Propranolol for anxiety: Discover recommended dose, side effects, and safety tips. Consult with a licensed healthcare professional for a personalized treatment plan.

Propranolol for Anxiety: A Complete Dosage and Safety Guide

Q: How quickly does propranolol work for anxiety?

Propranolol typically starts working within 30–60 minutes and may reduce physical anxiety symptoms like sweating, rapid heartbeat, trembling, and shaking.

Q: What is the typical dosage of propranolol for tremors or social anxiety?

A commonly used off-label dose is 20–40 mg taken 30–60 minutes before a stressful event. Dosing must be individualized by a licensed clinician.

Q: Can I take propranolol daily for anxiety?

It can be prescribed for daily use in select patients with careful monitoring. It is not suitable for everyone—people with certain heart, lung, or metabolic conditions may not be candidates. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

Q: Does propranolol stop panic attacks?

Propranolol is not a primary treatment for panic disorder, but it may help with accompanying physical symptoms such as shaking, palpitations, sweating, or chest discomfort. Do not self-medicate—follow your clinician’s guidance.

Propranolol helps to treat high blood pressure, migraines, and irregular or fast heartbeat. Anxiety often has physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat. Trembling, sweating. Research has shown that Propranolol helps reduce anxiety symptoms, though treatment response may vary from person to person.

It may be prescribed for teens and adults, but regular follow-up is necessary to ensure effective results.

Always use Propranolol under the guidance of a doctor. Therapy Fleet is a trusted platform to connect with licensed healthcare providers who can help manage anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

Book your online consultation today for a personalized treatment plan.

Propranolol Uses

Propranolol alone or with other medications helps to treat:

High blood pressure (if used in the long term) may cause damage to the blood vessels of the brain, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure.
Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)
Hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (a condition in which heart muscles thicken)
Angina (chest pain)
Proliferating Infantile Hemangioma
Migraine or headache prevention
Pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor)
Tremors

How Does Propranolol Work?

Propranolol belongs to the class of drugs, beta blockers. It does not change brain chemistry, unlike benzodiazepines (Ativan, Xanax) or SSRIs (Lexapro, Prozac).

It works by relaxing the blood vessels and lowering the blood pressure. When the blood pressure is lowered, the blood and oxygen level is increased to the heart.

How Does Propranolol Work for Anxiety?

Anxiety can sometimes be overwhelming. Your body releases stress hormone (adrenaline), as a result, physical symptoms like sweating, racing heart, and trembling may appear.

By blocking adrenaline, it calms the body and reduces anxiety symptoms.

FDA-approved Brand Names of Propranolol

FDA-approved brand names of propranolol are:

Inderal
Inderal LA (long-acting formulation)
Hemangeol
InnoPran XL (extended-release formulation)

Always consult a licensed healthcare professional for a safe and effective treatment plan for anxiety.

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Ask an Expert

Is Propranolol addictive?

This is a great question and one of the common questions asked by many people. The answer is “No”,

Propranolol is not a controlled substance and is considered non-addictive for anxiety. It does not cause dependence like other medications used for anxiety (Benzodiazepines).

If you are taking it for your heart condition or for anxiety, stopping it suddenly may cause rebound effects such as chest pain, a racing heart, and increased blood pressure. Always consult your health care provider before making changes to avoid these issues.

Propranolol Dosage Information

Propranolol is available in the following strengths:

Tablets (Inderal and generics)	Extended-release capsules (InnoPran XL, Inderal LA)	Oral solution (Hemangeol)	Oral concentrate Propranolol HCL Intensol)
10 mg	60 mg	4.28 mg/mL	20 mg/5mL (4 mg/mL)
20 mg	80 mg
40 mg	120 mg
60 mg	160 mg
80 mg

Your doctor can prescribe a Propranolol dose that best fits your condition and individual needs.

How Should Propranolol Be Used?

Dosage form of Propranolol available in:

Tablets
Solution (liquid)
Capsule, Extended release

Propranolol can be taken with or without food. Take it the same way each day as prescribed by your doctor. Do not chew, crush, or break the capsules or tablets; swallow the whole.

Always use propranolol under the guidance of a licensed healthcare professional.

Important Note

Propranolol is not FDA-approved for anxiety disorders. Studies suggest that it can help with anxiety (physical symptoms) and is often used off-label.
Propranolol helps with physical symptoms (palpitation, sweating, trembling). It does not target psychological symptoms (irritability, emotional unease, anxious thoughts)
Propranolol is not a long-term solution to manage anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety Dose of Propranolol

Propranolol is not FDA-approved to help reduce anxiety symptoms, but it may help manage anxiety symptoms off-label.

Propranolol for Anxiety

The beta blocker Propranolol for anxiety has been used for many years.

40 mg dose daily to provide short-term relief for Acute situational anxiety.
A rapid heartbeat in anxiety is known as anxiety tachycardia. For this, 10 mg to 40 mg, 3 to 4 times a day.
For generalized anxiety disorder, the propranolol dose is 40 mg twice or thrice a day.
The propranolol dose may be gradually increased to 60 mg.
Post-traumatic stress disorder affects nearly 8% of the United States population.
Propranolol is also useful for anxiety, such as post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD, social anxiety, speech anxiety or public speaking, phobias, and panic attacks.

Dose practices may vary depending on your State or country. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional for a safe and effective treatment plan.

9 Propranolol Side Effects

Propranolol does have some unwanted side effects, which include:

Dizziness
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Headache
Constipation
Irritability
Sleepiness
Cold extremities
Decreased appetite (less common)

This list of 9 side effects is not complete. These are the most common side effects, but others may also occur.

9 Serious Side Effects of Propranolol

Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breathing
Severe allergic reaction (rashes, swelling of face, lips, throat, itching)
Unusual weight gain
Difficulty swallowing
Feeling faint
Heart failure (fatigue, weakness, swelling of ankles and feet, difficulty breathing)
Pale eyes or skin
Bradycardia

If you experience unusual and unwanted side effects, call your doctor immediately, or you may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

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Contraindications of Propranolol

There are some situations in which Propranolol may not be effective or safe for you. Propranolol is contraindicated in people who are having:

Diabetes
Thyroid issues
Kidney or liver disease
Asthma or severe lung disease
Certain heart problems
Severe Bradycardia (low heart rate)
Allergies

11 Tips to Manage Propranolol Side Effects

If Propranolol makes you feel sleepy or drowsy, ask your doctor if you can try to take it at night.
Avoid drinking alcohol, as it will make you feel more drowsy.
Drink plenty of water and try to avoid sudden changes in posture to prevent dizziness.
If you feel drowsy, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you feel better.
For cold hands and feet, keep warm with socks, mittens, or gloves. You can put your hands and feet in warm water and massage them.
Try to avoid smoking as it may worsen blood circulation.
If you experience diarrhea, avoid junk, oily, or spicy food. Eat frequently and in smaller meals.
Propranolol can be taken with or without food. But taking it with food is preferable to avoid an upset stomach.
Maintain a regular sleep routine
Place a hot pad or a hot water bottle on the abdomen to relieve stomach pain.
For Bradycardia, monitor your pulse regularly and consult your doctor if your bpm is lower than 50

Online Prescription of Propranolol for Anxiety

The first step is to book an online appointment with a licensed healthcare provider for an assessment and diagnosis of your condition.

You can get a same-day Propranolol prescription from the comfort of your home with fast and reliable services at Therapy Fleet.

Conclusion

Propranolol is a beta-blocker that can help to manage the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as sweating, palpitation, and trembling. It is prescribed off-label for social anxiety, situational anxiety, and performance-related stress. The right Propranolol anxiety dose may vary from person to person. Always follow the advice of your healthcare provider for safe and effective treatment.

To begin your journey toward managing anxiety symptoms, Therapy Fleet has got your back. Connect with our highly trained and experienced therapists to receive personalized support and live a more fulfilling life.

You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.

FAQs

Here are answers to some questions our therapists mostly receive regarding Propranolol and its use for anxiety.

1. How quickly does Propranolol work for anxiety?

Propranolol works quickly within 30 to 60 minutes. It can help reduce anxiety symptoms (physical symptoms) like sweating, rapid heartbeat, trembling, and shaking.

2. What is the typical dosage of Propranolol for tremors or social anxiety?

For situational anxiety, a typical dose of Propranolol (Inderal) is 20 to 40 mg taken 30 to 60 minutes before a stressful event. These Propranolol (Inderal) dosages for anxiety may help relieve tremors, shaky hands, and a racing heartbeat.

3. Can I take Propranolol daily for anxiety?

Yes, Propranolol can sometimes be prescribed for daily use, but careful monitoring is required. Propranolol is not suitable for everyone, and it can be unsafe for people with underlying medical conditions like heart problems or asthma.

Always consult a licensed healthcare provider to determine if Propranolol is a safe and effective option for anxiety.

4. Does Propranolol stop panic attacks?

Propranolol is not the primary treatment for anxiety or panic attacks, but it helps to relieve physical symptoms that may accompany them. Doctors may prescribe on an as-needed basis for triggering or stressful events.

Common physical symptoms may include:

Shaking or trembling
palpitation
Sweating
Upset stomach
Chest discomfort

If you experience a panic attack or these symptoms, do not self-medicate. Always follow your doctor’s advice for safe and effective treatment.

Medical Disclaimer:

At Therapy Fleet, we strive to enhance the quality of life for those dealing with mental health issues. Our licensed medical professionals meticulously research, edit, and review all content before publication. Nonetheless, this information should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical guidance, please consult your physician or reach out to Therapy Fleet’s qualified staff.