Propranolol and Tiredness: 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."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 11, 2020

For Anxiety "Well, I have been on this medication propranolol for anxiety for over 3 years now. I take 40mg 3 times a day. It helps my anxiety no end. Before, I wasn't on this medication, I would get severe anxiety attacks to the point where I was experiencing physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, chest pain, and a racing heart rate, which was scary due to anxiety. Ever since I have taken this medication, I feel calmer and more spaced out. I do get one side effect though, and that is tiredness, but that is normal. I can live with that side effect. I am so pleased with this medication, I would highly recommend it if you have anxiety and stage fright."

• 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."

• bli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on APO-Propranolol for almost 2 months. I haven't had a migraine for 37 days! That is incredible. I have barely even had a headache. Just had a very mild headache on the weekend - took some aspirin and it was gone in minutes! It's such a relief. However, I have gained about 10 kilos. I'm exhausted all the time. Can't sleep properly anymore (I used to be a deep sleeper). My heart feels fluttery and I actually feel anxious and a little depressed. I have always been an upbeat, highly motivated happy person. I'm torn because the medicine is working to keep the migraines away, which is fantastic, but I feel fat and in a low, sad mood. Not sure what to do - whether to stay on them or not?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2014

For Performance Anxiety "It finally dawned on me that others might suffer my same public speaking 'fight or flight' response. The uncontrollable shaking uncontrollably, heart racing as my turn to speak neared, panic attacks caused me to not speak and forgo many career advancing opportunities. I overprepared, tried public speaking classes, still the shakes and heart race caused me to lose my train of thought, cut myself short and generally look like an idiot. I finally searched online and found information on propranolol and Xanax. Frankly, Xanax just made me tired. I tried propranolol immediately prior to having to speak, and WOW. I waited for the heart race and blood rush, nothing. I was shocked and was able to speak like any normal person. Miracle!"

• nit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "Years and years of pain, misery, vomiting. Sometimes I thought I was dying. Ruined my life, work life, social life. Last migraine, went to hospital emergency, had to be given morphine as I was crying for hours in pain. My doctor then prescribed propranolol. It's been the best time ever in my adult life, it's just so fab to wake up pain-free. Yes, I'm dopey tired but rather that than that evil pain... good luck to us all on this... only us migraine sufferers can experience this relief of a medicine that actually works."

• Get...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2018

For Anxiety "I started taking propranolol 10mg last week. For the last 10 years, I've been suffering from anxiety and depression but never asked for help as I didn't want it getting noted on my file. I was put on propranolol 10mg for my anxiety, which I thought would never go away - the overthinking, the racing heart, etc. Well, this tablet was a lifesaver (literally). My confidence has come back, I don't get anxious anymore, it really is a miracle drug. I am going to continue to take this twice a day, 10mg in the morning and 10mg at 5:00 PM. I would rate this medication 10 stars, but it makes you tired throughout the day, which sucks. Anyone with anxiety should 100% try this, it's amazing."

• jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2012

For Anxiety "My psychiatrist prescribed me this medication almost 2 days ago for anxiety and its physical effects on my body. I feel a difference already; my heart isn't racing nor am I shaking as much. It makes me tired though."

• Nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "My experience, while only 2 days so far, has been life-changing. I have had migraines for 16 years. Now at age 32, they seem to have only gotten progressively worse. I have resisted daily medication for many years, feeling that it would somehow mean that I've given in to my headaches and went against my idea of being a healthy, vibrant person. However, after recently having a migraine for 30 consecutive days, I realized that migraines had come to control me more than a daily medication ever could. Vacations, my career, my relationships were being threatened. The day I took propranolol, my 30-day migraine went away within just hours, and has since stayed away! I feel great! Side effects: drowsy, slightly spacey, serene, peaceful, tired."

• 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?"

• Rob...
• July 3, 2021

For Anxiety "I have used propranolol for a month for anxiety, 10 mg 4x daily, but all it did was lower my heart rate, furthermore, my anxiety worsened much more with added panic attacks and tearfulness around 3 hours later after taking it. Also, blood pressure was uncontrolled. Nausea, tiredness, tension headache, and insomnia. It took almost a week to clear this out from the system. So, no, it doesn't help me with anxiety or blood pressure."

• Ann...
• January 22, 2017

For Anxiety "I suffer from chronic anxiety, and this medication is a lifesaver. I am training to be a teacher, and if I had to stand in front of a group of people, I would shake and feel like my heart would explode. I once had a panic attack and ran out of the room. Even speaking to people made me panic, I thought I was going crazy. It took ten years to go to the doctor and tell him the way I was feeling and to be prescribed this medication. If I had known about this when I was younger, it would have changed my life so much. I am on 160 mg slow release, and I am a different person, it's changed my life. :-) The only side effects I have are tiredness and nightmares, but the good outweighs the bad."

• cmc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "Put me on this for chronic daily headaches (some migraine, some not). It has been two weeks, and the headaches which I normally get in the morning are fleeting now and go away on their own, which they never did before. Start low and go slow advised, so I am taking 20mg a day that I divide up. I am very sensitive to medicines, the side effects for me are middle of the night insomnia, which I'm hoping to fix by taking less at night. Stomach upset, which it helps to take with food, and I increased my Prilosec dose. A little lethargic, dry eyes. Pros that I wasn't counting on is it has helped my TMJD. I feel much calmer during the day (have some Social Anxiety), and my overactive bladder is calmer too."

• Lol...
• October 6, 2019

For Anxiety "I was having bad anxiety attacks 2 or 3 times a week. I take propranolol 2 times a day, 40 mg each. I have to say I feel great on them. I was a little tired at first, but that soon went away. I am happy on them, but I will be scared when the doctor tries to wean me off them. I have been taking them since mid-July."

• Jo ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 1, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking 80 mg of propranolol per day for about 5 years for migraine prevention and high blood pressure. It's an added bonus for me that it also treats anxiety. I've always had mild anxiety, and I blush very easily. I hardly get migraines now, and I do feel calmer, which is great since I had just begun to worry incessantly about my 3 kids, especially now that they are teenagers. In the beginning, it made me tired, but about 2 weeks later, I got used to it. I believe I also have a bigger appetite and have gained about 10 pounds, but to me, it is worth it! Hopefully, I can just stay on this drug for the rest of my life. My mom has been on beta blockers for more than 20 years and is doing well. I definitely recommend this drug for migraine prevention and anxiety."

• Zoe...
• June 8, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I am taking propranolol for hemiplegic migraine and anxiety, I am on 80 mg/day, and I feel more calm than ever. The migraine attacks happen less often, are less aggressive, and I can generally socialize normally. On the other hand, I feel depressed, tired, I lack energy to get up in the morning, although I was a very active person. I suffer from insomnia and don't feel like going out of the house anymore. I totally recommend it for extreme cases of migraine such as mine, but if I'd have regular migraine with aura, I'd rather have the attacks than the side effects of this."

• cof...
• July 17, 2009

Inderal (propranolol) for High Blood Pressure "I have taken Inderal and Inderal LA for the past 30 years with very few side effects. It helps both my arrhythmia and my high blood pressure. I felt slightly weaker and more tired in the beginning, but now I just feel normal. I have been able to live a relatively normal life and have always been able to do whatever physical activity I needed to do."

• Mar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 4, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking Propranolol for many, many years. I was having migraine headaches so bad I could hardly function. After I started taking it, my headaches went away. I was so thankful. I did have side effects like losing my hair and being tired, but it was worth it to get rid of my headaches. To this day, I still haven't had any more migraines."

• Jae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking Propranolol for a few weeks, and I have to say that it did get rid of the headaches that came along with my high blood pressure. Also, my BP did go down. I was pre-hypertension at 130/110. After a week, I started to notice that I am constantly nauseous and tired. I have been wiped of all energy and beginning to have insomnia worse than usual. When I do fall asleep, I have these odd dreams that cause me to wake up after only a few hours of sleep. Once I wake from the nightmares, I am sweating profusely, and it is uncomfortable. I also noticed that my heart rate slowed a bit to 65 bpm resting, not sure if that's bad or not. Overall, I am not happy with Propranolol 60 mg and will not be taking it anymore!"

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2019

For Arrhythmia "Took propranolol just before Xmas, was just getting the odd palpitations. I'm 70 and not on any medications at all, and generally quite fit. My doctor put me on them as he said my pulse was quite fast, 80 mg one tab in the morning and one tab at night. First tablet OK. But after that, never felt so ill, my heart was racing. Felt no energy, tired. Sick. Couldn't eat. I was on them for 17 days, ended up in A&E twice, ambulance the lot. Blood pressure hit the roof, pulse was out of control. And when I came off them, I went worse. It is now early March 2019, and I'm just about getting back to normal. Prior to taking them, I had low blood pressure. Now it just goes up and down through taking them. Rue the day I was ever given them. Maybe not everyone reacts the same to them, and they do a lot of people good, but not for me."

• 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."

• Can...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 8, 2018

For Anxiety "As with everything in life, I found that propranolol makes a significant difference to anxiety symptoms and helps me personally calm down/perform to my ability when public speaking. I work in the banking sector and experience extreme pressure and stress on occasions. It is a major game player, and I would highly recommend it for people that suffer and feel hindered by this awful condition. I also found my confidence significantly improved. However, occasionally after use, I do feel worn out, tired, and emotionless. Also, I can get headaches and chest pain. Therefore, I would suggest to only use it when you really need to and under extreme pressure. It will make a significant difference for you."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2020

For Anxiety "I was prescribed propranolol for anxiety from my new physician. I would've preferred the previous medicine I'd been on as it did help. However, I am open to something new if the doctor believes it will help. Of course, all new medication will take some time to get used to, and you'll have unpleasant side effects. After a month or so, I'd figured the side effects would subside and the medication would begin to start working. That was not the case. Still felt very jittery, lightheaded, feeling super exhausted, and having super odd dreams. Some of the side effects are worth dealing with if you feel that the anxiety you have is getting better, but that wasn't the case for me. So, I'd rather deal with the anxiety on its own instead of putting medication in my body and still having the anxiety."

• 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."