I'm so glad I found this thread I was on 40mg of propranolol 3 times per day and put on just under 3 stone in less than 5 months ! ...my gp tried to blame it on my other medication but the weight gain only started on the propranolol! Before that I was losing weight ...
I have since spoken to a pharmacist about it and she confirmed that propranolol slows down or stops your metabolism ...hence weight gain ! Hope this helps
Matthew, We all are inthe same boat...my doctor told me to "eat less"...I was never a big eater to begin with????
In any event I just went for my intake appointment and was approved for the second trial of CGRP and I have my first shots end of October...I'm so excited as I'm chronic with 25 a month for l0 years and having migrianes since I was l5 and now 63.....I'm taking Imitrex and just went off Propranolol three weeks ago (with no side effects)....
Wishing everyone on this site better health in the future - we deserve it!!!
Hi vixi,
I was in a similar situation as you, I was taking 3x80ml per day, and put on weight fast. I take it for migraines so I was used to tracking food to see what was triggering the attacks. After lots of trial and error I discovered that propranolol reduced my calorie needs by 500 per day. I went from needing 2000 cals/day to 1500. I also found that certain foods on propranolol create crazy weight gain, if I eat tostidos (corn chips used for salsa) I will gain 5lbs overnight from all the fluid retention.
I have since lost 45 lbs. I cut out all processed foods except beer, eat 75% green vegtables and 25% lean protein (steak/chicken/egg white) and only use spices, no sauces or marinades.
Over the last few months I took a class in Mindful Meditation which has proven to be a great help for my migraines. Most of the people in the class were there due to anxiety.
I really think propranolol has made me really ill, I've been quite ill for just over a year now & I can't believe the doctors haven't picked up that it could be the meds, I'm almost 100% sure it's what has made me ill & I've tapered right down to 20 or 10mg on a night now, probably a lot quicker than I should have but I've had dreadful symptoms - itchy arms & back with rash & sometimes spots, bowel movements have been yellow mush like up to 10 times a day at one point, severe anxiety & panic attacks, menstrual problems, sleepless nights, hot sweats, constantly exhausted, severe weight gain & that's just half the things I can remember right now.. I believe this medication helped me once but not any more, my symptoms have cut back drastically & I'll be off this medication soon & it can't come quick enough. I just kept getting told I have IBS brought on by stress / anxiety which is what I took the propranolol for & to cut back what I was eating, even my family seem to think I lie about what I eat & I'm at the end of my tether. As soon as I cut my dose I noticed I started to think more positively. I also read earlier that sometimes it can be used to treat over active thyroid so no wonder it's made us gain weight..
I'm having pretty bad nightmares at the moment which I put down to coming off it but I'll be ok, just going to stay positive & see this through..
if your doctor won't listen, go to another. propranolol is the 3rd drug they tried me on, the first would make me see crows flying everywhere, which was not fun when I was driving. the second ruined my sleep and gave me waking nightmares. Propranolol only gave me weight gain and made it hard to walk fast.
You have to be very, very careful about how fast you cut back on Propranolol. Remember, it dampens the signals from your brain to your heart so your heart beats more slowly. over time the brain increases the signal strength and your heart adjusts and speeds faster (then your dose is usually increased). when you cut back, your brain is still sending that strong signal which your heart now hears extra loud, so it increases its speed.
I did change doctors still got no help it's like as soon as they see I have a history of anxiety they just say anything that is wrong is down to that.. I've been tapering down now for 9 days & had read it's ok to do it over about 2 weeks, I'm convinced though that I'm having allergic reactions to it with the amount I itch & my breathlessness.. my anxiety has been next to none as well, apart from being tired & nightmares I feel great compared to before..
Thought I'd update in here.. I started tapering down on my propranolol 18 days ago, today is the 4th day I've not had any at all & think my body is still getting used to it but I've not really had any side effects of stopping in fact I had more side effects while I was taking it & was convinced I was having allergic reactions to it, my heart rate does seem to speed up if I'm quite active though, going to try relax & rest as much as possible for a couple of weeks while my body adjusts, the unbearable itching on my arms & back is down about 85%, don't seem to be breaking out with spots on my arms as much & think my breathlessness has got a bit better, my bowel movements are also looking more normal too & I feel less bloated, I'm still fairly tired at the moment though.. hoping I don't develop any side effects of coming off it & that I'll just gradually start to feel better from now on..
Hi I've been taking propranolol for around 6 months now and have gained 1 1/2 stones and have not changed my diet at all and feel very unhappy with the extra pounds.
I personally think it's simply that beta blockers slow heart rate & metabolism, making burning calories more difficult, I have very conciously cut out all fattening foods & increased in my fresh fruit & veg intake, hoping to return to my normal weight...
Hi Martin
I too had this issue although my GP swears that weight gain is NOT one of the side effects. HMMMM
However i do think that you are right, slow metabolism etc
I also thnk that as i am fairly headache free (since taking the meds) i feel happier and less nauseous ...therefor enjoying life and FOOD!
i have combatted this by joining a FAT club! LOL 2 stone lighter now, and slowly being weaned off the meds!
Good Luck x
I too gained weight with Proprananalol. I have Graves Disease but I refused thyroid meds so I I was taking 40mg daily to cope with my raised heartbeat and the shakes. It knocked me sideways and although I had been an active swimmer and walker I had no energy to do either. Over the past two months I cut down to 10mg and am now as active as I ever was but the weight wasn't shifting. This week I have stopped the meds completely and I have noticed two things. Firstly I have lost just under half a kilo and secondly I have been passing 'gallons of water' specially at night. It makes me think that Propranol was also causing water retention. Hope this answer is helpful for you!
How long did it take to loose the weight the medication gave you?
Not sure if you chaps are aware that you can report side effects using the mrha gov uk yellow card scheme online?
I have just done this as I have also got the terrible eeight gain around my middle. My migraines have gone at the expense of 15kg of weight gain which is just horrible.
The company of propranolol admitted last year that propranolol causes weight gain. Change doctors if he's not up to date I've been on it since 2013 and have gained 75lbs no matter what I do I can't lose. I diethink field 2months and gained 5lbs
Wow, I'm glad I read you post too, I've read a lot of the others and everyone seems to say the same.
i have had terreble headaches & dizziness since October last year. I've had a brain scan and was eventually seen by an ENT specialist 3 weeks ago, he thinks it's migraine and has written to GP and asked him to prrescribe propranolol.
Upon seeing the side effects people are claiming I'm not going to take them. While under investigations blood test showed I have under active thyroid which I now have to take Medes for, the thyroid issue has caused me to put 3 stone on on weight. I have never had a weight issue so I'm finding it rather depressing, I've also got very low blood pressure. I see that this medication is a beta blocker that lowers blood pressure and slows the metabolism! Wish Dr's would get their act together if it wasn't for sites like this we would just take thier word for it,,
I'm actually going to ask my doctor about pot oil
If you don't report thkngs via the yellow card system as I posted above (at least in the UK) the doctors wont ever get to know.
What's the yellow card system
Hi, can I ask how you've got on with Topiramate? I requested this for prevention of migraines but my GP refused to give me it till I'd first tried Propanalol. Have gained weight and suffered constipation and taken myself off it. So wondered how you've found Topiramate? Thanks
Hi, well I know it's been 3,years now but I get cluster migraines and am taking propranonal 160 mg/ day for about a year now. I have also gained weight around my middle but get to live a functional life now. Are you still taking propranonal? Did you finish me any alternative medicine?
Wow! That's pretty scary. I will be 44 soon. Been taking propranonol for A year now. I take 160 mg /day. What did your doctors say about this ?