Beta Blocker? Does it help with anxiety?

[manda266]

I know my heart rate has been running high for a while, anywhere from 95-120 that I am aware of. Bp does go way up during anxiety, but stays normal when I am relatively calm. Yesterday, I took my pulse just out of curiousity, I was feeling a bit uptight, basically the way I usually do, no panic mode, it was 120. I took an ativan it was 98 a couple of hours later. I took it when i first got up this morning, 95. For those of you who do take beta blockers, does it help with the anxiety? I'm afraid that my bp will go too low since it isn't always elevated. What tests did you undergo for the dr to prescribe. I'm very afraid of testing, if I had to give blood, take an ekg, stress test or something I would probably freak out and I don't want to have a relapse in the panic. I was thinking of keeping a log over the next couple of weeks and perhaps that would be sufficient for my dr to make a decision. Any suggestions?

[AOKAY]

I would be very careful about taking a beta blocker routinely for anxiety.  My sister, who did not have high BP issues, was given a beta blocker as a precaution after having 2 stents inserted into her heart due to blockages.  While at a friend's house, she passed out and was rushed to the ER where the only thing they found wrong was extremely low BP.  Her cardiologist did not discontinue the beta blocker, but cut the dosage in half and she is now fine.  If your BP around the house is normal, you should not be taking a beta blocker routinely.  Your idea of a log to share with your doctor is wise.

My doctor prescribed a beta-blocker for me for use during public speaking, which has always been a pulse and BP spike for me.  It works wonderfully, at the proper dosage, which can be determined through trial and error.

[katoka]

Yeah, I agree with AOKAY, beta blockers can cause problems if you already have lower blood pressure.  I was also given beta blockers once and would not take them because my blood pressure was regularly 104/65 and my doctor said to "be careful" getting out of bed because I could faint.  Well, after that, never filled the prescription and I'm so glad I didn't.

Used for public speaking, beta blockers can help with the physical symptoms of anxiety but used regularly, I would not.

Hope that helps,
Katie 

[emma09]

I disagree, i am on propranolol 20mg a day use to be 30mg. there useful for anxiety as it blocks the adrenaline there for makin u calmer. ur only nt ment to take them if ur bp is unuasly low, mine was normal now its just a bit lower. my hr use to be 90 but after bein on these since oct its back to a healthier rate! u can use them long term as there not addictive, for anxiety they wil give u a low dose as it works beta like that and wont lower ur bp much, ive had no side effects and they have helped me loads im now gona be weaning of them very soon

[Thirsty075]

I've been on beta blockers for a couple of years now.  I take them for BP not specifically for anxiety.  Everyone is right on this thread.

If you take too high a dose either at once or you are taking it daily and you shouldn't be, it can create scary symptoms: extremely slow heart rate and all the weirdness that goes with it, lightheadedness, etc.  You'll

Beta blockers work like Emma09 says by blocking the effects of adrenaline throughout your sympathetic nervous system. It prevents your heart from reacting to your body's natural supply of adrenaline and decreases the heart rate and blood pressure.   This sympathetic impact is why you get a secondary benefit from beta blockers. 

You should talk to your doctor about when and how often to take them, if they are right for you to take for anxiety.  I found this out the hard way.  If you don't get a satisfactory answer from your doctor or like me you had a doctor that didn't take the time to address all of your concerns (You should feel able to "bother" the Dr. with any and ALL of your questions), then go seek out a new Dr.  I would highly recommend an internist over a Family Dr.