I was put on 40mg dose 3 time’s a day for anxiety, and took this for only 5 days, and now today I have stopped. The pharmacist said that it should be ok to come off straight away. In 3 days time I am having a routine operation to remove my thyroid. I have no heart or blood pressure issues and don’t feel I need these beta blockers for anxiety. I think I may have been overprescribed and want it quickly gone from my system before my operation. Does it sound ok to stop straight away as it’s not for heart issues and I’ve only been on it 5 days and have had no side effects or anything? I will be checking with my surgeon tomorrow when their office is open but want to stop now or it might not be out of my system by the time of my op. Thank you
Propranolol - On propranolol for only 5 days can I come straight off?
Question posted by Blooroo on 30 Sep 2018
Last updated on 1 October 2018
Added 1 Oct 2018:
Just an update...I’ve now been off it about 36 hours and at first I felt better but now I feel as if I’ve got flu, a bit shaky and hot and cold, just don’t feel right. I’ve got my pre med for my op tomorrow, I hope they don’t cancel my op. Could this be just withdrawal symptoms?
Thanks for any insights
3 Answers
Stephen Treloar
1 Oct 2018
You should have had an appointment with the anesthetist by now, I would have thought, where they ask about your current medications? If it helps at all, propranolol has a relatively short half life to elimination of 4-5 hours meaning that your body clears it in about a day.
Blooroo
1 Oct 2018
Thanks Stephen that’s very helpful, I’ve got my pre op tomorrow and I phoned the surgeons office this morning with all the details, so I think that’s all ok. Thanks
Stephen Treloar
2 Oct 2018
You're welcome.
Ros 2
30 Sep 2018
Hi Blooroo,
You have been on it a short time, there should be no problems since you have been on it a short time. Check with your pharmacist in the meantime! I had to stop a certain medication the night before my surgical procedure also.
Wishing you all the best!
Blooroo
30 Sep 2018
Hi Ros,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and encourage me, that’s very helpful.
God bless,
Xx
dorrjam
30 Sep 2018
I took a much smaller dose once a day for two months. I was taking for same reason as you. I did stop when prescription ran out with no side effects. It didn’t help my anxiety all so I did not renew persecution. Hope this helps,
Blooroo
30 Sep 2018
Hi Dorrjam,
Thanks so much, that’s really helpful.
Related topics
anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, propranolol, dosage, pharmacist
Further information
- Propranolol uses and safety info
- Propranolol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Propranolol (detailed)
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