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What Should I Do About Severe Anxiety Despite Taking Propranolol And Yet Experiencing Sleeplessness, Loss Of Appetite, Severe Constipation And Rashes?

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Posted on Fri, 21 Jan 2022
Question: Hi I'm taking propranolol 10 mg twice a day. My question is , I've got severe anxiety and my Dr wants to put me on a much higher dose. I already can't sleep, no appetite, Severe constipation I've got rashes from who knows what but I'm very concerned help!!!!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
some of your symptoms may be side effects of the drug

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

some of your symptoms may indeed be related to propranolol although I don't believe this is the case because of the frequency of these side effects. The main side effects of propranolol are hypotension, slow heart rate, cold extremities, dizziness. Fatigue and nightmares (and other sleep disturbances are fairly common but they occur in less than 1 out of 10 patients taking it).

Constipation and rashes are not common with propranolol. The appetite can be affected but this is rather rare.

Propranolol may help some patients with anxiety because it blunts some of the symptoms (rapid heart rate and other body symptoms) but it can't handle anxiety itself directly. If your blood pressure and heart rate are within normal range then increasing the dosage is usually safe.

If you've got severe anxiety that impairs your daily activities then a psychiatrist should be consulted.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3817 Questions

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What Should I Do About Severe Anxiety Despite Taking Propranolol And Yet Experiencing Sleeplessness, Loss Of Appetite, Severe Constipation And Rashes?

Brief Answer: some of your symptoms may be side effects of the drug Detailed Answer: Hello, some of your symptoms may indeed be related to propranolol although I don't believe this is the case because of the frequency of these side effects. The main side effects of propranolol are hypotension, slow heart rate, cold extremities, dizziness. Fatigue and nightmares (and other sleep disturbances are fairly common but they occur in less than 1 out of 10 patients taking it). Constipation and rashes are not common with propranolol. The appetite can be affected but this is rather rare. Propranolol may help some patients with anxiety because it blunts some of the symptoms (rapid heart rate and other body symptoms) but it can't handle anxiety itself directly. If your blood pressure and heart rate are within normal range then increasing the dosage is usually safe. If you've got severe anxiety that impairs your daily activities then a psychiatrist should be consulted. I hope you find my comments helpful! Kind Regards!