Coming off Propranolol

I have taken propranolol 80mg SR (slow release) for over two years now for migraine prevention, although it’s prescribed for other conditions, anxiety being one. I’m definitely calmer on it although maybe too calm if that makes sense.

Anyhow I’ve been reading about this med recently and I’m not comfortable with a few things. Apparently it’s linked with a rise in vascular dementia, although they don’t fully understand why from what I’ve read. My family history is such that is a real consideration for me. Secondly it’s linked with a rise in cholesterol which is also a consideration for me although I’ve not had it measured in some time. I’m a little annoyed that this was prescribed to me with no discussion of these risks or my individual risk.

Anyhow I know it needs tapering, I got told that by a GP last year when I discussed coming off it upon the advice of a therapist because my sleep pattern has been also disrupted. The GP was persuasive about keeping on it as it has helped with migraines but did say if I wanted to come off it to discuss with them as I shouldn’t just stop abruptly. Tbh I’d really rather do this alone, it takes forever to get appointments and it’s usually a waste of time in my experience. I’ve gotten very sceptical of GPs generally.

Anyone got any tips who’s done this? I’m reckoning on one every other day instead of one daily, then I’m not sure. As they’re slow release they’re capsules so I can’t cut them in half.

My beta blocker is not propanolol, and it is not extended release, and i take it for my heart, not migraines. But boy can i tell if i missed my nightly dose - the next day my ears are pounding.

I would be afraid that every other day would be like turning a faucet on and off for you. And sometimes messing with meds can make them less effective than they used to be? Ive heard that for psych meds, idk for migraine meds.

I would really encourage you to work out a med reduction or replacement plan with your dr. Like getting on lower dose that are not extended but that you might have to take more frequently. The half life of regular propanolol is pretty short.

Even tho yeah sometimes i mess with my meds, but i would not fool around with this.

Thanks. I’m not sure why but I’ve missed days before (just forgot to take) and I’ve had no reaction, but I take your point.

Then i see why you were comfortable with it. Then theres no rush perhaps in getting to an official reduction. You clearly see what to be aware of.

I had my insurance company yell at me recently for skipping my prozac every other day a couple of months ago to get my scrips aligned. Im like geez lady!!!

The side effects of medication are worrying.

After two years on propranolol though, I’d be tempted to discuss a withdrawal plan with your GP. If they give you grief over wanting to come off them, remember this is your choice at the end of the day, and they need to respect that.

Me too. I think, like every profession in life, some are good, some are not so good. I was told I needed to start taking statins recently, when my cholesterol was slightly raised. It seemed that the default was just take these tablets, no discussion. Whereas to me it seemed the more sensible approach would be for me to take more care over my diet, which I opted for.

Like you, I spent a lot of time researching the effects of both beta blockers and SSRIs, a while after I’d been taking them. The doctors who prescribed these never discussed them with me beforehand. When I raised the side effects I’d been experiencing they just shrugged and said, “oh yeah, that’s to be expected”.

I also worry that some of these side effects may be irreversible, and that GPs know this but just ignore it for what they deem to be the greater good. I understand this, but it would be nice to have a discussion about this upfront.

Totally agree with your perspective Nova, I feel like I get rushed out of the door at GP appointments, not that I’ve seen one in person for a long time. My review was by phone and my initial consultation was with a paramedic who couldn’t prescribe but had to consult a GP to get a prescription for propranolol for me. She hadn’t got her prescribing qualification so her knowledge of medicine wasn’t full, she basically looked up migraine preventative meds on the computer. Like you I really do understand the pressures GP practices are under but there was no way she could discuss propranolol with me because she hadn’t the knowledge. I read the leaflet with the listed side effects and decided I could live with those. It’s only recently I became aware of the statistical vascular dementia increase risk and the cholesterol (triglycerides particularly) increase. If I’d been aware of that two years ago I wouldn’t have begun taking it.

I hope you get on ok coming off the Propranalol, @Discombobulated, I’m sure you’ll be fine. I don’t particularly remember bad withdrawal symptoms coming off Propranolol, but I think we all react differently.

Did it control the migraines, out of interest?

Jeff.

It’s good to hear you were okay coming off propranolol. Do you feel better off it?

It did help a lot with migraines thanks, and that’s something I’m going to need to deal with going forward.

I just wanted to update this, I’ve got a phone Drs appointment for Friday to discuss a tapering plan. Thanks to you both for talking a bit of sense into me! I looked up online about withdrawing from this med and apparently the adrenaline receptors can become sensitised when stopping this med, so the sudden increase in adrenaline is what can cause some dangerous reactions apparently.

I think I knew the answer here I just needed to be told if that makes sense.