[SAS Admin]

Inderal is what is known as a non-selective beta-blocker, which means that it keeps certain chemicals in the body from moving to specific locations. It was first developed for use in the treatment of high blood pressure, but its effects are beneficial for a variety of disorders. Noticeable results of using Inderal include slowing of the heartbeat and reducing blood pressure.

Because of its effects on the heart, Inderal has been especially helpful for SAD patients whose anxiety is specific to situations when there is public speaking or performance involved. Many people find it helpful when they need to give speeches or presentations and are worried about how their physical symptoms of anxiety might cause a problem. While many reports show that relieving these physical anxiety symptoms is helpful to those who suffer from situational anxiety, others find that symptoms of mental anxiety are not addresses by this medication and can continue to be overwhelming in public situations.

More info:

• Drugs.com
• Wikipedia

User ratings/reviews:

• AskAPatient.com
• Drugs.com
• DailyStrength.org
• WebMD
• RXList.com
• Revolution Health

 

[SAS Admin]

Great for performance anxiety

(Copied over from old review system)

Posted by oceanside

Treatment Experience
I have found this drug to be very helpful for performance anxiety, such as, giving presentations or speeches. It stops the adrenaline from kicking in. Because of this, I am able to concentrate much better on what I'm doing because I'm not worried about people noticing my symptoms.​

 

[SAS Admin]

Propranolol

(Copied over from old review system)

Posted by aabbccdd44332211

Treatment Experience
This is like a miracle. I was prescribed 20 mg of propranolol by my very reluctant doctor. This enabled me to give speeches and other public performances without my physical symptoms such as shaking, etc. I could not do this prior. I can't begin to describe how much this has saved me. I take it one hour before my presentations.​

 

[SAS Admin]

20 mg helps me with physical symptoms

(Copied over from old review system)

Posted by proximo20

Treatment Experience
I take 20 mg before presentations and I don't shake, blush or seem anxious( I hope lol).

Mentally I still feel nervous, but I think that is normal. Most of the people get nervous before presentations and interviews. What my problem is the physical symptoms of it and inderal helps me to eliminate them.​

 

[SAS Admin]

Inderal

(Copied over from old review system)

Posted by itsamystery

Social Anxiety Background
I did a little therapy on what caused my social anxiety--I had a few traumatic experiences that brought unwanted attention, and because of my basically shy nature (inherited), it caused a social phobia. When I began to work (which I needed to do to support two daughters), I found more situations cropping up that triggered a phobia --typing with people watching me, writing while people watched what I was doing, having my work critiqued, etc. A nightmare for me, for instance, would be going to a home loan signing--an easy and exciting experience for most people, but one which would cause me to let the house go instead. I also learned that people who are predisposed to tremor and nerve disorders are also more inclined to develop social anxiety. Inderal is also used to treat essential tremor, so there you go...

Other Treatments
Xanax in very small and short-term doses.

Treatment Experience
I've had this disorder probably since most of you were born, but here's what I know about Inderal (or many of the newer beta blockers).

It was a miracle for me and I've been using it for twenty odd years (no pun intended).
Many of the physical manifestations of social anxiety increase the fear and emotional ones. Inderal enabled me to keep my job in which I had to give computer demos and found that my shaking hands prohibited me typing with people watching me. I also had problems with writing in public, and off-the-chart fear of speaking in public. Parties and other things were an issue, but I think possibly because I'm female, I could handle those (I wasn't expected to approach people, but people could approach me).

For Kim, I'd give Inderal another try--don't take so much because increasing the dose doesn't make it more effective--and could cause the weakness and slow your blood pressure down too much. You'll find that as you successfully give presentations, the emotional and mental fear will also give way. I have surprised myself by being able to do many things that I couldn't do after forgetting to take my medication.

You could also try Xanax or another sedative (take only a small amount). But, unlike Inderall, the sedatives are addictive and you could end up with a much larger problem.​

 

[SAS Admin]

Great

(Copied over from old review system)

Posted by jakeforpresident

Social Anxiety Background
Disabilitating generalized social phobia

Other Treatments
Everything, lol

Treatment Experience
Propanolol does great for tremors and shakes, but what I really liked it for was its ability to calm my tense legs. My legs would ache from stress but Inderal took care of that. A+​

 

[SAS Admin]

Inderal

(Copied over from old review system)

Posted by Morts

Treatment Experience
I've used Inderal LA 80mg in the past to combat hand tremors during panic attacks while either writing in front of someone, or picking up full glasses in a social environment (ie dinner or drinks with mates at a pub). The Inderal LA is a "long acting" version of the standard Inderal and one tablet is supposed to last a day. This medication was prescribed in the UK and I have since found that it is not available in Australia and have been given Inderal 40mg (non long acting) which I am yet to try out.

I found the Inderal LA 80mg to be very helpful in situations where I had mild-medium anxiety levels, they did not 100% relieve my tremors but they got me to a point where I could do what I needed to successfully, however, when I was in a situation that I had high anxiety levels, I didn't find they helped much at all.​

 

[SAS Admin]

not what you'd hope it would be

(Copied over from old review system)

Shared by kim00

Social Anxiety Background
severe social anxiety and panic disorder

Treatment Experience
The university clinic gave me this to help me do class presentations. I was so desperate to believe it would help because my grades depended on it. You're supposed to take 10mg one hour before a presentation, and it's supposed to calm you down by regulating your heartbeat and such.

I decided to give it a test run a few days before my presentation, and it's a good thing I did.

I took 10mg and waited...nothing but a few twinges of chest pain

I took 10 more mg (you're allowed to take up to 40mg a day and it usually takes a higher dose for me to feel much) and I waited. I felt absolutely NO decrease in mental anxiety. I just felt physically "slowed down" in an odd and kind of scary way. It's strange not to be able to hear your own heart beating. There were more of the disturbing chest pains

I was so disappointed that this stupid pill wasn't the performance anxiety miracle the clinic had made it out to be.
So, in short, this pill does nothing (I repeat, nothing) for the mental symptoms of anxiety. Don't expect any help in that department. It only works on a few physical symptoms of anxiety (like rapid heartbeat).
Also, it causes constipation, dry mouth and insomnia. And yeah...the chest pains...scary
​

 

[Volcom23]

Is it okay to take this drug though there is no prior prescription from the doctor? I found that it can be accessed easily in drugstores here in the Philippines. I am also wondering what's the difference between propranolol hydrochloride and propranolol. The inderal here in the Philippines is propranolol hydrochloride. Is there any difference between them?

 

[Hello22]

^ Ya Propanolol hydrochloride is what i use and its only available on prescription here. It worked really well for me - helped me through all my presentations for the last 2 years, i doubt i would have gotten through college or at least i would have really struggled without it. However it doesnt address the underlying issue, and i once made the mistake of thinking my anxiety attacks were gone and i tried to do a small presentation without it and this turned out nasty.

Brilliant for public speaking but not for everyday SA - i think you would start to become immune to its effects if taken daily.

 

[Antonio]

Hi, I went to the doctors today about my anxiety.
Me personally i think I have pretty severe anxiety whenever I have to do many of the previous task you have previously mentioned.
After much persuading and practically demanding that I have some form of medication, he prescribed 10mg.

I know many of you have had success with Inderal 20 mg or anything above 20mg.
But I haven't noticed anyone talk about the success of 10mg.
I mean I've just taken one and feel pretty relaxed, but when the crush comes to crush, will it be successful.

All replies will be greatly appreciated.

 

[demian1]

Never taken it, but know someone for whom 10mg worked.

Do GPs prescribe, or only psychiatrists?

 

[Intelligent Design]

Hi, I went to the doctors today about my anxiety.
Me personally i think I have pretty severe anxiety whenever I have to do many of the previous task you have previously mentioned.
After much persuading and practically demanding that I have some form of medication, he prescribed 10mg.

I know many of you have had success with Inderal 20 mg or anything above 20mg.
But I haven't noticed anyone talk about the success of 10mg.
I mean I've just taken one and feel pretty relaxed, but when the crush comes to crush, will it be successful.

All replies will be greatly appreciated.

Your Doctor is being sensible by starting you off on a fairly low does (I was taking 160mg of slow release Inderal!) - basically, it's a suck it and see approach. If you find 10mg beneficial there would be no reason for a higher dose.

Inderal (Propranolol) will slow your heart rate. You can monitor this yourself if you have one of those heart rate monitors that people use at the gym.

Realistically, Inderal is not a cure. It will take the edge off. But if you currently experience very high chronic stress/anxiety levels then, I'm afraid you will still experience them. But the drug will reduce the intensity of those experiences.

 

[JimmyDeansRetartedCousin]

It's ideal for infrequent performance based anxiety situations and has the advantage of being non-addictive, but for a first line treatment, daily fluoxetine in conjunction with diazepam when required is usually the prefered treatment. Ideally not for the long term though, CBT is the way forward.

 

[OnionBelt43]

I know many of you have had success with Inderal 20 mg or anything above 20mg.
But I haven't noticed anyone talk about the success of 10mg.
I mean I've just taken one and feel pretty relaxed, but when the crush comes to crush, will it be successful.

All replies will be greatly appreciated.

I'm fairly sensitive to meds but I when i started using propranolol (as needed) I started with 10mg and it helped immensely. Nothing could provoke the physical anxiety symptoms. 5mg even blocks pretty much everything for me. Over time I've moved down to as little as 2.5mg and still find it highly effective. It's not a complete block but stops me from red-lining. This is nice in that it allows for you to work with dealing with some of the symptoms without completely falling apart.

 

[zodiac55]

The adrenergic blockade from taking this drug is often viewed as welcomed by people more on the "debilitating symptomology" end of the spectrum. In my opinion, the most ideal therapy in this category would be one that helps to simply tune down the NEGATIVE/stress aspect of the catecholamine surge (by strengthening the left-prefrontal parasympathetic output, or promoting more of the positive "endorphin" aspect to the adrenal activation.. thereby mellowing it out into INSPIRATION) heh.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[metoo]

Worked great for me - does not impact anxiety like xanax would but now I can do the presentation without my body betraying me (heart racing, voice cracking) and has allowed me to focus on the cognitive (self talk, practice).

I have occasionally added xanax but avoid because it is addictive and I can not think as quick.

Hope this helps someone like it did me!

 

[Manic Monkey]

My doctor prescribed me with Propranolol following an appointment to discuss my problems to him for the first time, telling me that he could not prescribe me a stronger medication, as he wished, as I was a minor, but he hoped the Propranolol would, at least, help the current situation until I could see a psychiatrist, who would be able to diagnose me officially and prescribe me with stronger medication. I did as told. I found it made breathing exceptionally difficult and anxiety attacks worse, and also found that it also left mental symptoms to overwhelm. As it turned out, the medication was not meant to be prescribed to people with asthma.

 

[carla]

I've just been prescribed propranolol for anxiety in situations like meetings and talks, lectures and conferences. I get so freaked out when people sit behind me or can see me from the side, im constantly afraid they're watching, it starts out with obsessing on it and leads to blushing, rapid heart rate, aware of breathing and moving up and down of your chest, then you panic more and hands start to shake and you sweat, i get muscle spasms when certain loud words are said , and my head jumps, i am severely tense, and i get the worst headaches i ever thought possible. I sometimes have to run out or go to the bathroom and cry.

The doc said these should help, does anyone know if they will help with all these symptoms? I know they don't work so well for the mindset but I think if I can get the physical symptoms under control I will have a better chance at sorting out my head, I don't know if that makes sense lol

 

[April01]

does anyone know of a SAFE AND RELIABLE WEBSITE, please email me

Yes, Propranolol works wonders for the symptoms...its truly amazing how you see your body cool and under control from those horrible and debilitating fight or flight responses. As far as the mindset...well, for me it has help me during meetings and observations at work. I know that I can continue working and not be worried about my symptoms getting in the way of someone walks in on me by surprise to observe. I take between 10-20 mg daily and I am so thankful. I still need help for presentations though...it's a fear and the propranolol only helps the symptoms. I don't know yet if there is anything out there yet that can help.