I have been taking this drug for over 6 months now. 40mg twice a day The cluster headaches that have plagued my life are now down to a bare minimum.....(not totally gone away) and manageable.
HOWEVER! I have gained about 1.5 stone in weight, particularly round my middle. This is highly unusual for me.
My GP states this is NOT a recognised side effect and I simply must be eating more due to feeling better! As my eating habits have not changed at all, I find this very hard to accept. If I am to take this drug for the rest of my days, At this rate I will be enormous!
PLEASE…can anyone help/confirm/reassure me that this is only a temporary side effect?
Hi, I'm so glad I came across your post..I have suffered with anxiety for years and have been asking propranolol 40mg for a year and half (in stressful situations) and I have gained 1 1/2 stone esp around my middle too!! I don't eat excessively and it's uncomfortable now and making me feel quite low.. : (
Hi. Iv recently noticed that Iv been putting on weight after taking up this medication despite eating less. I am however noticing I'm less active, a lower rate of attacks and generally just figiting less I'm hoping it's more to do with that but I am worried.
I was on 20mg a day for about 4 months and I noticed I was gaining weight around my middle. I've come off it now as it was causing extreme lethargy and I've lost the weight.
I have been on propranolol for about 9 months - 1 x 150mg slow release a day, I get horrendous outbreaks of sweating and have to wash my hair more often ! Also noted weight gain round my middle ! I am at the stage now where it is VERY uncomfortable whilst sitting, and looks awful hanging over the top of trousers and skirts ! I never had a thick middle and find it really upsetting !! I seem to tire very easily and get breathless ! Propranolol certainly sorted out the anxiety/panic, but otherwise not good for my figure or energy levels !! Don't know what to do, as trialled other medications before finding this one settled anxiety/panic once into bloodstream ! Also on 160mg of venlafaxine a day - is there a good alternative I could be on, instead of taking these ???
Hi , I have also been on this drug for over a year and put on weight round my middle. I was convinced it was with taking Propranalol, I exercise regular and couldn't understand the weight gain.
Hi so glad I found this post! I take 120mg of propranolol a day, along with 70mg of amtriptylin due to cluster migraines. Since I've been on this medication my life has turned around, I'm not losing time from work or studies due to migraine. BUT, I have gained 2 stone in 18 months! ! I eat less, so I don't understand how this can happen,
I suppose I am more lethargic, but still ......? I've even joined a gym but no weight loss. So I'm stuck, it's either side worth headaches that ruin my day to day existence, or pile on the pounds. .
I was put on half-beta prograne 80mg in November to treat migraine and anxiety.
Since starting to take them I have noticed my heartbeat a lot more and it seems to be fast.
I told the doctor I wanted to stop taking them because my chiropractor told me it might be a problem in my neck causing headaches/migraine. I have been on propranolol 40mg for a week to try and stop taking them. I take 2 a day but when it gets to tea time I notice my heart rate going up, when I take a tablet it stops. I'm supposed to knock the dosage down to 1 tablet a day next week then one every other day the week after and then stop after 3 weeks.
I've noticed weight gain over the last few months about half a stone even though I've been careful with my calories.
Does anybody know if this could be the beta blockers?
I was taking 80mg propranolol twice a day for about 6 years for A-Typical Migraines. When I started I weighed 10 stone, this time last year my weight had gone up to 11 st 13!! My diet didn't change at all but I did find that I was a lot hungrier whilst taking it. I came off Propranolol as it wasn't really helping anymore and I couldn't go on a higher dose and I had found other ways of treating/easing my migraines. It also made me lethargic and I was easily exhausted. Since I have been off of them I have gone down to 9st 3, and I only changed 2 things about my eating and that was cutting out cheese and chocolate as they are my trigger foods
I know doctors say they haven't found any evidence to support the fact that propranolol causes weight gain, but they obviously havent read this thread!
Expereincing the same thing myself gained nearly 2 stone in 4 months and I am not one to gain weight at all. I am going to the doctors on friday to speak to him about it, I will let you know what his advice is.
Hi. I have just had my dosage of propranolol increased from 20mg twice a day to 40mg twice a day for a heart arrythmia. Since taking propranolol my weight has increased from 9 stone to 11 stone 6 pounds and this is just over 7 months. My weight is all round my middle too. My GP and consultant have both told me the weight gain is because my metabolism has slowed down and my diet is poor. I mainly eat salad and chicken and vegetables and I make fruit smoothies every day so I would hardly say I have a poor diet. The weight gain is getting me down as I am uncomfortable with weight I'm carrying and I am also extremely tired as well. I
I too have been concerned with this issue. Coincidently i have a meds review a few weeks ago and saw a locum GP. I mentioned the weight gain, especially round my abdomen and she did agree, although hastily said their was no medical research to back up these claims.
She then asked which was better, horrific migraines or being fat?
i have been on propanalol for migraine for 5 months - 3 times a day in 30,20,20mg doses - was on higher but it caused extreme lethargy and depression but headaches came back when i stopped taking it altogether. i have gained a whole stone in weight round my middle and gone up a dress size. its really affecting how i feel about myself and the lack of ooomph in my life caused by the propanalol slowing me down is really causing me an upset.i used to be really active but i can be in bed by 8 nowadays and find i get tired very quickly - choice - headaches back or get fatter and more of a couch potatoe - i also get terrible chest butterflys and am breathless - the doc just shrugs !
I have been on propranolol for 9 mths and have gone up 2 dress sizes!! SOO DEPRESSING! Nothing else has changed with my diet- so I do attribute it to the drug. Early January I got sick with the stomach flu and missed a daily dose or 2 and had HORRIBLE side effects! I started shaking - badly- almost convulsing! I realized then how strong the drug really is. Since January I have been reducing the dosage from 120mg daily to 80mg, and now down to 40mg. I am getting ready to half it again. I want to get my body back!! This weight around the middle feels VERY ABNORMAL. It's hard to explain- but it doesn't feel natural. I also feel very constipated; perhaps that's where the trouble lies with this drug! I hope and pray if I got off it I will drop the weight! Has any body heard if that's the case? ? On the flip side...I have had little to no migraines on propranolol. A true miracle! I just can't stand this unnatural weight on my body.
Hi, i have been on Propanalol for 3 months, only a low dose of 10mg a day but since starting them i have put on weight like everyone else especially round my middle area, i have stayed the same weight for years and my eating habbits have not changed at all so i know its the meds that are doing it also do not sleep very well any more, crazy dreams and get very hot at night. i don't feel i can stand it anymore so taking myself of them and going back to Atenalol
May I ask how old you are? I am 45; Since starting these meds I have not only gained 20 lbs AND I have nite sweats, now I've stopped my monthly period!! I think it's early menopause. ..but now I'm wondering if propranolol brought these symptoms on and threw me into a menopausal state!?
Hi there NatMarie. I am a young 50 year old who has always been able to control my weight. If I have ever put on a couple of pounds or so as one may by going on holiday, I have been able to drop it quite quickly. So when I was put on propananol, I felt the weight going on almost immediately ! I was already menopausal suffering with night sweats etc but I must admit, this drug helped to relieve the symptoms ! However I was not comfortable with the extra weight. Since I stopped taking it, I feel better SBD after 2 months, I have noticed my abdominal bloating reduce. I have now told my doctor and my blood pressure is now OK. I hope you find the right solution for you . Let me know x
Hi Nat i'm 50, i definatly think the weight gain is due to the tablets, i have terrible night sweats too, i had been on Atenalol for 15 years and they suited me really well but the last few years had been feeling really tired all the time so the doctors thought a change of meds may improve symptoms, i really think i should just have lowered my dose insted of changing to this terrible drug, i'm not sure about your menopause, i had a very early one due to eptopic pregnancies, i would really speak to your Doctor about seeing if you can change to something else and see if it makes a difference, i think reading posts like jill26927's below says it all about the weight, my stomach is so bloated to and feel very uncomfortable, enough is enough for me, please keep in touch Jill and let me know how you get on
I am so glad that I have seen this thread, I have been on propananol since November last year, 20mg per day for anxiety, I have put 1 and half stones on! All around my middle. I just can't believe it! None of my clothes fit and I feel so uncomfortable. I am just going to stop taking now but worried as it states that you can have a heart attack when stopping! I eat all healthy and excersise daily and yoga 3 times a week! Can anyone tell me how long it takes for the weight to come off after stopping?
Hi there. Go and see your doctor and get him to check your blood p again. I stopped taking propananol because I knew there was a connection with my weight gain and I just couldnt stand it any longer ! I saw my doctor and had my bp taken several days after stopping. It was normal and am quite sure that it should never have been prescribed to me. I had been going through a stressful period . Since stopping, my abdominal weight is reducing , slowly but surely. Hope this helps you.
Don't know what to do, as trialled other medications before finding this one settled anxiety/panic once into bloodstream ! Also on 160mg of venlafaxine a day - is there a good alternative I could be on, instead of taking these ???