Propranolol - Have Any Of You Heard Of This Medication?

[JimmyJames902]

I have taken the beta-blocker Propranolol for over 10 years and, for me, it is a WONDER DRUG. Were it not for Propranolol, I literally would not be able to function in-public at all. How does this med work for PTSD sufferers? From a layman's perspective, Propranolol has the effect of reducing/limiting the secretion of adrenaline/cortisol in the body, thereby reducing the "fight-or-flight" response; kind of like turning a spigot from a high-flow down to a trickle. Also, you cannot get high/inebriated in any way from Propranolol.

A cautionary note: Propranolol can have the effect of slowing down one's metabolism, which can lead to weight-gain, so it is suggested that one exercise regularly to off-set the possibility of a gradual slide into obesety. I take as few medications as I can, but Propranolol is one med which I will probably take for the rest of my life.

James

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

Everyone's body chemistry is different so please remember this is only my experience. I have never taken this particular medication - but have been on a beta-blocker previously for my blood pressure issues. I will NEVER go on another one again. It increased my depression to a quite scary level (I was suicidial within a month).

Again, everyone is different but with all medications - please keep in check with your doctor for any "unusual side-effects" - especially in the beginning.

 

[JimmyJames902]

SunnyBrookFarm:

Thank you for sharing your experience with beta-blockers. You're absolutely correct: always consult your doctor as to whether a particular medication is the right one for you. Also, make sure it's not contraindicated vis-a-vis your other meds.

 

[rjtransient]

Maybe I'm just flinging this question into the void, but have any of you noticed differences in memory recall on propranolol? This came up on another message board in a thread on amnesia regarding drugs that affect short-term memory (other than alcohol). From what I understand, it's not that the drug prevents memory formation, but that the emotional component is blunted, so the stimulus isn't encoded as 'traumatic'. One conclusion is that it might actually aid in memory reconsolidation.

I don't know. Any thoughts?

 

[JimmyJames902]

Hi rjtransient:

Speaking just for myself, I have not experienced any diminution of my short-term memory as a result of taking propranolol. In fact, I believe I am better able to recall events and concentrate on the task at hand precisely because I'm a bit calmer and more relaxed by the propranolol.

Conversely, when I'm in full freak-out mode, my mind feels scattered and fuzzy, which is different from memory impairment. We've all had the experience in grade-school when you have to get up in front of the class and recite a poem from memory, and then you're so nervous your mind kinda goes blank. This is what happened last night to several award winners on the Golden Globes Award show: they had memorized an acceptance speech, but when they step up to the microphone for a few words, a few of them said: "I had a speech prepared, but I'm so overwhelmed by this award that I've completely forgotten what I was going to say." Again, this phenomena is not true short-term memory loss, but rather a kind of sensory overload which happens to the best of us.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[dharmaBum]

I've been taking a low dose (5 mg) for 6 months. It definitely has helped with with hyper-arousal. More so than completely eliminating caffeine and exercising and meditating every day. I did begin to gain weight. In the 6 months I've gained about 15 pounds, and that is at the 5 mg level.

I've almost always been a kind of thin, wired, can't sleep, anxious person. I literally feel like a different person after taking Propranolol. I don't think its a wonder drug for me (I wouldn't be looking for one anyway), it just seems to shift my metabolism enough that my seemingly natural propensity to be edgy is diminished. That is helpful because I was a "naturally" edgy person who experienced a great and lengthy amount of childhood trauma and stress as an adult re: crime and poverty. Life/work stresses, retraumatization & bad dreams were putting me in a constant hyper-aroused state, with much accompanying irritability. I also have chronic migraines (typically 2 or more a week when un-medicated) & the main reason for taking Propranolol was to replace the migraine preventative psuedoephadrine, which was causing more anxiety and sleeplessness than I could handle. Although it did keep the migraines at bay very well.