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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by jaby on March 4, 2003, at 15:45:16
I'm wondering if anyone takes a beta blocker everyday rather than on a situational need basis. If so, which one, how much, what effects, etc.
Posted by Emme on March 4, 2003, at 16:23:35
In reply to Anyone use Beta Blockers daily?, posted by jaby on March 4, 2003, at 15:45:16
Hi. Yes, I take 25 mg of atenolol daily for help in anxiety control. I like it. It's a big help in controlling the physical "fight or flight" aspects of anxiety, or the stimulating effects of some meds I've tried. I don't seem to have any side effects from it. I have hear that beta blockers have the potential to cause depression. My doctor thought atenolol was less likely to cause depression than other beta blockers. It must not cross the blood-brain barrier very much.
Emme
> I'm wondering if anyone takes a beta blocker everyday rather than on a situational need basis. If so, which one, how much, what effects, etc.
Posted by medlib on March 4, 2003, at 17:33:12
In reply to Anyone use Beta Blockers daily?, posted by jaby on March 4, 2003, at 15:45:16
Hi Jaby--
This is a great example of YMMV. I took Tenormin (atenolol) 25mg. as an anti-hypertensive for a while before the days of ace inhibitors. It produced the deepest depression I'd experienced up to that point--really scary; my mood lifted back up to regular old dysthmia as soon as I d/ced it. That was long ago, but I still remember those days with the shudders.
Hope you're able to find something that works for you.---medlib
Posted by Ame Sans Vie on March 4, 2003, at 18:12:10
In reply to Re: Beta Blockers daily? » jaby, posted by medlib on March 4, 2003, at 17:33:12
I wasn't informed of the depression possibility when started on 40mg/day of propranolol, and ended up so fatigued, depressed, and generally uncomfortable that the thought never occurred to me the b-blocker could be the problem. That's just how much of a stupor it had me in-- it took forgetting a dose one day after two weeks of pure hell for me to come to the obvious realization. I actually get sick thinking about that short time, but still force myself to take a much more manageable 10mg dose if the need arises. Overall, pretty useful drugs, but surely you should be overly cautious concerning the dose. This is the kind of depression that Eli Lilly's dreams are made of-- don't wanna go there.
Posted by Emme on March 4, 2003, at 21:32:38
In reply to Re: Beta Blockers daily? » jaby, posted by medlib on March 4, 2003, at 17:33:12
Hmmm....Hi Medlib. Well you have me thinking. I've experienced some periods of remission from depression while on atenolol, and I don't recall going from bad to worse when I started taking it regularly. But now you have me wondering just the same.... How long after you stopped it did your mood improve?
Think I'll do a little experiment and back off on it for a few days. It makes me feel more comfortable as far as jitteriness, but I don't think there's any reason I can't skip a few days - I've forgotten once in a while before. I'll see what happens.
Emme
> Hi Jaby--
>
> This is a great example of YMMV. I took Tenormin (atenolol) 25mg. as an anti-hypertensive for a while before the days of ace inhibitors. It produced the deepest depression I'd experienced up to that point--really scary; my mood lifted back up to regular old dysthmia as soon as I d/ced it. That was long ago, but I still remember those days with the shudders.
>
> Hope you're able to find something that works for you.---medlib
Posted by mrporter1 on March 4, 2003, at 23:44:18
In reply to Anyone use Beta Blockers daily?, posted by jaby on March 4, 2003, at 15:45:16
I take atenolol twice a day - 25 in morning and 12.5 at night. I initially began taking it to manage tachycardia (unrelated to meds). However, I started Adderall recently and have had no problems at all with heart rate. I'm not sure about depression. I struggled with depression way before I began the atenolol, so I can't see a direct connection. Just very grateful for managing heart rate issue.
Posted by likelife on March 6, 2003, at 0:35:16
In reply to Anyone use Beta Blockers daily?, posted by jaby on March 4, 2003, at 15:45:16
I've been taking 50 mg of atenolol/day for some time now. My pdoc started me on Ritalin, which made me feel wonderful, but my heartrate skyrocketed, so the GP put me on atenolol, and things have been fine since. No more autonomic nervous system overdrive. Of course, there is that problem of meds beget more meds, but for now, I'm content enough. As long as it works...
My GP told me atenolol didn't cross the blood-brain barrier, and I didn't notice any depressant effects, though these may have been offset by my AD and the Ritalin. Overall, my anxiety is a little lower as well (but multiple factors at work here).
> I'm wondering if anyone takes a beta blocker everyday rather than on a situational need basis. If so, which one, how much, what effects, etc.
Posted by SandyWeb on October 13, 2003, at 11:27:34
In reply to Anyone use Beta Blockers daily?, posted by jaby on March 4, 2003, at 15:45:16
> I'm wondering if anyone takes a beta blocker everyday rather than on a situational need basis. If so, which one, how much, what effects, etc.
-----------------
I've been taking Inderal LA 80mg (slow-release propranolol) for about a month or so now. It has done wonders for me. I take it every morning with my Celexa and Neurontin. The C and N cause my blood pressure to rise, and the Inderal keeps it at a normal level. Also, my heart rate is very fast due to anxiety (120 resting!), and now it rests at about 75.
I have not experienced any type of depression from the Inderal LA, as others have reported. It helps tremendously with anxiety, and I love the fact that my heart is working at much more reasonable levels!! That is comforting in itself!
SandyWeb
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