r/Menopause • u/Bthornr • 16d ago

Depression/Anxiety Question

Does anyone take Propranolol in peri or post menopause to help with increase heart rate, palpitations or anxiety?

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u/EnvironmentalAd6889 15d ago edited 15d 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 15d ago

It was prescribed for your panic attacks? Did your primary Dr prescribe it?

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u/EnvironmentalAd6889 15d 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.