How usual would it be to have this drug prescribed for anxiety? It's a beta-blocker.

My daughter was prescribed this drug without my knowledge (she's an adult) some months back but I'm really concerned about some of the side effects she's experienced including visual hallucinations, increased depression and other things including high cholesterol. Say what???

Ugh. It's been a downhill slide, yet she keeps telling me it helps her. [She also has high WCC. Has Insulin Resistance. Has PCOS. Has one kidney. 2 Adrenal glands still in place (I checked on that). All prior to treatment with Propranolol}.

We've looked at the side-effects on many different sites however she's experiencing side-effects that are reported in doses much much higher than she's been taking.

I need a clue because her health situation is so complex.

I have used both propranolol and atenolol in the past.

Atenolol is "cleaner" meaning it has less depressive potential.

Here in the States, low dose atenolol is used for anxiety, mostly
of the performance type.

Propranolol can cause memory loss, and be difficult for students.
It can also feed a depressive mood.

You know what... I'd get her to try l-theanine. SunTheanine is very very good at blocking anxiety, and it has the benefit of
blocking excess cortisol, which for PCOS patients tends to be high. I've been using it in 300mg doses at bedtime since last August. This is not expensive and there are many good brands of it out there. I like the Doctor's Best brand, as it works so much better than Swanson's did.

A very recent thread with two posts of mine:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread168512.html

My son uses this, and I decided to also try it finally when Dr. Blaylock MD recommended it for PN nerve damage.

Thanks so much for your reply!

It seems to me that it is indeed feeding a depressive mood. I think she needs to be taking some VitD too. It's very dark and rainy for months here. I think it is affecting her health esp. at the moment while she's so anxious.

I looked up the side-effects of the propranolol and it clearly stated that visual hallucinations were possible even at a very low dose as she's been prescribed. ugh How scary is that!

She is a student and is having memory problems.

I was reminded of the l-theanine posts today when I was looking for info. here. Thanks. She's due back at her doctor on 25th. I make her take lists these days.

Will look into the Atenolol.

Thanks so much.

p.s. I think we're a family with excess cortisol!

I took 20mg 3 times a day after my son was born. The Endo put me on it after the Cushing's test came out negative.

I used it for about 3 months, when he released me back to my internist. (it was for blood pressure control).

She took me off it immediately and put me on Tenormin (atenolol) and I took that for 13 yrs and started to get breathing issues (bronchospasms). I only use 1/2 --25mg tablet before the dentist now. She won't let me have it anymore.

I never had hallucinations, and was really too busy to notice much depression, but looking back on it, I think a low grade depression was there. I had weight gain from it too.

I have the cortisol problem big time. That is why I like the theanine. It cuts that way down.

Tenormin I know.

Thank you so much. I have to get back to sleep now somehow I have lots to tell my daughter today. I think I might take what she takes LOL. Night

FWIW, I was taking atenolol (25 mg./day) for several years as a migraine prophylactic (a case of our ins. co. playing doctor). Primary or side effect, I may as well have been taking air pills (nothing, because that's all the effect I noticed).

One day I looked down at the bottle, thought about it, and said, "What am I taking these for?" and stopped. No difference then either.

Doc