Beta-Blockers for Anxiety: What Are They?
Beta-blockers are medications that slow down certain types of cell activity in your body. Doctors often prescribe them to treat heart and circulatory problems. In some cases, they’re used to help treat brain and nervous system issues, such as anxiety.
Who uses beta-blockers for anxiety?
Beta-blockers for anxiety work in the moment, meaning they work to treat the physical effects of anxiety when certain situations ramp them up. For example, maybe you have performance anxiety, or stage fright, which affects your ability to make presentations at work or even meet new people. A beta-blocker may help you navigate these situations more smoothly.
Doctors don’t prescribe them for generalized anxiety disorder, which is generally ongoing, not situation-based. Generalized anxiety disorder treatments address the underlying psychological issues and chemical imbalances that trigger your anxiety.
How Do Beta-Blockers for Anxiety Work?
Beta-blockers work by slowing down activity in your cells. When you experience situational anxiety, your sympathetic nervous system kicks into “fight or flight” mode and starts making adrenaline. That’s a hormone that helps you get ready for stressful or dangerous situations.
You may have heard the term “adrenaline rush.” That’s what happens when adrenaline moves through your bloodstream and starts attaching to cells to prepare your body to flee or defend itself. When adrenaline is flowing, it leads to physical symptoms such as:
- Faster heart beat
- Rapid breathing
- Slower digestion
- Alertness
Performance anxiety can cause these symptoms as well as:
- Shaky legs, hands, or voice
- Breaking out in a sweat
- Feeling cold
- Tense muscles
- Shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Nausea or even vomiting
Some of these are helpful changes (alertness, rapid breathing, tense muscles) if you’re about to fight a bear. But they can be distressing when you’re simply trying to introduce yourself to a new group of people.
Beta-blockers stop adrenaline molecules from attaching to receptors on the surface of your cells. This keeps adrenaline from triggering your body’s physical response to anxiety. Your heart rate and breathing slow down, which helps you feel less anxious.
What to Know If You Take Beta-Blockers for Anxiety
Researchers have been studying beta-blockers for more than 60 years. Most people who take them have few to no side effects. Taking beta-blockers for anxiety is an “off-label” use of the drug. That means doctors can legally and safely prescribe them for this purpose, but it’s not FDA approved.
There are some people who shouldn’t take beta-blockers for anxiety, including people with:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Diabetes
You should be careful if you already have a slow heartbeat or low blood pressure.
Beta-blockers for anxiety dosage
Beta-blockers for anxiety aren’t medications you take daily at a regular time. They’re meant for in-the-moment relief. Your doctor will recommend you take them before an event or situation where you typically feel anxiety, like before a job interview. A typical dose is 40 milligrams.
How long do beta-blockers take to work for anxiety?
Beta-blockers for anxiety start working one to two hours after you take them. After one dose, the effects typically last anywhere from six to 12 hours. Your doctor will work with you to decide on the best dose and timing.
Side effects of beta-blockers for anxiety
The side effects you can have when you take beta-blockers for anxiety are typically mild. They can cause:
Alternatives to Using Beta-Blockers for Anxiety
There are other ways to calm your physical response to performance anxiety that don’t involve medication. You can use mental, physical, and lifestyle strategies, such as:
Visualization. Picture yourself doing the activity, achieving it in small, manageable steps. This can ease anxiety and motivate you.
Progressive muscle relaxation. Start at your feet or your head, and tighten one muscle group at a time, clenching then releasing all the way. Move up or down your body until you reach the other end. Research shows this can lessen stress.
Preparation. When you practice what triggers your anxiety, you build confidence.
Relaxation techniques. Meditation and deep breathing exercises activate your parasympathetic nervous system. That’s the opposite of your sympathetic nervous system. One way to do them is to breathe in through your mouth for four seconds and breathe out for six seconds.
Positive self-talk. The act of saying you can do something can change your approach to it. Remind yourself how much you’ve prepared, or simply tell yourself “You can do it.”
Butterfly hug. Cross your arms in front of you with your hands placed just below your collarbone and tap one hand in a consistent rhythm, then do the same with the other hand. Do this for a few minutes.
Movement. Jump in place or shake your arms, like you often see athletes do before a race or game. This can ground you and send your body bursts of endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones.
Regular exercise. Studies show exercise decreases overall anxiety by stabilizing your mood, improving your sleep, and boosting self-esteem. It only takes about five minutes of aerobic exercise to start the anti-anxiety effect on your body.
Takeaways
Beta-blockers for anxiety are a treatment doctors can prescribe off-label to treat performance anxiety, also known as stage fright. They work by blocking adrenaline’s access to your cells, which calms fight-or-flight physical symptoms such as a fast heart beat or rapid breathing.
Beta-Blockers for Anxiety FAQs
What is the 3-3-3 rule for anxiety?
The 3-3-3 rule is a strategy for curbing symptoms of anxiety in the moment. It uses your senses to ground you in your body and ease distress. Look around you and name three things you see. Then you listen and name three sounds you hear. Finally you move three parts of your body – a hand, your head, an ankle – to focus your thoughts and quiet the mind.
What is the No. 1 drug for anxiety?
The most commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications are in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines.
What is the best medicine for panic attacks and anxiety?
The medication that works best for your panic attacks will depend on several factors. The most commonly prescribed medications to treat panic attacks include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft); serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine (Effexor XR), and benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax).
How long do beta-blockers take to work for anxiety?
Beta-blockers for anxiety start working 1 to 2 hours after you take them. After one dose, the effects typically last anywhere from six to 12 hours.
