propranolol

[hello89]

hello i have been writing to this 4 a wile now bu i went to the doctor 2day cuz i hav been feeling very down and been feeling very nervous. i watched a horror show and i started thinking what if i ever hurt sum1? i keep having images in my head about it and i get really depressed over it. so i told the doctor this and he gave me  propranolol hydrochloride 160mg.does this help the problem plz let me knw?

[savygaby]

propranolol is a beta blocker that sounds like a very high dose, you should check that out

[gwen2002]

I have been on  propranolol since april and I would have to say wow that seems like a very high dose!!!

[goodeys]

Hi,

I'm on 180mg of propranolol per day but its a slow releasing one. I take 80mg in the morning and 80mg at night, it seems to do the trick as it is released slowly rather than a lot of beta blockers that are low doses but are absorbed straight into the blood stream and therefore wear off after about an hour or so.

Sam

[RCA7591]

"i keep having images in my head about it and i get really depressed over it"

^quote

Propranolol Hydrochloride is a non-selective beta blocker which possesses membrane stabilizing activity and no significant intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. The drug is used to treat a plethora of conditions - namely certain cardiac arrhythmias or tachycardia, hypertension, migraine headache, and to reduce the physical manifestations of anxiety.

Propranolol readily crosses the blood-brain barrier, and this may lead to worsening of depression. Propranolol is known for inducing depression in higher dosages. A dosage of 160 mg may result in hallucinations if there is a predisposition to depression or psychosis.

The typical starting dosage for Inderal is 20-40 mg, b.i.d. A starting dose of 80 mg, b.i.d. (160 mg) would be extremely risky. This is the absolute maximum recommended dosage, and you'd likely faint upon standing unless you've had prior exposure to beta-blockers.

Beta-blockers should always be started at the low end of the therapeutic range and titrated upwards gradually, as needed and tolerated.

Would seek a second opinion.


Ryan

[nursegirl6572]

Inderal can be very effective in helping anxiety symptoms...but I have to agree that it sounds like your starting dose is WAY high....and you may end up with some significant hypotension and adverse side effects.

If you are not being seen by a psychiatrist...I would recommend that as a starting point.  

Either way...I'm in total agreement that a second opinion seems warranted here.

Good luck.