Propranolol for performance anxiety in patient with asthma

[DavidS]

As you will have gathered, I am a fan of relaxation techniques. "autogenic technique" is the easiest to learn, although they all require a degree of practice.

Benzos are quite probably the safest for you: they may however take some of your "edge" away when presenting. A certain amount of nervousness is needed and expected to bring presentations to life. They require practice too: too much and you will fall asleep, too little and they won't work.

As long as benzos aren't taken regularly and continuously for longer than a couple of weeks you won't have a problem with withdrawal. Take them regularly for more than three months and you're in big trouble.

[johnep]

I still stand by chlordiazepoxide (librium). 50 years ago you would have been given 1/2gr (30mg) phenobarbitone.
johnep

[mr shush]

Isn't that what they put animals to sleep with ?

[bobbin]

Isn't that what they put animals to sleep with ?

No, that's pentobarbital.

[bobbin]

By the way I really value your advice and knowledge. It would be a difficult conversation to have with my GP. I would expect him to have to say "using lifestyle drugs is wrong and you shouldn't do it". Though many people do. That's why such sites are useful for drug harm minimisation.

I always try to err on the side of caution but many drugs could KILL ME, its the probability that's important. Is the risk that high, such a low dosage and in someone who has very very mild asthma? How about a cardioselective beta blocker like atenolol could that be used for performance anxiety? What benzodiazepine is best at stopping nervousness. Do benzodiazepines vary in their strength of causing addiction and withdrawal, which benzo is the best from this point of view?

Propranolol is not appropriate for asthmatics, even if the asthma is mild. Atenolol is not particularly useful for anxiety.

In the UK, diazepam is the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepine for acute anxiety. If the anxiety is mild, medication is not recommended. For moderate to severe anxiety, benzodiazepines can be useful.

I'm not quite sure why you are asking about benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal. You implied that you would only be taking one or two doses for a job interview, in which case this would not be relevent.

[Sir_Dispensalot]

i'm with bobbin on this one - i tried to put it in plainer language for you but quite simply, do not risk your life by taking propranolol when asthmatic. It might work, it might not, but there's a good chance you could end up very ill or even dead.

to be quite honest medication for anxiety should be a last resort - using it as an 'easy' way out for your situation could easily lead down a road you don't want to travel. try the mental excercises suggested first!

I get the impression you want an excuse to take a tablet as what could be percieved as an easy way out, or perhaps even try to use our suggestions as a way to bully your gp into prescribing something which could be inappropriate. What happens if you take a benzo and become too sedated? How much use would that be to you? from personal experience (prescribed diazepam to relax muscle spasms a few years back) even a small dose can leave someone walking around like a zombie, unable to string thoughts together as easily. That would be pretty useless in a job interview situation.

If it's any help, the last set of interviews i ran was sweaty palm city! Every single applicant was as nervous as hell - nerves are natural in a stressful situation like an interview - it's learning how to recognise the feelings, deal with them and even use them to your advantage thatis the hard part!

[johnep]

In these situations the 'fight or flight' reflex kicks in. Natures way of preparing you. The adrenaline 'rush' should sharpen your reflexes and help you at the interview.
johnep

[culchie82]

I used to suffer terribly from anxiety, when I first started doing presentations to fellow students at University. Been there done it with the propranolol. I then wised the the f*$k up. Walk in there with your head held high as if you own the damn place and don't be so self - conscious. Social phobia can be a terrible thing if you let it get a grip of you.

[Pharmanaut]

I used to suffer terribly from anxiety, when I first started doing presentations to fellow students at University. Been there done it with the propranolol. I then wised the the f*$k up. Walk in there with your head held high as if you own the damn place and don't be so self - conscious. Social phobia can be a terrible thing if you let it get a grip of you.

One thing about presentations in the early stages is that we all talk too quickly.
Watch some of the really good presenters on TV - and copy their structure.

[johnep]

Golden rule for presentations.
1) Tell them what you are going to tell them
2) Tell them
3) tell them what you told them.
johnep