I'm very relieved that MrsD says beta blockers do not cause neuropathy, since betas and neuropathy are a big part of my life. I take Propanalol to somewhat slow heart rate and prevent atrial fibrillation. I only take 15 mg a day, which seems to do the job, although some have to take much much more. Propanalol is my buddy, one of the drugs I can take without side effects. Believe me, that's big for me.

I also take Klonopin and I cannot take Xanax. They are different entirely in my metabolism, although both are benzodiazapines. I was in a study for Xanax before it was on the market, and two small pills made my arms and legs virtually unmovable. They moved, but so slowly I could hardly climb two small stairs in the place where we were trying out the Xanax.

On the other hand, Klonopin saved me from an addiction to Meprobamate. I had been on a bad drug called Mepro for many years, to halt spasm of the gut, so that I could work. It is very addictive and I could not get off it, when a doctor told me it might be contributing to neurological symptoms I was developing, especially eye problems and dizziness. I tried for a year. Then a smart pcp (the one from whom I got my first dx) told me to take Klonopin, which would enable me to stop Mepro cold turkey. Yes! It worked. I was on an average dose then, but gradually lowered it to the very very low dose I take now, which is .25 three times a day. Someone might say I am addicted but as far as i can see it just stops the inevitable big spasms I will have, especially in my arms, if I don't take it. When I didn't have it for two and a half days, while in Canada, I developed a major and frightening spasm in my arm. I cannot see any side effects, certainly nothing like Xanax. Although I am walking slower now due to neuropathy, I can climb two stairs better now than many years ago when I tried Xanax.

Isn't if miraculous that the metabolic systems are so fine tuned that there can be this difference between two related pills?