Propranolol and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Jon...
• March 11, 2021

For Anxiety "I suffered a major panic attack in the first lockdown resulting in an ambulance being called, thinking I was having a heart attack. I was prescribed propranolol and told to take 40mg, so I did. I was still having about 6-7 anxiety/panic attacks a day, so I was told to up my dosage to 80mg. Still having attacks, I was told to increase the dosage to the maximum of 110mg a day. It helped with the attacks, but I was so exhausted from them that I couldn't function properly. I felt spacey and dizzy, I was in a right mess, but it kept the attacks at bay, so it was worth it. The doctor said the side effects were because my body was adjusting to the dosage. Now I'm used to them after being on them for nearly a year, I don't get any side effects at all. I still get the anxiety thoughts and slight sweating now and again, but it doesn't develop into a full-blown attack, which is a massive relief as I was petrified of them. Anxiety has got to be one of the worst conditions in the world, in my experience anyway."

• Col...
• February 16, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "The secret to this medication working with low to no side effects is taking a very low dose (5-10mg) consistently. I take 5mg once and occasionally twice a day for over 10 years now. Migraine reduced by 90% to live a normal life without all the side effects. I got taking high doses 10 years ago when I started with 80mg and was always tired, dizzy, weight gain, fluid accumulation in my feet, nightmares, insomnia, dry eyes, dry mouth, dehydration, hair loss/thinning, etc., wasn't worth it until I read a reviewer mentioned low dose."

• Ros...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 29, 2020

For Panic Disorder "Been taking propranolol for around 3 years. It has worked wonders for my panic disorder. I take it every morning at 10 am at 40 mg. As soon as I've taken it, I feel calmer and my anxiety and racing thoughts go away. I can control my anxiety attacks a lot better, it takes away the racing heart rate associated with panic attacks. There are some common side effects of this medication, these are drowsiness, a slow heart rate, and mild dizziness when you stand up, but apart from that, it has been very effective at dealing with my panic attacks. I highly recommend it to people with anxiety issues or fears of going in for a job interview or on an airplane. It works really well for these things."

• jad...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 8, 2023

For Anxiety "I started having anxiety attacks a year and a half ago due to stress at work and lifelong traumas that just built up. I started out having tachycardia, chest pain, dizziness, and a fear of death. The first panic attack was isolated, but gradually they started increasing in frequency to once a day. I started out on benzodiazepines while trying to get stable on an SSRI. The benzos were good, but of course, my body was starting to become dependent on them, even at taking the smallest dose for more than 2 weeks. Propranolol was introduced to me and was a better fit since it blocks the adrenaline surge and maintains a normal heart rate, which really helps decrease my anxiety. I had to take a long time off work, but now have been back to work for the last year as of this month. My advice is to know that it's not a one size fits all thing. It takes time to find a routine that works for you to manage this beast. Exercise, yoga, sunlight, prayer, and therapy have made a difference as well."

• skg...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 13, 2023

For Anxiety "I have severe anxiety and was prescribed 10-20 mg of propranolol as needed. At first, I hated it. It made me feel dizzy and out of it. I kept taking it, though, and now my body is used to it. This doesn't take away any mental effects, but it does stop all the physical effects like sweating, shaking, etc. Basically, it helps anxiety in every way except mentally. I was also prescribed Klonopin. I try to make sure I use every coping technique I have before reaching for a Klonopin. When that doesn't work, I reach for my propranolol first, and that usually is enough, and I don't feel a need to take my Klonopin. When I take the propranolol, I notice that I don't need to take my Klonopin with it. I think because propranolol helps all the physical symptoms, that that relieves any mental symptoms that I usually feel. Propranolol works. It won't get you high. What it will do, though, is take away all your physical symptoms that come with anxiety. Propranolol is a wonderful medicine that really works."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2020

For Anxiety "I just started taking propranolol 20 mg three times a day for fast heart rate due to anxiety. Day one, I took 2 pills and felt a little dizzy and had diarrhea. Day two, I took one pill in the morning and felt the same way, and it gave me diarrhea. Day three, I decided to stop the propranolol and didn’t take any more. This medicine has some serious side effects. Right now, I’m feeling so dizzy and maybe it's a withdrawal, I’m not sure, but there’s no way I’ll take any more. I checked my blood pressure, it was a little low, so I ate a can of soup to bring it back up some, hoping it would stop some of the dizziness, but that wasn’t the case. The reviews say it takes about two days to clear your system, but the side effects can last up to one week. Today is the first day without it, and these side effects are no joke. Not to mention my head feels so heavy and burning, and my eyesight is blurry. Be cautious and do your research before taking this medicine. I don’t recommend it."

• Joj...
• February 28, 2020

For Anxiety "I've been taking propranolol for a week. The doctor prescribed 10 mg per day, but I only take 5 mg. It has been a stressful past few months that caused bad anxiety. So the doctor recommended to take 5 mg if I didn't want to take 10 mg, which is what I am doing. It helped lower blood pressure and heart rate due to anxiety, for sure. My concern was I didn't take it for a day because my blood pressure was normal and I felt good the whole day. The next day at 5:30 a.m., I woke up with a fast heartbeat, my left arm went cold, and my wrist hurt a bit too. I panicked because it felt like what heart attack symptoms sound like, but I don't know if it was due to not taking the medicine for a day or if it was just anxiety while sleeping, which I haven't experienced the arm feeling before. I took 5 mg, it helped me calm down, but my arm still feels cold. I'll talk to my doctor about it and see what is suggested for me to do or maybe ask to see a cardiologist because that feeling in my arm scared me badly. Side effects for propranolol are minimal, like dizziness and diarrhea right after taking it."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been on propranolol 10 mg 1x/daily (AM) for anxiety for 1 month. It seems to be combating physical symptoms pretty quickly. Ex) I have thick hair, and it feels like I'm always wearing a hat. Especially after I shower, my face gets hot, my hair traps it, and my face sweats, making my anxiety worse. Since starting this drug, the sweating stops sooner, and I don't feel hot as long. I don't feel PVCs anymore, and the thought of leaving my house doesn't make me want to cry. The tightness in my chest stopped, I don't feel like a live grenade, and I'm less irritable. I have gained about 5 lbs, and if this isn't temporary, I'll have to stop the drug. I have body dysmorphia, so weight gain is not tolerable for me. Finally, I have had a few dizzy spells on this drug if I don't eat enough. I'm happy so far, and hope I can stay around this dose so I don't have cardiac side effects when I end up stopping. There goes my anxiety again!"

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2019

For Benign Essential Tremor "Been taking propranolol for a week for essential tremors. I have found that the shaking in my head, hand, and leg has gotten worse. I'm taking 40 mg 3 times a day. I have been cold, feeling dizzy, really tired, sick. I have had pain in my leg and lower back. I didn't feel this bad before I started taking them. Can anyone help?"

• Vir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2020

For Panic Disorder "I have quite severe anxiety randomly that can give me physical symptoms like racing heartbeat, dry heaving, nausea, and shortness of breath. Not to mention the panic attacks that get me every time after that. I found this drug, propranolol, on some website, and I tried it myself. It works really great for treating my anxiety, and I'm on 20 mg twice a day. My panic disorder seems gone too, but it has a troublesome side effect for me, like acid reflux in my stomach and a little bit of dizziness. For people that have a medical history of ulcers or GERD, I suggest you take this medication with your ulcer/GERD meds (like PPIs and sucralfate). Overall, this medication is the champ for beating up any kind of anxiety or panic disorder. Very recommended."

• Msm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been taking this drug for 6 days now, 10 mg twice a day. Today is the last day I will be taking it. It was prescribed by my psychiatrist for my anxiety and panic attacks, to help ease the physical symptoms. When we discussed it, it sounded great, but unfortunately I don’t feel that it’s helping me. Since I’ve been taking it, I feel worse than I have in almost 2 years. Dizziness, weakness, no appetite, trouble sleeping, no sex drive, and my anxiety feels higher than before I started taking it. I’m not sure it’s helped the physical symptoms at all, since I’ve had multiple panic attacks since I’ve been taking it. I also felt extremely depressed for a few days shortly after I started taking Propranolol. I talked with my psychiatrist and was advised it would be safe to stop taking it, thank God, because I feel awful. I’m sure it does wonders for some people, but not for me."

• Tri...
• June 4, 2017

For Benign Essential Tremor "After 3 months of hell with my doctor thinking I needed SSRIs to stop anxiety tremors... Neurologist diagnosed Benign Essential Tremor (BET). If one has BET, SSRIs only make tremors much worse! It is telling your brain to do two different things with serotonin. I began 40 mg/twice a day of propranolol, and the tremors stopped. I have taken the same dosage for 3 years now and will never give it up. I do have breakthrough tremors of hands at times, in which I take 0.25 mg of Xanax when needed. I also take two BP meds (never at the same time as propranolol). I watch for the dizziness and BP dropping. My BP is always low now."

• Ama...
• January 1, 2014

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure was lowered immediately after beginning this medicine. It also helps with nervous shakes (visible in the hands and feet). It's a great prescription! I've combined this with sodium reduction and relaxation exercises, and I have seen my BP drop to the level it was when I was an 18-year-old vegetarian and just 80 lbs. I recommend taking this prescription if you are prescribed it. I was lightheaded and dizzy when I took the first dose, but not a single issue since then."

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I am prescribed to take a 10 mg tablet 3 times a day along with another BP medication as well. I have been on this medication for 2 days thus far to help with my high blood pressure and fast heartbeat. I do feel a bit calmer, my blood pressure is doing a bit better than before I started it, and my pulse rate is slowly coming down. My biggest issues with this medication are basically the same as with every blood pressure (BP) med I've ever taken before: fatigue, dizziness, makes me get hot, it messes with my appetite, and it makes me really nauseated after taking it. I have absolutely no idea why BP meds come with such a large amount of side effects, and it's like when are they ever going to go away. I am going to continue to stay on it for now, but the side effects are a real downer for sure. It's a shame how a lot of these medications are just poisoning us anyways."

• sha...
• September 7, 2009

Propranolol for Benign Essential Tremor "My doctor had me on a regular dose of Inderal, and Valium as a backup if needed. This was working fine. When I went in for my annual visit and said everything was as usual, no better but no worse, she changed me to primidone. I am on my 3rd month of this and feel like a basket case. Vertigo, stomach problems, vision problems, memory problems."

• Ang...
• July 2, 2021

For Anxiety "My doctor prescribed propranolol to me for anxiety. It's awful. Made me have chest pain, heart is pounding, headache, my shoulders are tight, nausea, dizziness, my face feels hot. This drug should not be for anxiety."

• GRW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2024

For Anxiety "41 years old male. 75 kgs with an underactive thyroid condition, where I take 75mg of thyroxine a day. A 'natural' over-thinker, certain life experiences caused a snowball effect of anxiety. No matter what breathing techniques or relaxation methods I tried, they did not stop the increased heart rate, high blood pressure (at times 173/97), dizziness, chest pain, brain fog, and headaches. After 6 months, the doctor suggested 10mg of propranolol. I came here to look at the good reviews to have a positive effect on the oversensitive mind and see it as a good thing, not a bad thing. It's a catch-22 with anxiety. I noticed a slight difference already, maybe it's a placebo effect, who knows. But for anyone who is struggling with anxiety, look into your vitamin D levels and magnesium levels. Also, this is an issue with our fight or flight response, which is due to the pituitary gland and adrenals. It might be worth getting these tested as a 'simple' fix for the future. I wish everyone the best."

• Ser...
• March 1, 2021

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Propranolol for migraine, 2 x 10 mg daily. This was in 2019. I was feeling a bit strange and became very anxious. My GP told me to up the dose to 40 mg and put me on antidepressants. I was feeling worse and worse, then developed tinnitus. I still didn't realize it was the Propranolol and asked my doctor to change the antidepressants, as I assumed it was that that was making me ill. I felt lethargic, depressed, dizzy. When I finally realized at that point it was Propranolol, I was taking 80 mg slow release. Didn't have any interest in anything and lay on the couch all day. I told my doctor I wanted to come off of it. She told me to drop 50 mg. I was so ill. Stayed in bed for 2 weeks. Couldn't keep my legs still, panic attacks, anxiety, which I had never experienced before. I was so very ill. To cut a long story short, I finally got weaned off it. I have been off it for a month but still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It comes in waves. Will never touch it again."

• Mea...
• October 11, 2020

For Anxiety "I was prescribed propranolol for anxiety, 10 mg twice a day. It helped, but I was very tired and dizzy all the time. Now my doctor is weaning me down to one pill once a day. I just experienced a bad side effect: very tight chest, thought I was going to fall down. I can't stand this medicine. I never had any heart or blood pressure issues. I hope I don't get any now."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2019

For Anxiety "I’ve only gotten the chance to use Inderal (10 mg, one tablet) a couple times for anxiety and feelings of starting panic attacks, but it successfully calms my anxiety and my heart. I’ve only used it during the evening, so I cannot say if it causes lowering of my blood pressure to the point of dizziness. I feel fine walking around at home, also doesn’t cause tiredness. My biggest concern was that it might cause problems with my asthma as well, but that hasn’t been affected either."

• Anonymous
• November 21, 2009

For Benign Essential Tremor "This medicine has completely changed my life. I am basically tremor-free and have been on the medicine for over six years now. My shaking was completely uncontrollable prior to the medicine, and I can definitely tell within half a day if I forget to take it. Lately, I am noticing dizziness and lightheadedness. I normally have low blood pressure and am wondering if it has dropped too low now."

• Caz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I hope this helps someone reading. I was prescribed propranolol a month ago for my migraines. 80 mg slow release. Since being on them, I've felt so cold all the time and having terrible trouble sleeping. I seem to be in a foul mood and feeling depressed. After 2 weeks, I even got a migraine. I then missed 2 doses over 2 days. I took them mornings. By the 2nd evening, I felt shocking. My heart was beating so fast and then missing beats. My blood pressure went up high. I felt dizzy and out of breath. I'm seeing the dr tomorrow to see how to come off them safely. I've been researching and it seems very dangerous to just stop them. It seems you have to wean off of them. Please research before taking them."

• Bmw...
• June 21, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Took this for the first time today - 10 mg daily is my dosage (once in the am and once in the pm). I took 10 mg this morning at 8:00 am on my way to work. This is used to treat both my anxiety and high blood pressure, apparently. After about an hour, I started feeling very dizzy, then the nausea came. My eyes were heavy, and I was exhausted. It was all I could do to stay awake at my desk. Flash forward to 12:00 pm, I’m leaving work. I want to go home and nap, but I can’t sleep and have a headache. Truly just waiting for this to wear off and never take it again. The half-life is 10 hours, so only 2.5 more to go, I guess."

• Jay...
• December 4, 2018

For Anxiety "I've had the odd anxiety attack over the past 3 years. They came from nowhere. Probably caused by marriage breakdown and my son being diagnosed as epileptic. The final straw was 2 months ago when I had an attack, and I thought I was going to die! Extreme dizziness, feeling sick, rapid heartbeat, feeling very hot, and shaky, then fainted. Tests showed everything normal apart from high blood pressure. Have been given 40 mg once a day to see if this helps. Reading reviews, I'm hoping they do."

• wor...
• September 9, 2014

For Panic Disorder "I was prescribed propranolol 4 years ago and was on 160 mg daily for around a year, and it worked straight away. Took away the racing heart and trembling hands and made me feel normal. After around 6 months, I started to feel lightheaded and dizzy and was moved down to 80 mg daily, which I was on for around 2 years. When I felt I was on better control of my panic attacks, I started to titrate down the propranolol, as you are not allowed to just stop taking it, and this is the downside, as when my panic attacks were under control, I was starting to get a racing heart and trembling again as the doctors were trying to get my titration rate sorted out, and I was moved down too quickly. It took 18 months to do this, which was the downside."