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Beta Blockers: Propranolol, Metopropol, Atenolol etc


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Is it possible that I felt better after taking 1/4 of beta blocker Propranolol, or am I better because of something else ?
My heart was pounding faster without any reason, so my doctor gave me this beta blocker and my heart was better, but I mentally feel a tiny bit better. Could this be the reason, did anyone else have the same experience ?

 

Thanks in advance.

My withdrawal journey (click)

 

"If you're going through hell - keep going".

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On 1/6/2016 at 6:45 AM, Petunia said:

Topics merged.

 

Propranolol was one of the drugs I tried using early on to manage symptoms, but stopped when I found this site and learned its best not to use any drugs to treat withdrawal symptoms.

 

It didn't work very well anyway and I found that when I did take it to lower anxiety/fear, I would end up swinging to a kind of opposite state of being depressed with no energy and very low mood, which was just a bad.

 

If you do use it, it will need to be tapered from when you stop. See:  Tapering Alpha Blockers or Beta Blockers

 

I just saw this. I guess that I won't take it after this one first time (ever in my life), I'm seriously sick of tapering, ugh.

My withdrawal journey (click)

 

"If you're going through hell - keep going".

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WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 2 months later...

Does anyone take Proparanol and does it help them at all? 

Citalopram 40mg 2013 - 2016 straight onto - 

Sertraline 200mg 2016 - May 2017 two weeks at 100mg then straight onto 

Mirtazapine 15mg 2017 ( was only on these for two weeks. Straight onto

Fluoxetine 20mg 2017 ( was also only on these for two weeks)

I am still taking 80mg of proparanol daily m, i have taken these since july 2016

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It's not helping me with withdrawal.

many years ago given sinequan for depression bad reaction so tiny dose of meleril to balance... quit after a year or so c/t

years pass no drugs

reg doc had me try all of the  a/d bc of upset due to divorce.  couldn't handle any.  took klonopin to sleep .5 mg  2003

taper klonopin

hooked on tramadol accidentally. 2006-2008 husband had migraines and took them like candy. so i became dependent too.  c/t  2008

diagnosis of porphyria after years of symptoms,  then toxic event made me really ill.

 

gabapentin 300mg every 3 hours , 6x day.

propranolol   180 mg  6x / day

since 2012

clonazepam prescribed as 1 mg / day  but beginning to take more to deal with withdrawals and sleeplessness

 

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I take 40mg 3x daily but doesnt seem to so much either

Citalopram 40mg 2013 - 2016 straight onto - 

Sertraline 200mg 2016 - May 2017 two weeks at 100mg then straight onto 

Mirtazapine 15mg 2017 ( was only on these for two weeks. Straight onto

Fluoxetine 20mg 2017 ( was also only on these for two weeks)

I am still taking 80mg of proparanol daily m, i have taken these since july 2016

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I take Propanolol 40mg 3x daily. It helps me with the anxiety I have even though I'm taking 150mg sertraline daily. It was ineffectual in helping my withdrawal symptoms when I'd reduced to 100mg sertraline. I still needed Propanolol when I was on the maximum 200mg dose of sertraline.  

7 years use of sertraline to maximum dose of 200mg daily. Attempted tapering off Sept-Nov 2016. Withdrawal side-effects too unmanageable. Restarted tapering May 2017. In 6weeks reduced to 100mg daily. Managed withdrawal symptoms till mid-sept. Now taking 150mg daily. Also prescribed Propanolol 40mg up to 3 times daily to manage anxiety and Quinapril 10mg daily for high blood pressure.

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Yes i took 3 x 40mg whilst i was in the 200mg of sertraline. As i stopped the sertraline cold turkey. Was to scared to stop the proparanolol at the same time 

Citalopram 40mg 2013 - 2016 straight onto - 

Sertraline 200mg 2016 - May 2017 two weeks at 100mg then straight onto 

Mirtazapine 15mg 2017 ( was only on these for two weeks. Straight onto

Fluoxetine 20mg 2017 ( was also only on these for two weeks)

I am still taking 80mg of proparanol daily m, i have taken these since july 2016

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I had a relapse when I had to stop taking propranolol it for a test after only taking it for about a week and I was very ill with shakes and stuff for about 2-3 months and probably took six months to get back to where I had been before taking it. Might be better, if you really need a beta blocker, to talk to your doctor about one that doesn't cross the blood brain barrier, maybe start with a low dose and always taper off more slowly than they tell you to. Everyone's different. 

2010: Adverse reaction to citalopram/suicidal.

2010-2014: Venlafaxine doses 75-150-300. Began to cause heart palpitations.

2014: Adverse side effects from Sertraline

2014: Adverse reaction to Mirtazipine/suicidal. CT withdrawal. 

2014: Accute adverse reaction to one prozac pill. Body & brain went on fire. Full WD

2015: Half dose of Lorazepam restarted all the WD symptoms. 

2017: Bad reaction to stopping propranolol beta blockers. Violent shaking WD again.
2023: Severe adrenaline surges triggered by low frequency sound/vibration next door. Heart rate going dangerously high so now 25mg atenolol.

 

Current Supplements: Omega 3 & Vitamin C, magnesium. 
Current other medications: Metformin (type ii diabetic), Lymecycline (for rosacea), Atenolol 25mg. 

 

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  • ChessieCat changed the title to Propranolol
  • 4 months later...

I’m sure this is been asked but I can’t find it, but are beta blockers OK? will they make symptoms worse?

 My heart thumps and races because of wd, stops me from sleeping, but I don’t want to make wd worse. 

benzos 2 mg from 2013-2015

tapered 2015-2017

put on 45 mg remeron 2013. -2015

to counterac the benzos, roller coaster of symptoms july 1 2017-

sept 15/2017 tapered remeron, too fast. Had to reinstate to 7.5 unbarable syptoms. Going slow this time, live and learn. 

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I think they can be helpful and not hard to drop when no longer needed.

 

many years ago given sinequan for depression bad reaction so tiny dose of meleril to balance... quit after a year or so c/t

years pass no drugs

reg doc had me try all of the  a/d bc of upset due to divorce.  couldn't handle any.  took klonopin to sleep .5 mg  2003

taper klonopin

hooked on tramadol accidentally. 2006-2008 husband had migraines and took them like candy. so i became dependent too.  c/t  2008

diagnosis of porphyria after years of symptoms,  then toxic event made me really ill.

 

gabapentin 300mg every 3 hours , 6x day.

propranolol   180 mg  6x / day

since 2012

clonazepam prescribed as 1 mg / day  but beginning to take more to deal with withdrawals and sleeplessness

 

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Thanks 

benzos 2 mg from 2013-2015

tapered 2015-2017

put on 45 mg remeron 2013. -2015

to counterac the benzos, roller coaster of symptoms july 1 2017-

sept 15/2017 tapered remeron, too fast. Had to reinstate to 7.5 unbarable syptoms. Going slow this time, live and learn. 

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  • 1 month later...

Hi Tired,

 

I'm going through the adrenaline surges and panic after stopping Mirtazapine. I had normal BP before this and was give both Atenolol and Metroprolol because of the BP spikes. I'd hate to cause paradoxical reactions or make anything worse. Did you use any Beta Blockers to help you through this and if so did they or do they help you? 

1990s-early 2000s: On and off different AD medicines like Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, and Lexapro.

2004: Klonopin .75-1 mg a day for anxiety.

2012: Started micro-taper off Klonopin. Used Benadryl or Doxylamine for sleep nightly. Melatonin. Ate clean and did exercise.

2014: Finished micro-taper with very little PAWS. No more Klonopin.  Started fish oil, probiotics, vitamins, and curcumin.  

November 2016: ADHD medicines: Vyvanse (60 mg), Dexedrine (15 mg), Adderall (15 mg), Desoxyn (20 mg) at various times, not at once.

March 2017: Mirtazapine 7.5 mg but immediately went up to 15 mg but then back down to 12, then 7.5 mg. For insomnia, not for depression. Melatonin too.

November 2017: Dropped to 3.75 mg Mirtazapine and eventually started taking it every other day or so.

 February 2018: Stopped 3.75 Mirtazapine after ER visit. Stabilized on Klonopin .125 mg as prepare to micro-taper again.Also stopped melatonin after a few years of use (5-20 mg a night). 

February 2019: One year later: The worst is over. Far from back to normal but 24/7 dread and fear adrenaline surges and suicidal ideation are done. Still anxiety, parasthesia, dysuatonomia, tinnitus, and minor insomnia but I'm also a year into my Klonopin taper down to .016 so much of this could be to that. I still have occasional feelings of unease (serotonin) but it's much better than 24/7 doom. I will have a success story and so will you! 

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  • 6 months later...

I am asking for some advice on beta blockers. In 2015 psychiatrist brought me down too fast from 40mg to 10mg Prozac. It took 4 or 5  months for withdrawal symptoms to set in. The most prominent of these was internal tremors. At the end of 2017 I felt I could do another reduction of 1mg, but had to reinstate .5mg. Then I moved from generic Prozac to pure Prozac powder,  which probably destabilised me again. My internal tremors increased again, but after 4 months I have had severe anxiety and ocd, which was not a big problem previously.  Now the internal tremors are made worse by the extreme anxiety and ocd. I know beta blockers will not help with the mental parts of the problem, but I was wondering if they would help a little with the physical symptoms.  I certainly do not want to destabilise my system anymore, so I will not do it if it will be a problem. I certainly don’t want to feel worse than I already do! Are there problems with withdrawal from beta blockers? 

1987 Anafranil

1987-1989 Prothiaden

1990-Jan 2015 Prozac 40mg Feb-Mar Prozac 30mg Ap-Nov Prozac 20mg (+10mg Zoloft for 1 week in Sept) Dec Prozac 10mg 2016 Jan-2017 Oct Prozac 15mg  Nov Prozac 14mg  Nov Prozac14.5mg

Other drugs Humira and Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritisSupplements :Magnesium and calcium.Folic acid 5mg.

Inderal 10mg (stopped 2018 Dec).        

2018 Nov Quetiapine fumarate 25mg Dec 150-125mg 2019Jan 125-25mg Feb 25-12.5mg

2018 Dec Sertra 25-150-125mg

2018 Dec Pregabalin 75-150mg                                                                                                  

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  • Moderator Emeritus
1 hour ago, Bunyapine said:

Are there problems with withdrawal from beta blockers? 

 

See:  Tapering Alpha Blockers or Beta Blockers

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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  • 3 weeks later...

@ ChessieCat I am still wondering about beta blockers for extreme anxiety. I am using other methods to help my anxiety and ocd, but they are not helping much. I want to know about the use of beta blockers(a very small dose)

as I definitely do not want to use Valium or any of those drugs.

 

 

 

 

1987 Anafranil

1987-1989 Prothiaden

1990-Jan 2015 Prozac 40mg Feb-Mar Prozac 30mg Ap-Nov Prozac 20mg (+10mg Zoloft for 1 week in Sept) Dec Prozac 10mg 2016 Jan-2017 Oct Prozac 15mg  Nov Prozac 14mg  Nov Prozac14.5mg

Other drugs Humira and Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritisSupplements :Magnesium and calcium.Folic acid 5mg.

Inderal 10mg (stopped 2018 Dec).        

2018 Nov Quetiapine fumarate 25mg Dec 150-125mg 2019Jan 125-25mg Feb 25-12.5mg

2018 Dec Sertra 25-150-125mg

2018 Dec Pregabalin 75-150mg                                                                                                  

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi, my doctor gave me propanolol to help with my anxiety and PGAD (I think). He said take it whenever I feel anxious/panicky but I don't have to take it every day/consistently, is that ok to do? He said we only have beta receptors in the brain and bladder and it doesn't effrect hormones like SSRIs do (when I was telling him about long-term withdrawals). I'm planning to only take 10mg when I'm panicky, I know it's not much but I'm too afraid to go higher.

16.4.14 - 25.4.15 Took Paxil (??mg) - cold turkey. Had random pgad symptoms around this time but not sure when exactly.

?.5.14: Started Citalopram (10mg) / 17.5.14: Quickly upped to 20mg  / 9?.15: upped to 30mg. 

8.16: Tapered off Citalopram in less than 2 weeks / 9.16: straight back on 20mg for just a week then stopped cold turkey. 11.16 Very mild pgad, PN symptoms and other withdrawals started.

7.12.16: Took Amitriptyline 10mg for just 2 days then stopped cold turkey.

14.12.16: reinstated 5mg of Citalopram / 1?.16: 10mg Citalopram / ?.16: 20mg Citalopram. 3.17 (6 months since withdrawing) pgad hit.

8.2.18: 15mg Citalopram / 8.3.18: 10mg / 8.4.18: 5mg / 12?.5.18: 2.5mg / 19.5.18: 0mg. pgad worsened almost instantly from first tapper, all sorts of PN symptoms, earworm, tinnitus, other things, coming and going until late 9.18 (4 months since 0mg) where it all got SO MUCH worse for 1.11 years (with windows and waves).

1.9.20: 99% healed ❤️

31.5.21: Smoked weed 5 out of 9 days. Pgad and other old withdrawals came back, plus developed akathesia & fibromyalgia.

7.22: Steadily recovering again ❤

2.23: Acute withdrawals coming back, no apparent reason.

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  • 3 months later...

Is it a bad idea to take propranolol for muscle twitches? I think my neurologist thinks that this twitching is caused by anxiety and wants me to try it. I was previously on propranolol for a few months during which the twitching started.

March 2016: Strattera

June 2016: Nothing

October 2016-April 2017:Wellbutrin SR

Mid-March 2017-March 2017 Adderall (9 days)

April 2017: Wellbutrin and Ritalin (7 days)

Mid-April to mid-June: nothing 

early June 2017: Wellbutrin XL

mid-June 2017: Wellbutrin XL, Adderall, and Hydrochlorothiazide (blood pressure); took for two days

Late August: Allegra for two days, then Propranolol

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  • 1 year later...

I took a couple of prescribed painkillers for a back injury . After two I ended up in the A&E withAtrial fibrillation  for which I was given beta blockers. The first one I was given crossed the blood brain barrier and had dreadful  symptoms coming off changed to one that doesn’t cross blood brain barrier so whilst still getting the well known symptoms of BB withdrawal not the centrally mediated ones . After years off ADsmy brain is still sensitive to drugs . Avoid drugs that are lipophilic and cross blood brain barrier would be my advice 

 

Edited by ChessieCat
removed in the media paragraph, member to repost

Paxil 10mg 21/2 years to June 2012 after a 2 month taper

 

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  • 6 months later...

Hi 

I’m really struggling again since I came off being on Anti Depressants for over two decades.

 

my anxiety is constant through the day with feelings of breathlessness high heart rate. At night time I can’t sleep and experience severe panic attacks before I can fall into a deep sleep. It’s like I’m afraid to fall asleep. This happens every night and I can only get 4hrs of light sleep if I’m lucky. After 12mths of this and it’s slowly getting worse I’m at my wits end.

 

has anyone taken beta blockers or am I just screwing up my system again? 
im not sure how much longer I can survive like this.
 

My heart rate at rest is 20/30 Bpm higher than it ever was on anti depressants it’s like they have done something crazy to my body and I can’t function with out them 

Paroxetine/Paxil: 20 mg 1996-99, CT, 20 mg 2003-2014, CT; Venlafaxine/Effexor: 150 mg 2014-2016, 75 mg 2016-2018, 37,5 mg 2018-2019,18,5 mg 2019-May 2020, CT (withdrawal problems begin); Tried Sertraline/Zoloft, Prozac, buspirone/Buspar: May-Aug 2020;

testosterone cypronate 12.5mg Pd Oct 2020 -present,  Hcg 100iu PDOct 2021 -present.

 Mirtazapine: 15 mg Aug-Nov 2020, 30 mg Nov-Dec 2020, 15 mg, March 2021-present Tadalifil 2.5mg PD, 5mg 3pd. exemestane 6.25mg every 3days   Jan 2020 to 23 Mar 2021, CT; Trazodone: 150 mg Mar 2021 (one week); Paroxetine: 10 mg, 23-29 Mar 2021; Mirtazapine: 3.75 mg, 29 Mar to 13 Jun 2021, forced CT in hospital; Zopiclone: 7.5 mg, 13 June 2020 (4 nights); Bisopropol fumarate (beta blocker): 1.75 mg, 16 June to 30 July 2021; Mirtazapine/Remeron: 1.75 mg, 16 June to 31 Aug 2021, 1.5 mg, 1 Sept 2021-10 Oct Solifenacin succinate (colinergic receptor agonist): 10mg, 16 Aug 2021-12 Oct 2021

Amoxicillin:1.5G PD, 01-29 Aug 2021.

oxytetracyline :1g PD, 5-10 Oct 2021 metronidazole 0.75% gel, 19 Oct 2021-24 Oct buspirone. 21 Oct - 12 Nov Vortiotexitine :5mg, 
24 Oct- present propanalol 20mg PRN. 13 Nov -16 Nov 25mg Venlafaxine ER, 17 Nov-26 Nov 12.5mg, 12.5mg 12.5mg, 9mg, 9mg, 6mg, 6mg, 6mg 3mg, 3mg, Venlafaxine 

12 Oct- 1 NovZopliclone 7.5mg, 1 Nov-14 Nov 5.9mg, 14Nov-28Nov 3.75mg, 28Nov-14Dec 1.9mg, 14Dec-21Dec 7.5mg, 21Dec-4th Jan 5.9mg, 4thJan-present 4.8mg

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Hello, I have extreme constant anxiety and I am 4 months off ADs, My GP prescribed propranolol 40mg x 3 per day to help with anxiety.  I only take 20mg a day and it helps a little, the GP said to take it everyday so it is constant.  Some days when I am not in a wave I do not take it so it is as and when but that is my personal view I do not know what the Mods will say...I may be wrong.

 

 

Started venlafaxine December 2016. Started to wean off Effexor over 16 months period and I had no issues at all. Stopped June 2020.  Unfortunately, I was under chronic stress from 4 deaths (1 was my mother) in the family amongst other things  and sunk back down in October 2020.  Rather than accepting this was chronic stress and grief, I panicked and went to the GP.

 

October 2020 prescribed Vortioxetine 10mg for 1 month and then increased to 15 mg ups advice from GP on for 7 weeks in total.  Had suicidal thoughts and off the wall anxiety.  Changed to Lexapro in mid December 2020, slow titration from 2.5mg up to 10mg.  After 7 weeks again off the wall anxiety. I was advised to take 5mg for one week and stop as I want to go 'au natural'.  Last SSRI was 30 January 2021.  

 

I was also prescribed diazepam and Zopiclone through the 4 months of taking SSRis to 'manage' the side effects and also for the withdrawal.   I am probably withdrawing from all drugs.

 

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Thank you for your reply boohoo19 I appreciate it 

Paroxetine/Paxil: 20 mg 1996-99, CT, 20 mg 2003-2014, CT; Venlafaxine/Effexor: 150 mg 2014-2016, 75 mg 2016-2018, 37,5 mg 2018-2019,18,5 mg 2019-May 2020, CT (withdrawal problems begin); Tried Sertraline/Zoloft, Prozac, buspirone/Buspar: May-Aug 2020;

testosterone cypronate 12.5mg Pd Oct 2020 -present,  Hcg 100iu PDOct 2021 -present.

 Mirtazapine: 15 mg Aug-Nov 2020, 30 mg Nov-Dec 2020, 15 mg, March 2021-present Tadalifil 2.5mg PD, 5mg 3pd. exemestane 6.25mg every 3days   Jan 2020 to 23 Mar 2021, CT; Trazodone: 150 mg Mar 2021 (one week); Paroxetine: 10 mg, 23-29 Mar 2021; Mirtazapine: 3.75 mg, 29 Mar to 13 Jun 2021, forced CT in hospital; Zopiclone: 7.5 mg, 13 June 2020 (4 nights); Bisopropol fumarate (beta blocker): 1.75 mg, 16 June to 30 July 2021; Mirtazapine/Remeron: 1.75 mg, 16 June to 31 Aug 2021, 1.5 mg, 1 Sept 2021-10 Oct Solifenacin succinate (colinergic receptor agonist): 10mg, 16 Aug 2021-12 Oct 2021

Amoxicillin:1.5G PD, 01-29 Aug 2021.

oxytetracyline :1g PD, 5-10 Oct 2021 metronidazole 0.75% gel, 19 Oct 2021-24 Oct buspirone. 21 Oct - 12 Nov Vortiotexitine :5mg, 
24 Oct- present propanalol 20mg PRN. 13 Nov -16 Nov 25mg Venlafaxine ER, 17 Nov-26 Nov 12.5mg, 12.5mg 12.5mg, 9mg, 9mg, 6mg, 6mg, 6mg 3mg, 3mg, Venlafaxine 

12 Oct- 1 NovZopliclone 7.5mg, 1 Nov-14 Nov 5.9mg, 14Nov-28Nov 3.75mg, 28Nov-14Dec 1.9mg, 14Dec-21Dec 7.5mg, 21Dec-4th Jan 5.9mg, 4thJan-present 4.8mg

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Alan,  it helps me a lot with GB withdrawal.  I find it easy to get off of.  On a good day I forget to take it all day.  It actually changed the game for me.

many years ago given sinequan for depression bad reaction so tiny dose of meleril to balance... quit after a year or so c/t

years pass no drugs

reg doc had me try all of the  a/d bc of upset due to divorce.  couldn't handle any.  took klonopin to sleep .5 mg  2003

taper klonopin

hooked on tramadol accidentally. 2006-2008 husband had migraines and took them like candy. so i became dependent too.  c/t  2008

diagnosis of porphyria after years of symptoms,  then toxic event made me really ill.

 

gabapentin 300mg every 3 hours , 6x day.

propranolol   180 mg  6x / day

since 2012

clonazepam prescribed as 1 mg / day  but beginning to take more to deal with withdrawals and sleeplessness

 

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I was prescribed propranolol when I went to a cardiologist in 2014, and I still have it on the shelf. I have been very lucky because I never took the additional drugs like benzos/propranolol/modafinil I've been prescribed.   I am not sure whether to believe the claim that propranolol can help with my akathisia and I'm very interested in whether anyone has found it worth taking. I have 50 000 problems coming off my antipsychotic (lurasidone) already, afraid of creating more problems for myself.

 

Alan1234, paroxetine withdrawal earned me a bipolar 2 diagnosis that I probably wouldn't attract today.  My advice is don't accept any new diagnosis in the months following discontinuation. Also, look to drug-free solutions like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - even if they don't work they won't hurt you.

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43 minutes ago, badmeditator said:

I was prescribed propranolol when I went to a cardiologist in 2014, and I still have it on the shelf. I have been very lucky because I never took the additional drugs like benzos/propranolol/modafinil I've been prescribed.   I am not sure whether to believe the claim that propranolol can help with my akathisia and I'm very interested in whether anyone has found it worth taking. I have 50 000 problems coming off my antipsychotic (lurasidone) already, afraid of creating more problems for myself.

 

Alan1234, paroxetine withdrawal earned me a bipolar 2 diagnosis that I probably wouldn't attract today.  My advice is don't accept any new diagnosis in the months following discontinuation. Also, look to drug-free solutions like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction - even if they don't work they won't hurt you.

Ok I have rejected all there diagnosis and also two different anti psychotics they want to prescribe for anxiety. 
I have tried all sorts of therapy and lots of mindfulness but unfortunately the anxiety is so powerful I go days where it is unremitting where my heart rate is sky high and my chest literally aches with pain. I will continue with the meditation but it doesn’t seem to touch it and will try some painkillers for the last pain. It’s all so strange I don’t understand why my body feels so constantly anxious 

Paroxetine/Paxil: 20 mg 1996-99, CT, 20 mg 2003-2014, CT; Venlafaxine/Effexor: 150 mg 2014-2016, 75 mg 2016-2018, 37,5 mg 2018-2019,18,5 mg 2019-May 2020, CT (withdrawal problems begin); Tried Sertraline/Zoloft, Prozac, buspirone/Buspar: May-Aug 2020;

testosterone cypronate 12.5mg Pd Oct 2020 -present,  Hcg 100iu PDOct 2021 -present.

 Mirtazapine: 15 mg Aug-Nov 2020, 30 mg Nov-Dec 2020, 15 mg, March 2021-present Tadalifil 2.5mg PD, 5mg 3pd. exemestane 6.25mg every 3days   Jan 2020 to 23 Mar 2021, CT; Trazodone: 150 mg Mar 2021 (one week); Paroxetine: 10 mg, 23-29 Mar 2021; Mirtazapine: 3.75 mg, 29 Mar to 13 Jun 2021, forced CT in hospital; Zopiclone: 7.5 mg, 13 June 2020 (4 nights); Bisopropol fumarate (beta blocker): 1.75 mg, 16 June to 30 July 2021; Mirtazapine/Remeron: 1.75 mg, 16 June to 31 Aug 2021, 1.5 mg, 1 Sept 2021-10 Oct Solifenacin succinate (colinergic receptor agonist): 10mg, 16 Aug 2021-12 Oct 2021

Amoxicillin:1.5G PD, 01-29 Aug 2021.

oxytetracyline :1g PD, 5-10 Oct 2021 metronidazole 0.75% gel, 19 Oct 2021-24 Oct buspirone. 21 Oct - 12 Nov Vortiotexitine :5mg, 
24 Oct- present propanalol 20mg PRN. 13 Nov -16 Nov 25mg Venlafaxine ER, 17 Nov-26 Nov 12.5mg, 12.5mg 12.5mg, 9mg, 9mg, 6mg, 6mg, 6mg 3mg, 3mg, Venlafaxine 

12 Oct- 1 NovZopliclone 7.5mg, 1 Nov-14 Nov 5.9mg, 14Nov-28Nov 3.75mg, 28Nov-14Dec 1.9mg, 14Dec-21Dec 7.5mg, 21Dec-4th Jan 5.9mg, 4thJan-present 4.8mg

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  • 4 weeks later...

I used to take propranolol 10mg during my worst days and weeks when my anxiety was so bad, my heart was beating out of my chest. It helped with heart beating and stuff. I felt internal calm for about 5-6hrs. I did not take it every day because over time it can cause dependency. I would take it 1 day and then none the next day and so on. I never felt any side effects from it. But I did not use it for long. As soon as my anxiety and heart stuff eased a bit to where I can tolerate it, I stopped taking propranolol. Didn't get any WD as far as I can tell. I know this is not ideal BUT far better than taking benzos in my opinion. Does it work? Yep. For me almost as good as a low dose xanax. 

 

A friend of mine has been taking 25mg every day for anxiety for several years now. He gets a lot of heart palps and skips and whatnot. He is dependent on it and cannot quit (he tried to come off of it gradually but couldn't). So he thinks he will have to take it for life. Not an ideal situation of course. So I think that as with everything, it is OK to take it to weather a storm if nonmedication strategies are not enough. But it is probably best to take it only when truly needed and stop as soon as symptoms ease up. 

My thread: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/24990-surviving82-my-story-wd-from-antidepressants-please-help/

2016-2017: sertraline for approx. 1.5 years for anxiety and OCD outbreak following birth of my son (all the way from 2mg to 200mg), rapid tapered from 150mg for about 6 weeks without issues. Approximately 2 years psych drug free.

 

Nov 2019 - Feb 2020: fluvoxamine to prevent anxiety/OCD outbreak following birth of my daughter. Had to go off due to constant somnolence.

Feb 2020 - Dec 2020: started escitalopram while rapid tapering fluvoxamine. After 9 months decided to get off due to weight gain, rapid tapered from [I think] 15mg for about 6 weeks without immediate issues.

March-April 2021: started excessive strenuous exercise and dieting regimen for weight loss. Was doing great (or so I thought) for 3 weeks until early April 2021 when out of nowhere massive panic attacks, other dysautonomia symptoms. AWFUL CRASH.   

Mid-April 2021: fluoxetine 10mg for 1 week then 20mg for 1 week. Massive side effects, suicidality. Was told to go CT. Side effects gradually started resolving.

Mid-Late May 2021: sertraline for 11 days, fine at low doses but same side effects as prozac at 25 to 50mg. Was told to either drop CT or hold at 1/4 of a 25mg pill. 

April-May 2021: trazodone 50mg PRN for sleep. Do not take every day, the only side effect I noticed is dry mouth.

June 8, 2021: stopped all psych meds. Truing to trust that with God's help, my body will heal on its own. 

September 9, 2021: reinstated escitalopram 1mg. Gradually worked up to 2.5mg by September 30. Reinstatement seems to be helping!

Other: Hashimoto thyroiditis for 11 years (on levothyroxine varying doses, between 88mcg and 125mcg), history of anxiety/GAD including health anxiety, OCD. History of autonomic dysfunction (migraines, vasovagal episodes).

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  • 2 months later...

Is Beta blockers give relief for Akathisia?

I'm in acute like withdrawal from smoking marijuana 

(6 Aug 2019 start taper 4.8mg, 5 Sep - 4mg,

16 oct 19- 3mg, 28 nov 19 - 2mg, 11 may 20 -1mg

1 oct 20- 0.5mg, 24 dec 20 - 0.25mg,

5 jan 21- 0.2375, 9 jan 21 - 0.225, 13 jan 21 - 0.2125,

17 jan 21-  0.2, 21 jan 21 - 0.1875, 25 jan 21 - 0.175,

29 jan 21 - 0.1625, 2 feb 21 - 0.15, 6 feb 21 - 0.1375,

10 feb 21 - 0.125, 14 feb 21 - 0.1125, 18 feb 21 - 0.1, 

22 feb  - 0.0875, 26 feb - 0.075 , 2 mar - 0.0625, 

9 mar - 0.05625, 13 mar- .05, 17 mar - 0.04375,

 22 mar- 0.0375, 27 mar- .03125, 31 mar- 0.025

At 9 Apr - 0.0125 From 10 Apr - 0.0000 )

End game Taper from  0.5mg to 0.125mg

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On 9/12/2021 at 4:02 AM, Miyan said:

Is Beta blockers give relief for Akathisia?

I'm in acute like withdrawal from smoking marijuana 

They never helped me with it. They just dropped my resting heart rate too low even in the lowest dose and caused dizziness 

Paroxetine/Paxil: 20 mg 1996-99, CT, 20 mg 2003-2014, CT; Venlafaxine/Effexor: 150 mg 2014-2016, 75 mg 2016-2018, 37,5 mg 2018-2019,18,5 mg 2019-May 2020, CT (withdrawal problems begin); Tried Sertraline/Zoloft, Prozac, buspirone/Buspar: May-Aug 2020;

testosterone cypronate 12.5mg Pd Oct 2020 -present,  Hcg 100iu PDOct 2021 -present.

 Mirtazapine: 15 mg Aug-Nov 2020, 30 mg Nov-Dec 2020, 15 mg, March 2021-present Tadalifil 2.5mg PD, 5mg 3pd. exemestane 6.25mg every 3days   Jan 2020 to 23 Mar 2021, CT; Trazodone: 150 mg Mar 2021 (one week); Paroxetine: 10 mg, 23-29 Mar 2021; Mirtazapine: 3.75 mg, 29 Mar to 13 Jun 2021, forced CT in hospital; Zopiclone: 7.5 mg, 13 June 2020 (4 nights); Bisopropol fumarate (beta blocker): 1.75 mg, 16 June to 30 July 2021; Mirtazapine/Remeron: 1.75 mg, 16 June to 31 Aug 2021, 1.5 mg, 1 Sept 2021-10 Oct Solifenacin succinate (colinergic receptor agonist): 10mg, 16 Aug 2021-12 Oct 2021

Amoxicillin:1.5G PD, 01-29 Aug 2021.

oxytetracyline :1g PD, 5-10 Oct 2021 metronidazole 0.75% gel, 19 Oct 2021-24 Oct buspirone. 21 Oct - 12 Nov Vortiotexitine :5mg, 
24 Oct- present propanalol 20mg PRN. 13 Nov -16 Nov 25mg Venlafaxine ER, 17 Nov-26 Nov 12.5mg, 12.5mg 12.5mg, 9mg, 9mg, 6mg, 6mg, 6mg 3mg, 3mg, Venlafaxine 

12 Oct- 1 NovZopliclone 7.5mg, 1 Nov-14 Nov 5.9mg, 14Nov-28Nov 3.75mg, 28Nov-14Dec 1.9mg, 14Dec-21Dec 7.5mg, 21Dec-4th Jan 5.9mg, 4thJan-present 4.8mg

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Medication for me is like trying to chase a happy life, to be free and successful. But it doesnt work like that it seems. Like the man with no legs, he has no fix. Anxiety sufferers we seem to chase the fix. Is there a wonder drug that solves our problem. I'm not too sure. Sometimes I think, a good friend, who pulls up in their car and says let's go out somewhere, is the fix that we are all after. As adults, it's a bummer, it's bloody hard at times. 

 

Social Anxiety diagnosis at root.

 

Born. 1983.

 

2001 - 2003  olanzapine and risperidone. 

 

2003 - 2007 Seroxat and prophanol. Cold turkey. Went on venlafaxine straight after.

 

2008- 2014. Venlafaxine. 6 month taper, crushing tablets powder form.

 

end 2014 - present. No meds.

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  • 1 year later...

Just got put on Metoprolol to control rapid heart rate and palpitations (otherwise I can't really exercise), and it works great... apart from the fact that I have moderate ED with it, which is a common side effect. 

 

Only been on it for a week, so was wondering if anyone had had this, did the side effect go away with time?

 

Replacing one problem for another seems a bit silly in a way, I'm just not sure it's worth it unless the ED goes away with time. What's the point of taking a medication if I'm just replacing one problem with another etc

 

My heart palpitations and rapid heart rate are really the one symptom which has not improved since the start of my withdrawal problems almost two years ago so there likely needs to be a solution to that for life to go back to normal as it's uncertain it will happen naturally at this point. 

Nov 2019: put on amitriptyline 100mg for insomnia. Worked great, sleep back to normal by March 2020

Jan 2020: Amitriptyline down to 50mg. Some withdrawal for two weeks.

April-May 2020: tapered off amitriptyline a first time over 6 weeks. withdrawal.

June 2020: reinstated amitriptyline 50mg a first time. Things improved progressively for 6 months. Backto normal in November

December 2020: new attempt at tapering amitriptyline (from 50mg), slower this time

February 2021: 30mg amitriptyline... withdrawal starts

March 2021: reinstatement 35mg amitriptyline, then 50mg late march.

April 2021: increased dosage to 75mg; Kindling started, HORRIFIC.

July 2021: reinstatement clearly made things worse so I decide to taper slowly again, at 2.5mg per month

March-April 2022: I hit 45mg amitriptyline dosage, withdrawal has drastically improved, symptom intensity down to 2 or 3 out of ten. Able to exercise, drink etc no issues. I pause the taper. I have stayed on 45mg of amitriptyline ever since.

May 2022: New wave of withdrawal, lasts until January 2023 (nerve pain in my skull)

May 2023: New wave, this time anxiety and pins and needles in my head, much like the kindling reaction in 2021. Not sure what caused it. Wave still ongoing.

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  • 6 months later...

I'm having issues with massive severe adrenaline surges from a barely audible low frequency hum or vibration from the next door house, often triggering adrenaline constantly, when I'm away from the sound I'm better. Thing is the adrenaline is putting my blood pressure, blood glucose (I'm type II diabetic) and heart rate up too much, often for days especially at weekends and as it's not an easy or quick fix to remove the low frequency, I'm facing needing to go on meds now to manage my overdrive of adrenaline and protect my health. 

I'm a bit scared of going on meds as had a bit of a nightmare with propanalol so wondering what to do for the best but thinking a beta blocker (or alpha blocker?) might be my best bet although blood pressure medication might work. Any advice? 

2010: Adverse reaction to citalopram/suicidal.

2010-2014: Venlafaxine doses 75-150-300. Began to cause heart palpitations.

2014: Adverse side effects from Sertraline

2014: Adverse reaction to Mirtazipine/suicidal. CT withdrawal. 

2014: Accute adverse reaction to one prozac pill. Body & brain went on fire. Full WD

2015: Half dose of Lorazepam restarted all the WD symptoms. 

2017: Bad reaction to stopping propranolol beta blockers. Violent shaking WD again.
2023: Severe adrenaline surges triggered by low frequency sound/vibration next door. Heart rate going dangerously high so now 25mg atenolol.

 

Current Supplements: Omega 3 & Vitamin C, magnesium. 
Current other medications: Metformin (type ii diabetic), Lymecycline (for rosacea), Atenolol 25mg. 

 

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On 8/3/2011 at 11:09 AM, Altostrata said:

squirrel, anything might set off a hypersensitive reaction.

 

If you want to try something, try a tiny chip first.

 

Rather than beta blockers for the anxiety symptoms, my doctor prefers an alpha blocker, doxazosin. It reduces adrenaline.

 

I tried it (a tiny chip), it worked for a long time, maybe a year or two. (It also helped with the frequent urination at night.) But I'm so hypersensitive it eventually was too strong for me and went paradoxical, which means I had an uncomfortable day or two and stopped it.

@Altostratawhat do you mean a tiny chip? So doxazosin stopped your anxiety?

Escitalopram  approximately 2012 to March 31st 2023 20mg cold turkey.

Back on to escitalopram 10 mg approximately 3weeks later.

Switch to Fluoxetine approximately 3 weeks after that.

Come off Fluoxetine 20 mg 22nd of June cold turkey.

Been on antipsychotics such as Serrequal, Abilify, Zyprexa, and currently on, I can't remember the dates of them.

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On 10/12/2014 at 1:30 PM, lexhex said:

I began taking 25mg of Toprol XL last year to get the withdrawal anxiety and palpitations under control. It is a time released drug that covers me for a full 24 hours and absolutely takes the edge off. In addition, I take 500 mg of the amino acid Taurine - once in the morning, and once at night, which completely halted the AFib associated with the heart palpitations. I have been following this regimen faithfully for a year and have not had one episode since May of 2013. To be clear - I do not have a heart problem. Echo and EKGs have always been normal except for the first 6 months of withdrawal when they spiraled out of control and required three ER visits. The Toprol alone was effective, but the Taurine was a game changer. There is a thread on this forum about Taurine if you want to check it out.

 

After more than two years, I am by no means normal, but I'm not in acute distress anymore. The worst of my remaining symptoms are occasional stomach/bowel issues which I can deal wiith by controlling my diet, unrelenting insomnia (I can sleep for only about 4 hours at a time), paralyzing nightmares, and a core sadness that I never experienced prior to or while I was on the drug. No matter what I do or how good my life is - I cannot shake this persistent feeling of unhappiness and fear. It permeates my very existence.

 

Just so you understand - I was on Lexapro for panic attacks - I DO NOT have now, nor have I ever suffered from depression.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Does the atonlol help with anxiety?

Escitalopram  approximately 2012 to March 31st 2023 20mg cold turkey.

Back on to escitalopram 10 mg approximately 3weeks later.

Switch to Fluoxetine approximately 3 weeks after that.

Come off Fluoxetine 20 mg 22nd of June cold turkey.

Been on antipsychotics such as Serrequal, Abilify, Zyprexa, and currently on, I can't remember the dates of them.

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On 7/21/2023 at 12:53 AM, Hello20 said:

@Altostratawhat do you mean a tiny chip? So doxazosin stopped your anxiety?

 

I never successfully took a beta blocker. I cannot recommend any beta blocker drugs for withdrawal syndrome. I have no idea what effect any might have on you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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@Altostrata you mentioned taking taking a chip of a alpha blocker though. Also how is your sleep currently? I'm curious as you mentioned you used ti wake up at 2:30 in the morning,  do you still?

Escitalopram  approximately 2012 to March 31st 2023 20mg cold turkey.

Back on to escitalopram 10 mg approximately 3weeks later.

Switch to Fluoxetine approximately 3 weeks after that.

Come off Fluoxetine 20 mg 22nd of June cold turkey.

Been on antipsychotics such as Serrequal, Abilify, Zyprexa, and currently on, I can't remember the dates of them.

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