I haven't seen any topics on beta-blockers, so i thought I'd make a few comments.

For those of you who don't know, beta-blockers nullify the body's production of adrenaline. So if you're in a situation that usually produces anxiety, like a racing heart or shallow breathing, a beta-blocker will stop that from happening.

The best example I can give is the one about walking in the woods and a sabretooth tiger appears. If you're on a beta-blocker and the tiger appears, you'd have no physical reaction. You might think, "Oh, damn it" and want to run, but the pounding heart and the rest just wouldn't happen. In this scenario the tiger would probably kill you, but most of them are in zoos nowawadays.

I bring this up because they're not mentioned on any of the tapes, and because I haven't seen them mentioned here. You don't take them daily, you take them as the situation dictates. Musicians use them for recitals and auditions. Archers and sharpshooters used them in the Olympics, but they were banned as a performance-enhancing drug.

My doctor prescribed me one called suppressor, and I've only had to use it a few times. The first time I used it was at a rock concert, because in the past I'd get anxious and want to leave. But with the beta-blocker, there were no body symptoms, and so I wasn't afraid.

If you take a beta-blocker before you go into a situation that usually makes you anxious, your body won't react and instead of focusing on how terrible you feel and the need to run, you can see the situation for what it truly is: chances are there's no need to escape (except in the case of the tiger).

I can't underestimate how powerful this drug has been for me cognitively. Instead of freaking out, your body physically can't freak out, and so you break the link in your mind between the situation and the body symptoms.

I recently joined a jazz band. I took a beta-blocker for the audition and the first few rehearsals, but now that I'm comfortable with the situation, I haven't taken one since, and that was back in September.

Anyway, I thought this might be useful information for people. As usual, talk to your doctor, etc.

-d-

Hello Everyone!
I have taken a beta Blocker daily, EVERY DAY, since 2001.
I've met up with several 'tigers' since then and believe me, got a rush of adrenalan.

I guess it must depend on the strength of the dose and the person taking it.

Nearly everyone's chemical make-up is dif.
One almost has to trust the doctor on this one , on an induvidual basis.
Also on the diagnoses.

There are no generalities on this. one size doesn't fit all.

Not being contrary here. Just a thought.
MJ

Really? Interesting. Are you taking one every day for anxiety?

On no.
I take it for high blood pressure and tachycardia.
I also take another bp med. Lisinopril.

Right now I'm recovering from a single mastectomy. Doing well.
Take care, DoogieT
Sounds like you are doing pretty well too, now.
MJ

oops!
I meant to say (or write): Oh No.
Not on no.
Sorry.
MJ

Well, it has multiple uses. If you're taking it for that sort of thing, I wouldn't imagine the dose would be high enough to kill anxiety, but I really have no idea what I'm talking about.

All I know is that it works wonders for me.

My doctor had mentioned beta blockers to me years ago when I was having trouble finding a med that helped my anxiety. My mother had been on them for medical reasons for a long time and they made her very tired, so I didn't want to take them. I've been hearing lately though from people taking them that it has helped their anxiety a great deal.

Doogiet:
You brought up some good points. Never underestimate yourself. You are doing well.

BTW, I take 50 mlg of the stuff.

Mary:
I wondered why that I get so tired so soon.
I guess that is a real draw-back. I do get so very tired.
But yet, I feel better than before they put me on it. In other ways.
Thanks for that information.

My best to you both!
MJ

My doc hasd put me on 20mg 2 times daily but I still get palpatations.....especially at night. Anyone else relate? When I wake up and feel them my anxiety goes and it races more. On a monitor now and hoping that they might consider higher dose...or a different med. Anyone else go through this? Thank you..Laura

I am also on beta-blockers for Mitral Valve Prolapse. When I have palpitations, I have more anxiety which causes even more palpitaions. I also take Xanax in a small sode, but don't have to take every day. I am on Buspar everyday, and hope after I finish this program I can get off all medications. Good luck.

Mary Jane,

One side affect of most blood pressure med, according to my doc, is fatigue or weakness. I've had to go off of two BP meds thus far due to fatigue. Just could not stay up as a result of taking them. I've been off of the last one, lisinopril, for 3 weeks now and my energy level has returned. But now I've just started taking metoprolol tonight for BP. Trying to find one I can tolerate for BP. It's taken me 5 months to figure out it was the BP meds and not depression meds that were creating the problems. So, the lisinopril and/or beta-blocker could be the culprit with the fatigue.

Hi Don!
Thanks for that information. You know, you and Mary Wargo have really enlightened me as to what my tiredness is due to.
And that is good!!!
You see, I've just been beating myself up, often thinking I am just lazy and not trying hard enough. Really down on myself many, many days at a time.
I had attributed my tiredness to my age off and on. But then, I would see such spry elderly folk , doing so much better than I seemed to be able to do.
Well, the truth is that I take 50 mlg. of metropolol (sp?) and 40 mlg. of lisinopril a day. Both of them of a morning. Plus I take a water pill daily too. And sometimes 2 dif . water pills. Oh yes!!
So, of course, I'm tired!!! LOL LOL

I don't seem to have too much problem with the diastolic pressure. It is the systolic that the doctors get all concerned about. It runs high without the medication. And doctor's get all bent out of shape because I have that along with diabetes.
So I really don't think there is any hope that they'd change the meds.
The meds are keeping my BP about 130/60 and that is what the doctors like. LOL
So they aren't likely to change those medciations.
But the good thing is - you have shed light on my situation and I can stop punishing myself for what I thought was laziness. I'm not lazy, I am really tired. LOL LOL LOL
But I can keep trying to accomplish. And that is good too.
But if I'm inclined to spend an extra hour reading, or watching TV or here on the computer, that is fine also. I have an excuse now...
Thank you very much!!!
No, kidding aside. It is very helpful to understand now that these meds will make me tired. And to accept that, since I probably need to take them.

It is nice anyway to take the metropolol because it cuts down on those uncomfortable flip=flops that I often feel in my chest.
(palpatations, I suppose, but doctors say my heart is okay).
For the most part, I feel pretty good for 80 years.
I'm very thankful.
I live near the new WalMart , Don. It is nice over here.
Thanks again!!
Mary Jane

I can relate to beating up yourself over the tiredness. I had no clue what was causing it but knew it wasn't normal since I couldn't jog anymore. Didn't have the strength to do 3 miles anymore. My doc suggested it could be my "motivation" and that really ticked me off. LOL. But after being off of the meds for 3 weeks it was crystal clear it was the BP meds. Only 2 days on the metoprolol so far. Too early to tell if it's not going to make me fatigued. I've got my fingers crossed.

When this started in late Oct. 2008 I attributed it to too much depression meds and kept reducing them over time until totally off of them. That only lasted a week and I had to go back on them. At that point, in January of this year, I began to suspect the BP med.

Good evening!
I hope the metoprolol works for you. If not I think there are many more BP meds to try.
I know what you mean about being off the anti-depressant.
I tried for several months to go off my risperdal. I finally made it and got off it completely in Sept. I think. I did pretty good for a while. I thought I felt better for a good while.
I stayed off for about 5 or 6 months. But some of that time I didn't do so well. But I wanted to be med free so badly. I stayed off it.
However, I had to go back on it this month. Just a few days ago.really. I was having some anger problems. And I doubted the validity of people.
Family mostly. I just wasn't right. And sleep was a pretty big problem.
I was diagnosed once with Bi-polar. I've always doubted that. i could find so many reasons for why I would be depressed. And the times when they felt I might be manic, I attributed to being on medication. ETC. So I just never knew. And I did not have complete trust in doctors. Not doctors who treat this kind of problems.
However, I'm almost ready to admit that perhaps I am mildly bi-polar. Really , it doesn't matter anymore whether I am or not. Only a minute amount of the risperdal keeps me comfortable and with less depression and sleeping reasonably well. (not long sleep but better than without it). I'm taking 1/4 mlg. of the risperdal and that seems to work okay.
(antidepressants give me tachycardia and keep me awake). The risperdal works okay if I don't take too much of it.
And at my age what dif. does it make anyway.

I'm feeling pretty good right now with the med.
And my relationships are better than they were for a while there. The anger and suspicion are gone for the most part.
My spiritual life is better with the med., I think.

So all is going pretty well right now.

My best to everyone.
MaryJane