Talk to me about beta blockers for anxiety

Medications
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I have a pdoc appointment coming up in three weeks and I was thinking of asking her about a beta blocker to treat my anxiety, in the hopes of using less Klonopin.

Does anyone here take a beta blocker for this purpose? How does it work out for you?

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I take propranolol for blood pressure. My dr and I chose it because they say it can work also on anxiety. Honestly I’m a nervous wreck all the time anyway. But that being said you should try it for yourself because everyone reacts differently to meds. And the bonus is you can use it for your blood pressure if needed and it’s one less pill, right?

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Very true. My blood pressure is normally between 120/80 and 140/90. Not too bad so I don’t know if I would be prescribed a med for it.

I’m just trying to make a dent in this damned paranoia I have. The anxiety that comes along with it kills me! I already take 30 mg of Haldol, which mostly gets rid of my hallucinations but not the paranoia.

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I take a beta blocker for high blood pressure and a rapid heartbeat but I notice that it helps with my physical symptoms of anxiety.

I no longer take Klonopin.

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:slightly_smiling_face: I’m happy with Propranolol. I really notice it the first couple months I was on it. Don’t really notice it much anymore. It was very soothing for anxiety when I noticed it.

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I was taking a beta blocker recently for akathisia. In the past I was prescribed the same one for anxiety. While it was very helpful for the akathisia and got rid of it completely, it did nothing for my anxiety and didn’t act like a benzo at all. That’s my experience.

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Hello, Shmookitty:
I take both Klonopin and Propranolol, which is a beta-blocker. I have taken both together for anxiety for many years. I cannot cope with my anxiety and panic attacks if I stop them, or miss a dose. I don’t remember when I started taking them, but I’ve been with my psychiatrist for over 20 years, and he changed me from Xamax to Klonopin. To me they are effective. I hope this helps.

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So it sounds like enough people had a good experience that it’s worth bringing up with my pdoc. The worst she can do is say no.

I know a beta blocker won’t act like a benzo, but I was hoping I might need fewer benzos if the beta blocker reduced anxiety. I only take four 0.5 mg klonopin a week on average, but I don’t even like taking that many. I white knuckle it a lot so as not to become dependent on the klonopin. Was hoping a beta blocker might ease that.

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