

florie · 03-27-2006, 07:39 AM

Thanks Jensie, this is reassuring. A doctor had told me about this when I went to a walk in clinic in the fall after I felt this for the first time. But they then discovered that I had a hyperthyroid so I assumed that this is what was causing the palpitations.

It seems I am getting those palpitations more often lately. Did you have periods of time when you felt these more often? I also have been feeling more skipped heart beats. Is this something you've felt before too? My anxiety is probably causing those. I'm so anxious lately. I wake up and feel ok and then gradually, my chest gets all tight, it feels about to explode and I get this lump in my throat that won't leave me. Then I spend all day on the verge of a panic attack. It is so uncomfortable.

Thanks for your help