Still, despite the benefits, Sawyer is concerned about becoming reliant on medication to control her anxiety. “I’m not afraid to admit that sometimes I need a little extra help to get back on track, so this is why I’m happy to take beta blockers for the short term, to get me over any hurdles in life and then hopefully rely on it less as time goes on.”
A temporary solution
Masking the symptoms of anxiety is not the same as dealing with anxiety. And while they are helpful when someone has first been diagnosed and would like to calm their palpitations, Jaspreet Randhawa, a clinical prescribing pharmacist says: “I would not view beta blockers as a standalone anxiety treatment, as they essentially mask symptoms of anxiety, in which there are signs of palpitations.”
Any other symptoms such as agitation, hyperventilation, excessive sweating and flashbacks are often not effectively treated by beta blockers: “And the emotional cause is not attended to at all when simply prescribing beta blockers for anxiety.”
A few examples of beta blockers include: Atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal), bisoprolol (Emcor), Metoprolol (Lopresor).
The kind most commonly prescribed for anxiety is propranolol and while they are non-addictive and can be stopped relatively easily without any withdrawal symptoms Randhawa explains that: “Many of my patients who start on beta blockers prescribed by their GP eventually have to increase their dose, or add in other medicines such as antidepressants or hypnotics which are often more addictive. I believe this is because the actual root cause is not dealt with when we simply prescribe medicine, with no form of therapy, guidance or mentorship.”
Are they the new Prozac?
Beta blockers are different from antidepressants. The latter, such as Prozac, which is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), have a direct effect on the hormone release in the brain, whereas a beta blocker is a medication to reduce blood pressure and treat irregular heartbeats.
“Beta blockers do not alter a person’s mood as antidepressant aims to do. They are a short-term fix whilst antidepressants deal with the underlying imbalance,” explains Dr Donnai.
However, where they do share a similarity is in how commonly they are now prescribed for anxiety. Although Dr Donnai says beta blockers are not yet quite as popular as Prozac for treating depression. “But they could become popular quite easily as they are very effective, not addictive, are inexpensive and well-tolerated.”
The side-effects
The primary action of beta blockers on the cardiovascular system – reducing heart rate and blood pressure – can be a double-edged sword.
For patients with certain heart conditions, these effects are lifesaving. “However, in the context of anxiety treatment, the implications for heart and lung function necessitate careful consideration,” says Randhawa.
Side effects may include tiredness, dizziness and lightheadedness, which can be signs of a slow heart rate. “It may affect the blood supply to the hands and feet causing cold fingers or toes. People may also feel nauseous, have difficulties sleeping, experience nightmares or struggle to have an erection and other sexual dysfunction issues,” explains Abbas Kanani MRPharmS, a superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click.
Serious side effects are rare but they can cause shortness of breath and a cough that gets worse when you exercise, which includes movements like walking up stairs. “Another serious side effect, which can be a sign of heart problems, is swollen ankles or legs or an irregular heartbeat. Some may also notice wheezing or that they have a shortness of breath or tightening of the chest which could be signs of lung problems,” says Kanani.
Get to know your stress
Dampening your body’s stress response is another drawback of long-term beta blocker. “Obscuring the vital signals that our bodies send us in moments of distress,” says Randhawa.
“The very essence of healing from anxiety involves re-establishing a harmonious connection between mind and body, understanding the roots of our fears, and addressing the underlying issues that perpetuate them,” she adds.
By muting the body’s alarm signals, beta blockers may inadvertently encourage individuals to further disconnect from their internal experiences, potentially stalling the journey toward genuine healing.
If you are looking for a non-medical solution for addressing anxiety, she recommends somatic therapy. “With its emphasis on body awareness and the physical sensations tied to emotional states, it invites a reconnection to the bodily signals encouraging compassionate inquiry into the origins of your anxiety. This therapeutic journey aims to transform the experience of anxiety from one of fear and avoidance to one of understanding and growth.”
It poses the essential questions: Why does fear take hold? What narratives and experiences have shaped our response to perceived threats?
“By exploring these questions, individuals can begin to reconstruct a sense of safety within themselves, ultimately paving the way for lasting healing beyond the temporary respite offered by medications.”
Non-medical strategies
After taking beta blockers for two months, Victoria Gibson, a marketing director from Hertfordshire, decided they weren’t for her.
“After a few days, I started to feel quite spaced out, not quite with it. They slowed my palpitations but I just felt numb and still had anxiety,” says the 42-year-old mum of two.
She now thinks being prescribed beta blockers was a rushed solution to her problem. “It was a very typical ‘See how you get on’ with no real explanation as to how they may make you feel,” she says. “Yes they regulate your heartbeat but it never stopped the anxiety, and they made you feel a bit dopey.”
Today, she uses breathing exercises learnt from yoga to help control and regulate her anxiety. “Controlling and regulating my breathing definitely relieved my anxiety and helped to calm and that’s what I’ve done ever since.”
Any strategy that helps to stimulate the parasympathetic arm of our autonomic nervous system is part of building a drug-free approach to anxiety. Deep diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, mindfulness or yoga are all good tools to start addressing underlying anxiety.
Controlling the pace of his breathing is a strategy employed to great effect by Dr Rahul Jandial, one of the world’s leading neurosurgeons. “Pacing your breathing during stressful times and several times a day is your built-in anxiolytic,” explains Dr Jandial who uses paced breathing as his go-to strategy to keep his poise during stressful moments in the complex cancer surgeries he specialises in.
“During paced breathing, the vagus nerves that connect the brain to your lungs, heart and abdomen work in reverse and help dampen the frenetic energy in the mind associated with anxiety. We know this to be true based on real-time measurements of the brain while people participated in breathing exercises while having their brain electricity monitored for epilepsy”.
Learning how to breathe through periods of stress and anxiety can make us feel calmer, more relaxed, slowing our heart rate and reducing the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline without having to pop a pill.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
