Can I Take Propranolol For Anxiety?

Posted on Thu, 2 Jan 2025

Question: Dr. XXXXXXX just one quick follow up question since I just saw my primary family doctor today who gave me a script for 10mg of the propranolol you suggested for anxiety and that breathing issue I have. At first he said I could take this med as needed (when I felt overly tense, to lower heart rate/bp, etc) and then changed it to saying I should take it every day for consistency. Since he was a bit waffling on this, could u please clarify how u tell your patients to take this and also is it a relatively safe med, even taken sporadically? Thanks again.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and asking on use of propranolol.

Well it depends on the patient profile how the medication such as propranolol should be used. If there is occasional breathlessness it can be taken on need basis.

However in your case the breathlessness is regular so taking it on regular basis should be the right choice. In similar situations I generally ask my patients to start with 10 mg in morning and increase to twice a day after gap of one week provided there is inadequate response with single tablet of 10 mg. Depending on the response dose can be further increased.

I hope this answers you.
Feel free to write back to me if you have more questions.
Thanks again.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (2 hours later)

First, Dr. XXXXXXX thank u. You have been a help and your patients are very fortunate to have you. One last question that came to mind. I have never had a full cardiac exam, no EKG, etc.
I am totally sure the racing heart, high bp, breathlessness, etc is due to severe anxiety. Should there be some unknown underlying heart issue, however, I assume this med would still be safe to use?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and valuable feedback.

Propranolol is mainly cardiac medication and used in various issues related to cardiac health including high blood pressure. I mean to say that it is used in many heart ailments and is safe to a great extent. In addition the dose which we are using is very low and any side effect with such a low dose is very uncommon as per my clinical experience.

I also like to communicate that most of heart ailments show increase severity of symptoms on physical activity and decrease symptoms on rest. There is exactly opposite in your case. This indicates very low possibility, if any, of heart disease.

I hope this helps you further.
Thanks again.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T