I am taking propranolol long acting 40 mg once a day since 3 months for physical symptoms of anxiety such as tense muscles and fast heart rate. I want to stop medicine now but when I stop taking it I feel heart palpitations. please tell how to stop it if I do not want to depend on medicines. I am 25 years old and have no cardiac issues.
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Propranolol per say is not a habit forming drug. However if u want to stop medications first get your symptoms controlled. U can opt for behaviour therapy, Relaxation therapy etc. Once your symptoms are controlled with non-pharmacological ways. Then you can reduce the dose slowly. Since you are taking long acting propranolol, first reduce the dose to 20mg long acting. Take 20 mg for around 10 days . Then reduce to 10mg for 10 days and then stop. But at anytime your symptoms reoccur then you may have to continue treatment for long
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Proponolol works on heart to decrease heart rate, it doesn't work on the root cause of anxiety. Till the time this medicine is there in body it controls heart rate and once it's effect goes away, heart rate become fast again due to anxiety. You need to consult a psychiatrist to get proper diagnosis and then to take treatment for that rather than taking medication which shows temporary effects. All the best.
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Dear lybrate-user, propranolol can be stopped at any time. But what do you plan to do to relieve tense muscles and fast heart rate? If you can cope with it or distract with the thought that you have no cardiac issues, it is okay. More importantly, if you are sure of not going to hospital in emergency nor take another ecg.
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