Propranolol and slow heart rate

[willous1]

Does anyone else have an obsession with checking/worrying about their heart rate when taking these. I take 40mg for anxiety and it slows down my HR to around 50-55 beats per minutes at times. GP doesn't seem to care and I'm sure it's normal but when you think about it, you feel any changes more. I almost make myself feel faint sometimes.

[panic_down_under]

Does anyone else have an obsession with checking/worrying about their heart rate when taking these.

Lots do. Especially those with health anxiety.

I take 40mg for anxiety and it slows down my HR to around 50-55 beats per minutes at times. GP doesn't seem to care and I'm sure it's normal

It is far better than having a high resting heart beat. The normal range was considered to be 60-100 bpm, but cardiologists increasing think this is too high and that it should be 50-70 bpm.

See: What is a Normal Heart Rate? and 5 Heart Rate Myths Debunked.

but when you think about it, you feel any changes more. I almost make myself feel faint sometimes.

Just keep reminding yourself that it you making yourself feel faint, not the med.

[willous1]

You are a star, thank you. I am on my third day of taking it consistently and feel odd. Quite weird and a bit weak in terms of I have energy, but feel like not moving. I also have pulsating tinnitus and wonder if that's the change of pressure in ears from tabs.

[panic_down_under]

I am on my third day of taking it consistently and feel odd. Quite weird and a bit weak in terms of I have energy, but feel like not moving.

Beta-blockers 'clog' adrenaline, aka epinephrine, and noradrenaline, aka norepinephrine, receptors which can reduce strength and stamina to some degree. This effect often soon diminishes when beta-blockers are taken daily.

I also have pulsating tinnitus and wonder if that's the change of pressure in ears from tabs.

Tinnitus can be caused by physical changes within the ear, but it can also originate from within the brain.

The list of meds which can induce tinnitus is very long so propranolol is a likely candidate either directly, or indirectly. But it might be caused by something else entirely. If it's the med there is a good chance of it ceasing within a week or two. Talk to your GP if it doesn't, or becomes unbearable.

[willous1]

Thank you, what does that mean ....can originate in the brain? Sounds scary?

[panic_down_under]

Thank you, what does that mean ....can originate in the brain? Sounds scary?

Sometimes tinnitus is created by misfiring nerves in the ears, but most often the sounds originate within the auditory processing neurons of the brain trying to compensate for hearing loss. It is a little like upping the microphone gain in a sound system. Beyond a certain point it will begin screeching.

See: Tinnitus: Ringing in Your Ear Really Comes From Your Brain