Propranolol withdrawal reviews (3+ actual experiences) 

By OptimistMinds
Page last updated: 20/10/2023 | Next review date: 20/10/2025

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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.


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In this blog post, we are going to talk about Propranolol withdrawal. Propranolol is one of the most commonly prescribed beta-blockers which can be used to treat a variety of health conditions. 

However, Propranolol is not an easy medication when it comes to stopping it. This blog will cover some actual stories in which people have described their Propranolol withdrawal journey. 

Can Propranolol withdrawal be difficult? 

Yes, Propranolol withdrawal can be difficult for some people. It is one of those beta-blockers which are associated with some disturbing symptoms when stopped abruptly. 

However, if you properly follow your doctor’s recommended taper schedule and take good care of yourself, you can cut Propranolol off safely.

What actual people have to say about Propranolol withdrawal? 

Many people have come forward and shared their experiences with Propranolol and its withdrawal. A 48-year old Daniel stated:

“I started taking Propranolol around 6 years ago. The reason why I started taking this was high blood pressure and heart palpitations. Propranolol did help me a great deal in overcoming those symptoms that really petrified me at that moment, but I decided to change my lifestyle as it was the biggest reason for my condition in the first place.”

Daniel continued:

“I changed my lifestyle and my condition started getting better. My doc appreciated me and told me that I no longer need Propranolol. He did ask me to taper it off slowly and guided me, but I did the exact opposite. I stopped it altogether and my entire life turned upside down.”

Daniel further stated:

“The biggest withdrawal symptoms that I went through was heart palpitation. I have literally no words to describe how it made me feel. It constantly felt like my heart would just burst out of my chest. This scared me to death and everyday I thought this could be my last day alive. I really wish I had not taken things into my own hands. I am better now, but nothing can make up for what i went through, ever!”

This review tells us big time how we should never take such things into our own hands. You can never know better than an authorised healthcare professional. Doctors are doctors for a reason. They know and study things that a normal individual can not comprehend. 

This is why you should always listen to your doctor’s advice and should never deviate from the given instructions. Another user stated:

“My journey with Propranolol was not a difficult one. I have read people sharing their experiences before I started Propranolol, but my condition got out of my hands at the time and I had to start taking it. To my surprise, it worked AMAZINGLY well for me. I got little to no side effects and it really toned down my panic attacks.”

The user continued:

“When it came to stopping Propranolol, I listened to every single one of my doctor’s suggestions and idi exactly what he told me. I worked like hell to make my lifestyle better. One by one, I fixed everything that was wrong with my outline, I slowly tapered off the med, and I successfully withdrew from it. Today marks 2 years without Propranolol and I feel great.”

This is indeed a satisfying review. We can all learn from her how she listened to her doctor, because again, it’s not our job to take such matters in our hands. Medications are not supposed to be a part of our normal lives. 

You can imagine how you would feel if you continue to do something and then suddenly stop. Our bodies are adaptable. They can learn to live with or without new things, but you have got to give it some time to adjust to the changes right? 

You can expect your body to just magically accept everything you give it. Just like your body needs time to adjust to a medication, similarly it needs some time to adjust without it. 

For this very purpose, dose tapering became a thing. It allows you to decrease your medication intake slowly and make your body adjust to lower until you finally stop it. Sandrine, a 39 year old Propranolol user stated:

“I was prescribed Propranolol by my doctor when I was 34 years old. The reason was nerve-racking anxiety and panic attacks. They really made me suffer and when I started taking Propranolol, it all started to fade away slowly. The only problem that I had with Propranolol was hypotension. 

She continued:

“As I was not a cardiac patient, my heart rate was absolutely normal and sometimes lower than that. Propranolol started to make it even more slower and once I literally fainted. My doctor then suggested that Propranolol is not a good option for me because of the cardiac side effect. I was bummed a little as it really helped my anxiety, but you have got to do what your doctor says, right?”

Sandrine further stated:

“I still remember how I suffered while cutting off Propranolol. My anxiety got really worse and I started having terrible, terrible panic attacks. Everyday I felt like dying and it totally ruined me, both physically and mentally. It took some time to adjust to living without Propranolol. My doc then gave me another medicine for my anxiety and panic attacks.”

This review can help us understand how much our bodies can depend on medicines. These little pills become our go-to when we suffer from any inconvenience, but they are still not our friends. 

You can’t stay on meds for the rest of your life and you have to stop someday. Make sure you keep yourself healthy enough to withstand such changes. 

Another user stated:

“Propranolol was once a life saver for me and I can never forget how much this med helped me, but I had to stop it for some reasons. I have always heard people saying how difficult it can be to stop using meds and that’s what I believed too, but Propranolol did not cause much trouble when I decided to withdraw from it. My journey was a lot easier than some people out there and I can’t be more grateful about it.”

It’s nice to see that there are people who have not suffered at the hands of medications. Those who do suffer, make sure you are using the meds right. Simple and healthy lifestyle changes can also help you big time to avoid some of the adverse effects of meds. 

Not just this, a healthy person with a balanced lifestyle gets sick less frequently than people who have an unhealthy and messed up lifestyle. Your health not only helps you overcome disease, but also helps you to prevent them. 

Why is Propranolol prescribed by healthcare providers?

Propranolol is a beta-blocker or a beta-adrenergic blocker. It works by inhibiting the action of adrenaline or epinephrine, which is an important chemical related to the excitatory system in your body. Adrenaline can increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety. 

This is what Propranolol works to counteract. It can be used for the treatment and management of the following conditions:

  • High blood pressure 
  • Angina pectoris
  • Management of congestive heart failure 
  • Arrhythmia or irregular heart beat
  • Myocardial infarction 
  • Tachycardia 
  • Coronary artery diseases 
  • Glaucoma 
  • Migraine 
  • Anxiety and agitation 
  • Essential tremors 

Make sure you’re not taking this medication if it has not been prescribed by your doctor. Propranolol is not suitable to be used in people who have respiratory illnesses like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It should also be used cautiously in people with diabetes. 

There are some important points that you should keep in mind before using Propranolol. These include:

  • Take Propranolol exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. 
  • Do not deviate from the prescribed dose. In case of overdose, immediately reach out to your doctor. Inform accurately how much drug has been taken and when. 
  • In case you have accidentally missed your Propranolol dose, you can take it as soon as you remember. If a lot of time has passed and your next dose is near then do not take the dose. Wait for the next one and take that one on time. Propranolol overdose can cause disturbing complications. 
  • Keep the bottle out of reach of children and pets. 
  • Report any sign of an allergic reaction right away. 

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have discussed Propranolol withdrawal. Propranolol is one of the most commonly prescribed beta-blockers which can be used to treat a variety of health conditions. However, Propranolol is not an easy medication when it comes to stopping it. 

It is one of those beta-blockers which are associated with some disturbing symptoms when stopped abruptly. However, if you properly follow your doctor’s recommended taper schedule and take good care of yourself, you can cut Propranolol off safely.

Make sure you’re not taking this medication if it has not been prescribed by your doctor. Propranolol is not suitable to be used in people who have respiratory illnesses like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It should also be used cautiously in people with diabetes. 

FAQs: propranolol withdrawal reviews

How long does propranolol withdrawal symptoms last?

Propranolol withdrawal symptoms can last 10 to 15 days after you stop using the medication. This time duration can vary from person to person. Some people are more sensitive to these effects and may take much longer to recover. A normal stable person can start recovery in around 2 weeks.

Propranolol usually stays in your system for about a day or two. Propranolol has a half-life of about 3-6 hours, which means that the concentration of the drug is reduced to half after this time period. The remaining concentration is then further reduced to half after the next 3 to 6 hours. This process keeps on going until Propranolol is completely removed from your system.

Does propranolol have withdrawal symptoms?

Yes, Propranolol is associated with some withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.  Some of the withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Abnormally high blood pressure
  • Worsen angina
  • Chest pain
  • Increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack)
  • Severe lightheadedness
  • Irritability 
  • Anxiety and agitation 

What happens if you stop taking Propranolol after a week?

It is not suitable to stop Propranolol just after a week. It is associated with disturbing withdrawal effects when stopped abruptly. However, if you start exhibiting the signs of an allergic reaction right after taking your first ever Propranolol dose, then you don’t have to continue the treatment and you can stop taking the drug right away. However, it is advised to talk to your doctor first before you stop your med or change dosage frequency. 

How do I stop taking propranolol?

The best way to wean off Propranolol is to gradually taper it off. However, that should only be done under your doctor’s supervision. Propranolol is one of those beta blockers which are associated with disturbing symptoms when withdrawn abruptly. If, for some reason, you need to discontinue the treatment with this medication, then reach out to your healthcare provider.

Does propranolol last all day?

Propranolol usually stays in your system for about a day or two. Propranolol has a half-life of about 3-6 hours, which means that the concentration of the drug is reduced to half after this time period. The remaining concentration is then further reduced to half after the next 3 to 6 hours. This process keeps on going until Propranolol is completely removed from your system. 

References 

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