Propranolol

[kittiekittie]

So I have 20mg tablets, doc says I need to take two per day. I've been kind of chicken to even start them. Any positive stories? negatives? I'm taking it for hyperarousal.

I know every person's experience is different and what works for some won't for others. I just can't decide if I should stick with what I know works or try something new.

 

[Springer80]

I had them for a while and loved em because I was so physically tense all the time. Thing was I'd gotten really low levels of vitamin d and ptsd screws with your ans (automatic nervous system) which controls your blood pressure. Propanalol are beta blockers which lower you blood pressure. I ended up not being able to get up for days at a time.

I suppose I'm saying if you've had ptsd for a while I's ask my doc to do a blood test first.

 

[kittiekittie]

Yeah he didn't check any blood work just told me to take them for 2 months and then come back. So yeah, that kind of freaks me out because I can't afford to be immobile right now (school/finals/etc). I had blood work done like a year ago, but not recently.

I also kinda don't like the idea of having to take them every day and having to be weaned off. I'd rather just have something I can take when I am tense - cause today for example I'm relaxed and okay.

 

[piratelady]

I used to take it, not for anxiety, but to prevent migraines. I did not have any side effects from it.

 

[cherryblossom]

I took propanolol, with no side effects, only benefits.

If a recall correctly, I took 80mg (modified release) daily. So 20mg is quite a low dose. It really helped with anxiety.

I also didn't have to be weaned off them. Following intensive trauma therapy, my anxiety improved, and I stopped taking them, with no withdrawal effects. I don't think your body or mind becomes dependant or tolerant to them in the same way as a benzodiazepine (such as diazapam or similar taken prn). I personally think that something taken as and when you need it is more likely to cause addictive / dependence issues than a beta blocker.

 

[kittiekittie]

That's good to know. He said that being weaned off them wasn't for withdrawal effects - but more so that stopping them abruptly could cause tachycardia and put strain on my heart.

did you start at 80 or did you move up in dose over time?

 

[nimkekaa]

I just can't decide if I should stick with what I know works or try something new.

This has always been a delima for me also. I am always so scared to try something new.

Propanalol are beta blockers which lower you blood pressure

I take prasozin which is a beta blocker and lowers your blood pressure also. I am loving it so far.

From my understanding when you have PTSD, you can sometimes get stuck in the fight, flight, freeze or submit and your body doesn't stop registering danger. When you are in this fight or flight mode your adrenaline increases and so does your blood pressure to pump blood to your extremeties to help you fight or flight. So you can actually lose the knowledge (so to speak) of how to calm your body down when you are registering danger for a long period of time. The beta blockesr lower your blood pressure and helps your body re learn how to be in a calm mode. Does that make sense?

I am not having any major side effects from the prasozin other then some dizziness if I stand up quickly from laying. But considering I am trying to slow myself down and be calmer, moving slower is a good thing for me. It has also helped with reducing the severity of my nightmares.

Yeah he didn't check any blood work

i didnt have to have my blood work checked just my blood pressure to make sure it's not dropping too fast.

 

[Springer80]

did you start at 80 or did you move up in dose over time?

HI,

I got given 20 or 40mg tabs (can't remember) which was fine but too low and I was tense ALL the time so they put me on the 80mg modify release, which is when the problems started because of that pre-existing condition.

I didn't have withdrawals and they were good. I don't want to put them in a bad light, just that doctors should make checks first.

 

[matthios]

I'd like to risk being a huge jerk for a second (not intending to be a jerk, I promise!) Is this drug actually called propanolol?

I'm totally not here to pick on a typo, no judgment.

However, if you need a reason to convince yourself to try it, consider the two following things (both dependent on the correct name)

1) Hank Hill selling "propane and propane accessories" would make me grin every time I'd think about it.
2) It's got "lol" in the name- GOOD TIMES!

 

[matthios]

I take prasozin which is a beta blocker and lowers your blood pressure also.

I've also been on this and had a good (or at least non-damaging) experience.

That being said, prazosin is *not* a beta-blocker. It's awesome and gets an "alpha" for excellence! Bad pun, sorry... it is, however, an "alpha-blocker." The end result is the same in that it's used to lower blood pressure (thus reducing nightmares, flashbacks)

 

[Nicolette]

it is, however, an "alpha-blocker."

Correct http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prazosin

 

[cherryblossom]

did you start at 80 or did you move up in dose over time?

I started on 80mg, but as modified release, rather than a straight dose.