Propranolol Question

[justme4]

i understand that this medicine may decrease memories and decease anxiety that goes along with it. Has anyone ever had an increase in graphic memories instead, especially at night? Does decreasing the anxiety allow for the image to become more graphic instead of your mind trying to instinctively extinguish it?
Thank you

 

[Virtues]

I had what I can only describe as flash forwards when I was on it. Graphic future scenarios that I would spin the wheels playing out in my head. It was bad.

 

[justme4]

I had what I can only describe as flash forwards when I was on it. Graphic future scenarios that I...

Thank you for your response, I really appreciate it.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

Propane lol doesn't do anything to stop flashbacks and nightmares. It also doesn't actually treat anxiety. Rather, it decreases the body's physical responses to these things (hot/cold flashes, sweating, racing heart, etc.). Stopping these physical responses can help people be able to more quickly and effectively overcome anxiety, and can help you calm down faster after a flashback or nightmare.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Here are some resources where you might find more info:
https://www.myptsd.com/threads/propranolol-have-any-of-you-heard-of-this-medication.2131/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propranolol
https://www.myptsd.com/threads/propranolol.57987/

Hopefully this helps

 

[Virtues]

My Psychiatrist referred to the episodes I had as "obsessive thoughts"...

I read some of the other links posted and the common theme seems to be the same that this med does nothing to mitigate those types of thoughts (which explains why it didn't work for me).

Lots of good info to read through.

 

[justme4]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate all the different opinions.

 

[Powder]

Why is it that medications (especially new) seem to sometimes only make worse the very thing they are supposed to treat? :wtf:

I'm sorry. Listen to your body.

If I had a buck for every time a doctor said "No, that's not supposed to be a side effect" and then later said "that's a major side effect now, so stop taking it." By the next visit, there is a class action lawsuit.

 

[Suzetig]

To my knowledge propranolol isn't new as such. It's a beta blocker and at a particular dose helps to treat the physical symptoms of anxiety. I would get very anxious, shaking hands, shallow breathing, fast heart rate which would tip me into a panic attack regardless of whether I actually felt panicked. It definitely helped me break the body/mind thing though it didn't help the thoughts and feelings, I helped me feel physically calmer which helped a lot.

 

[8888]

I take it for social anxiety. My doctor knows I have PTSD but never mentioned it being used for memories.

 

[Gamera3000]

I have a prescription for this that I am supposed to take three times a day for hand and foot tremors. I stopped taking it at night because I noticed that it would give me these graphic-type dreams that another poster mentioned. Later, I randomly discovered that it was used for PTSD. I still only took it in the mornings.

My therapist started telling me that I should try practicing lucid dreaming as a way to process negative experiences. Like to take control of the dream and actively escape? So I started taking the Propanolol as prescribed again. The graphic dreams returned. My therapist had never heard of this stuff, btw, and she is supposedly a PTSD expert.

Anyway, it does seem to work by suppressing your hypervigilant physical reaction. So you will not have a defense against the memories or thoughts, which are unpleasant, but then without the physical reactions you are supposed to have a better chance of processing them appropriately. I personally, cannot always bear to take it at night. I wake up feeling like I've been visiting with Freddy Krueger all night. Psychologically tired.