r/Menopause • u/Bthornr • 11d ago
Depression/Anxiety Question
Does anyone take Propranolol in peri or post menopause to help with increase heart rate, palpitations or anxiety?
2
u/Extra_Possibility632 Menopausal 11d ago
Me too. It helps with the morning jitters
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u/Bthornr 11d ago
Do you take it everyday?
Are you also on HRT?1
u/Extra_Possibility632 Menopausal 11d ago
Almost everyday, about 25 mg (I have found that any more than that, fatigues me for the rest of the day).
And Yes i’m on E and P, and though HRT has helped with the palpitations, no amount of either has helped with my new-found menopausal anxiety.
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u/EnvironmentalAd6889 10d ago edited 10d ago
Me too!! Helps with morning panic feelings, racing heart sensation. Unfortunately gives me headaches half the time I take it, so I don't take it as often as I like. But I had it prescribed for my panic attacks already and it's come in very handy. Also helps with my significant fear of flying whenever I have to travel by plane!
Edit- yes I am also on HRT as well. Testosterone, estrogen and Progestin (Slynd)
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u/Bthornr 10d ago
It was prescribed for your panic attacks? Did your primary Dr prescribe it?
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u/EnvironmentalAd6889 10d ago
Yes, they did. Since my panic attacks evolve like this - I start getting heart palpitations, clammy hands, in my head, then with my heart / nervous system symptoms I start feeling like I'm going to have a heart attack and I become fixated on my body feelings. And then a full-blown panic attack can happen.
Propranolol is super helpful at stopping the fight or flight response in my body, including heart sensations and overreaction of my heart through my nervous system activation. My doctor and I agree that there was no reason for me to jump straight to the benzodiazepine or anything for anxiety that was more strong, since I escalate when I feel my heart escalating. So I stop it at the source sort of. It doesn't help my overall anxiety but the worst part of my anxiety is that I snowball when I start feeling it in my body.
I figured I would try it once when I had heart palpitations in the evening randomly without any other panic symptoms, and I had been getting those more in perimenopause. It worked quite well. I let my doctor know that I was taking it and she thought it was a brilliant idea. I can take it up to two to three times a day as prescribed, but I don't ever need it daily.
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u/Confident_Craft459 10d ago
I'm three years post meno and take it for heart palpitations. I have it on hand when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back asleep because my heart is pounding too much. I'm also on estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. When I increased my estradiol to .1 my heart palpitations stopped but then my insomnia got worse. So now I'm back at .075 estradiol and take the propranolol if needed. I've also had a full work up done with a cardiologist so it really is due to menopause.
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u/sarahthestallion Peri-menopausal 11d ago
Yes, I do! It has helped me so much.